Can I save an OEM key to my MS account?

[Danielslie]

One of my laptop is shipped with an OEM key and Windows 10 Pro is activated automatically when upgrading from Windows 8. How can I sync this key to my MS account?

Thanks

[#2]

The key is stored on your computer's motherboard, so if you want to re-install there's an option along the lines of "I already have a license" and if you click that it'll automatically detect it.

[#3 · Accepted solution]

OEM licenses are linked to the machine. You will not need the license key to reinstall Windows at any point on that same machine. These cannot be linked to your Microsoft Account because it lives and dies with the machine and cannot be transferred.

[#4]

If your computer is UEFI, the key is stored in the bios and Windows activates as soon as you install it on that hardware.

[#5]

Manually Note the Key: You can use a password manager or a secure note-taking app to store the OEM key manually.

Digital License Link: If your Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation is linked to your Microsoft account, you can activate your device without needing to enter the OEM key again, as your activation is saved in Microsoft’s servers.

Backup Key: You might consider backing up the key with third-party software tools that can extract and save your OEM key.