How Long Can You Use Windows 10/11 Without Activation?Īlthough it’s not going to be pretty, and it’s definitely not going to be perfect, you can actually use Windows 10/11 forever without activating it. How long can you go without activating Windows 10/11?

Millions of users have upgraded from predecessors, but not everyone has a valid activation key, serial number, or digital license. Windows 10 is Microsoft’s most advanced operating system and currently stands as the latest version of Windows. In other words, you will not be stopped from using Windows even if you choose to never activate the software.īut there will be limitations if you don't activate Windows! If you wish to not activate Windows on your personal computer at all, you can still access it for as long as you want. If you're interested, you can buy it below.What Happens if You Don’t Activate Windows 10/11? Keep in mind, your PC will still need to meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11 if you want to have a smooth experience with it. Just like a digital license, a physical copy of Windows 11 Home costs $139.99, while Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99, so you're not paying extra for the physical edition.

The box itself prominently displays the Windows 11 Bloom background and it uses a light theme for Windows 11 Home or a dark theme for Windows 11 Pro, which makes for more appealing packaging compared to Windows 10. Plus, you get a neat little box if you're into collecting this kind of thing. Sure, you can use any flash drive to install Windows 11, but this does make the process easier if you're setting up a brand-new PC you just built, for example. But the physical copy does give you a USB flash drive to use as installation media right out of the box. Most laptops already come with Windows 11 anyway, and if they come with Windows 10, you can just upgrade it yourself.

Of course, there isn't much of a purpose to buying a physical copy at first glance.

Buy windows 11 license