Win 10 Pro partially unreadable - how to recover

Hi,

For Windows 10 Pro for Refurbished PCs (COA sticker), unfortunately, Microsoft cannot directly recover or reissue lost or damaged product keys, as these are originally distributed and managed by the authorized refurbisher who installed the license. However, you can still try the following steps:

1. Contact the refurbisher or reseller who provided the machine. They maintain license records and can verify and reissue the key if it’s a valid refurb license.
2. If the device has a digital license embedded in the BIOS/UEFI (common with OEM systems), Windows 10 should automatically activate once reinstalled and connected to the internet.
3. You can also reach Microsoft’s activation support team directly via https://aka.ms/msahelp or by selecting Contact Support within the Settings > System > Activation page — they can help verify ownership and activation eligibility.
4. If only the last few characters are missing, avoid guessing — activation systems will reject partial keys, and repeated failed attempts can temporarily block the key.

For security reasons, please don’t send images of the COA sticker or serial number via email unless requested through official Microsoft Support channels.

I hope this helps you move forward smoothly! 😊

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Best regards,

VP