If Windows is not activating, use these steps:
- Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
- If a valid 25-character product key is available, select Change product key and enter it.
- If this is the first time Windows 10 was installed on this PC and there is no valid key, select Go to Microsoft Store from the Activation page to buy a digital license.
- If the PC was activated before and hardware was changed, especially the motherboard, run Activation Troubleshooter:
- Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation
- Select Troubleshoot
- If shown, select the option to reactivate after a hardware change
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account that was used before the hardware change
- Make sure the PC is connected to the internet. Windows activation requires an internet connection.
If error 0x803F7001 appears, it means Windows could not find a valid license on the PC. Common causes are:
- Windows 10 is being installed on this PC for the first time
- Significant hardware was changed
- The previous license cannot be matched to the current hardware
For refurbished devices running Windows 10, use the product key on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device, then enter it in Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key.