How to buy a Windows 11 license for your laptop or desktop

While most Windows-based laptops or desktops come with the operating system pre-installed, this isn’t always the case. If you are planning to purchase a DOS-based laptop or are building your own PC, you will need to purchase a Windows 11 license separately.  

But where exactly can you purchase a Windows 11 license, and how do you even install it? Read on for everything you need to know about buying and installing Windows 11. 

Types of Windows 11 licenses

Windows 11 comes in two versions – Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro. While Windows 11 home is catered to general users and comes with all the key features most users will need, Windows 11 Pro sports some extra enterprise-grade security and privacy features. You can head over to Microsoft’s website for a detailed comparison between the two versions. 

ALSO READ: Top new features to look forward to in the next big Windows 11 update 

Windows licenses are also available as one-time OEM keys that are tied to one laptop/desktop or retail keys, which can be used on multiple devices. Since Microsoft doesn’t directly sell OEM keys, and many websites claiming to sell the same are simply scams, we will stick to retail keys for the purpose of this article.  

Can you use Windows 11 for free?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to pay to use Windows 11 officially. Windows 11 is actually available directly from Microsoft for free, albeit this basic version of the operating system will be locked out of all its customisation features. This means users will not be able to do things like change the theme or wallpaper. Everything else, however, is ready to use.  

Users can always get a free copy of Windows 11 and start setting up their laptop or desktop, and upgrade later on without any extra setup, data transfer or other methods required.  

How to buy a Windows 11 license for your PC?

If you already have the free version of Windows 11, you can skip this section, but assuming you’re starting from scratch, here’s how to proceed.  

1. Get the prerequisites ready 

Assuming your target PC (the one that needs Windows 11) is not yet bootable, you will require a secondary laptop/desktop, reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, and a USB Flash drive of at least 8GB storage capacity.  

2. Setting up your installation drive 

Use the second PC to go to the Microsoft website and navigate to the Windows 11 download page. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the Windows 11 installer (it should be a .iso file).  

Use the Windows installation tool to use this .iso file and your USB Flash drive to create a bootable installation tool. 

ALSO READ: Top Windows 11 tips and tricks 

3. Prepping your machine 

Make sure the target PC is turned off, insert the created installation tool and start it. You should enter the Windows setup. Proceed as per the instructions on the screen and you will have Windows 11 ready on your PC.  

Upgrading to a paid Windows 11 license

To upgrade to a retail Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro license, visit the Microsoft Store app and search for Windows 11. Buy the license and you will be mailed a license key.  

You can then navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Activation to use this license key to upgrade. Congratulations! You now have a licensed copy of Windows 11 running on your PC. Still need help choosing the right laptop before you get to the OS? Check out our in-depth laptop buying guide.