Windows 10 2021: A Complete Guide to Microsoft Windows 10 with the Latest Tips and Updates
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Checking your activation status
First, you might want to know if your copy of Windows 10 has been activated and linked to your Microsoft account.
It is important that you link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 license on your computer. Linking the Microsoft account on your computer with your digital license will allow you to reactivate your Windows using the Activation troubleshooter anytime you make a significant change to hardware on your computer.
To check the activation status on your Windows 10, click on the Start button, and then tap Settings > navigate to Update & Security > choose Activation . You will see your activation status listed next to Activation.
Linking Microsoft account on Windows 10
Proceed with the steps below to properly link with your Microsoft account on Windows 10;
Sign in on your computer as an admin in order to add your account. To check whether you are actually utilizing an administrator account, click on Start , > tap Settings , click on Accounts and tap “Your info .“ When you click on the “Your info” link, you will see the Administrator written beneath your name. You should create an admin account in case you are not an admin.
Confirm whether the administrator account is same with your Microsoft account by confirming if there is actually an email address shown above Administrator . If you can see an email address above the administrator , it is a Microsoft account. Else, if you cannot see an email address, then it is a local account with which you have logged in. You can create a Microsoft account if you don’t have one.
Once it is ascertained you are an administrator, using your Microsoft account, simply navigate to the Activation page, click on Add an account option , input your Microsoft account and password, > tap Sign in .
After you have successfully added your Microsoft account, on the Activatio-n page you will be able to see the message “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account .”
Various methods of activating Windows 10
Activating your own version of Windows 10 is not a herculean task. It requires either a product key (which is a 25-character) or a digital license depending on how your Windows 10 edition was obtained. Without obtaining a product key or a digital license, it will not be possible to activate your version of Windows.
▪ A digital license (also refer to as digital entitlement in some Windows 10 edition) is an activation system that won’t necessarily ask users to use any product key for Windows activation.
▪ Using a product key involves a 25-charcter code that can be used to activate your version of Windows. Your product key will appear like PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
When you have concluded on the activation means that you wish to use, you should follow the due process by clicking on “ Activating using a product key” or “Activating using a digital license.” The tips below will help you decide on which activation method is good for your laptop;
- Digital license is advisable if you switch to Windows 10 from a healthy computer running a true edition of Windows. If you have previously associated your MSA (Microsoft account) with the digital license, the digital license will be contained in the MSA.
- Also, Digital License is preferred if you procure a Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store app. When you are purchasing a Windows 10 upgrade from the Microsoft Store app, you will be sent an email for confirmation. And it is the confirmation email that will contain your Digital license.
- If you purchase a personal computer that came pre-installed with Windows 10, it is advisable to use Product Key for Windows activation. You should look out for your product key either on the COA (authentication certificate) or on the packaging that came with your PC.
- If your Windows was procured from a retailer that is authorized by Microsoft, it is advisable that a Product Key be required for activation. The product key will be found on the label inside the box.
- If you get your Windows 10 from the online Microsoft Store, Product Key should be used for activation. You will see the product key in the confirmation mail that accompanied the order history.
Buying license for Windows 10
In case you don’t even have a digital license or product key, then you should prepare to purchase a copy of Digital license once your computer finishes installation. See the steps below;
- Click on the Start icon.
- Click on Settings , select Update & Security and tap Activation
- Click on Go to Store .
The “Go to Store” link will launch the Microsoft Store app where you can get a genuine copy of Windows 10 digital license.
How to activate Windows 10 using a digital license
Upon getting a new PC, digital licenses are normally associated with hardware and are usually linked with your Microsoft account; hence, there is absolutely nothing you will be looking for on your computer. All that you have to do is connect your computer to the web and then access your Microsoft account.
- For first time installation and if you are activating on a new computer or motherboard: With a digital license associated with a Microsoft account, you can normally run setup and bypass the product key requirement by tapping I don’t have a product key . Windows will be activated immediately you sign in to Microsoft account and you are on the web.
- Activation after you reinstall Windows 10: If you are in possession of a digital license for your computer, the same version of Windows 10 can be reinstalled on the computer without necessarily entering any product key. Ensure that your Windows 10 is actually activated before you attempt to reinstall it. To confirm, click on the Start button, tap Settings , select Update & Security and tap Activation . From here, you can always confirm if your version of Windows has actually been activated and that your Microsoft account has been linked to your digital license.
- Reactivating your version of Windows after a significant hardware change: Making a significant change to hardware on your computer (such as when you replace the Motherboard on your computer) might make your Windows lose activation even if you have already activated it before. One thing you can do to safeguard activation in preparation against any future hardware change is to associate your Microsoft account with your computer’s digital license. When you do this, you can always reactivate your Windows by deploying the Activation troubleshooter anytime you make an important hardware change on your computer. To reactivate your model of Windows 10 after an important hardware change, follow the prompts below;
Note: Ensure that your computer is fully connected online when you want to reactivate, and then proceed with the prompts to use either a digital license or product key.
For digital license, simply run the Activation Troubleshooter: Here, you will need to add your MSA first and then link the account with the digital license on your PC. Once your Microsoft account has been linked, Windows can now be reactivated by running the Activation Troubleshooter. This troubleshooter will only be made available if your own model of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) has not been activated.
To utilize Activation troubleshooter:
▪ Sign in to the PC as administrator.
▪ Click on the Start icon, tap Settings , select Update & Security , tap Activation and click on Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will display that Windows can’t be activated on your device .
▪ Click on I changed hardware on this device recently , and then tap Next .
▪ Input the Microsoft account and password that is joined to your computer, then click Sign in . It is only the connected Microsoft account that can work with the Activation trou-bleshooter.
▪ You will be prompted with a list of devices linked with your Microsoft account, tick the checkbox that is next to the “This is the device I’m using right now.”
▪ Click Activate .
▪ If you cannot find the computer you are in possession of in the result displayed, ensure that you are actually signed in with the same Microsoft account that you have associated
with the Windows10 digital license on your computer.
Use the product key in case no digital license is available: If Windows10 was not pre-installed on your computer when you bought it and you deployed product key to upgrade to Windows10, then that same product key will be needed after an important hardware change on your computer. Click on the Start icon, tap Settings , select Update & Security , tap Activation and click on Change Product Key , and input the product key.
Activating Windows 10 using a Product Key
Your product key is just a 25-character code, and it looks like;
PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
During the installation processes, you will be prompted to fill in the product key. Or, after successful installation, to input the product key, click on the Start icon, tap Settings , select Update & Security , tap Activation , click Update product key and tap on Change product key.
The “Change Product Key” option can be used to activate your copy of Windows 10 if you are with a product key. Consider the supplemental details below to help with activation in different scenarios;
- When you are installing first time and if you are activating on a new computer or motherboard: You will need to have a genuine product key to activate your own version of Windows 10 on a computer that has never been activated before. At the same time, you will equally need to have a valid product key if you are installing a model of Windows10 that was not previously activated on the computer. For instance, you will require a real product key in order to have Windows10 Pro installed and activated on a computer where Windows10 Home had been installed previously. During the process of installation, you will be asked to input a genuine product key. Once the installation has been completed, Windows10 will then be activated automatically online. If you want to verify activation status in Windows10, click on Start symbol, tap Settings , select Update & Security then tap Activation .
- Activate after reinstalling Windows 10: During reinstallation, you will be requested to input a product key. When you enter your product key, your version will be activated. If you completed the setup and you forgot to enter your product key, you can still do that. Click on the Start button, tap Settings , select Update & Security , tap Activation , click Update product key and tap on Change product key.
REINSTALL WINDOWS10
If you are having issues with Windows10 on your computer or you just want a new edition of Windows10 without having old apps or files coming with the new Windows, you can just reinstall Windows10 to fix the system issue and return your computer to a cleaner state.
Note: Before you reinstall Windows, it is possible that the issue your computer is having is one that is associated with disc space. Try to free up some disc space and see if this resolves the problem. To free up some disc space in Windows10, follow the prompts below;
Note: You can check the amount of disc space remaining on your Windows computer by clicking on File Explorer found in the taskbar, and then choose This PC found on the left. You will be able to see the amount of disc space on your device under Devices and drives .
How to free up space with Storage Sense on your computer
Storage Sense can be used to remove temporary or unnecessary files on your computer.
By turning on Storage Sense, you are telling the Windows to free up space automatically by helping to delete files you don’t need, such as files in the Recycle Bin and temporary files, especially when you are low on disk space or at any interval you specify. The steps below will teach you how to activate and configure Storage Sense, and how to delete temporary files.
For individuals who might be unable to locate Storage Sense on their computer, use the “Free up space with Disk Cleanup" discussed below instead.
Follow the prompts below if you want to delete temporary files with Storage Sense
Click Start , tap Settings , click on System and select Storage .
Select Temporary files from the storage breakdown. Note: If you are unable to see the Temporary files option, click Show more categories .
Windows will use a few moments to determine what apps and files are consuming the most disk space on your device.
Tap the items you plan to delete, and then click Remove files . Each of the listed item will include a description.
Notes :
You may need to scroll down to select Recycle Bin and some other settings. This is because these settings are not, by default, selected for delete.
Click on the Recycle Bin in order to free up space that has been taken up by files you have previously deleted. You should understand that Windows moves your deleted files to the Recycle Bin should you change your mind later and want them again. You might be able to free up a sizeable amount of space by choosing Recycle Bin to permanently remove files you have previously deleted.
You can open your Recycle Bin from the desktop to view what is inside the Recycle Bin before you empty the content. In case you are unable to see Recycle Bin on your desktop, you can just enter the word “recycle bin” inside the search bar on the taskbar, and then click on it from the result displayed.
Follow the prompts below to turn on and configure Storage Sense
Click Start , tap Settings , click on System and select Storage .
From the Storage window, toggle on Storage Sense .
Click on the Configure storage sense or run it now menu below the ON button
You will be taken to another window where you can choose how often you plan for the Storage Sense to run.
Choose which of your files you want the Storage Sense to automatically delete on your computer, then choose the corresponding time intervals.
Scroll down and click on Clean now .
It will take some moments before Windows clean up your files completely, and you will then see a prompt showing how much disk space has been freed.
If your computer doesn't have Storage sense, the Disk Cleanup tool can be used to remove system files and temporary files from your computer.
- Inside the search box on your taskbar, enter disk cleanup , then click on it from the displayed results.
- Tap the check box that is next to the category of files that you wish to delete. (To have a description of each file type, click on the name.) By default, Temporary Internet Files, Downloaded Program Files , and Thumbnails are selected. Ensure that you clear the checkbox in case you don’t plan to delete these files.
- If you wish to free up more space, click on Clean up system files , and then choose the category of system files that you wish to delete. Disk Cleanup will be used sometimes before it computes the quantity of space that can be freed.
Note: If it has been less than 10 days that you upgraded to the new Windows 10, you will see the previous copy of Windows listed as one of the system files that you can delete. You can actually delete this old Windows if you need more disc space on your computer, but be reminded that this will delete your Windows.old folder, which contains all the files that can give you the opportunity to access or go back to the old Windows. Once you delete the old Windows version, you will not be able to get it back, which means that you will not have your old Windows version again.
- Once you have marked the types of files that you wish to delete, click OK , and then choose Delete files from the confirmation window to initiate the cleanup.
Important:
There is an option in the Disk Cleanup that will allow you to compress your OS drive. Choosing this option will compress the drive where Windows was installed, allowing you to have extra space where other important updates can be installed. This process will not delete the drive’s content, and you should be able to open and save your files without experiencing any issue from the compressed drive.
Once the update has been installed, the OS drive can be de-compress at any time. To de-compress the OS drive, click on File Explorer from the taskbar, and click on This PC from the left pane. Tap or Right-click and hold the OS drive (also called Disk C on your computer), and then click on Prop
erties on the shortcut menu. Clear the Compress this drive to save disk space check box, select Apply and tap OK.
If you clean up disk space as specified above, and the Windows issue is not resolved, then you can consider reinstalling Windows as will be discussed below.
How to reinstall Windows using Installation Media
This option will utilize a tool to set up installation media that you can deploy to wipe your disk completely and install a new copy of Windows 10. For this option, you will be required to use an external drive like a USB drive, and you might have to go through some extra steps, though everything will be deleted for safest and cleanest installation. This category of clean install will usually delete and recreate system partitions. All of the personal files on your computer and the partition on your hard drive that is currently being used for recovery will be deleted.
Before you start, ensure that you have the following;
▪ A reliable internet connection
▪ An external storage device like an SD card, USB drive, or external hard drive having at least 8GB of usable space