Do you know the differences between Windows OEM license and Retail license? If not, you can read this post, in which MiniTool shows you their differences. In addition, it also shows you how to transfer the Windows license to another PC.
Windows OEM vs Retail: Key Differences at a Glance
Windows OEM and Retail licenses differ mainly in price, transferability, purchasing channels, and technical support. You can refer to the table below.
| Feature | Windows OEM | Windows Retail |
| Price | Generally cheaper | Generally more expensive |
| Purchasing channel | Usually comes with a new PC or is sold through OEM system-builder channels | Purchased separately from Microsoft or an authorized retailer |
| License transfer | Generally tied to the original licensed device and not transferable independently | Generally transferable to another PC |
| Motherboard replacement | May affect activation | May require reactivation |
| Technical support | Usually provided by the PC manufacturer or system builder | Support options depend on the purchase channel and applicable terms |
| Windows features | Determined by the Windows edition, such as Home or Pro | Determined by the Windows edition, such as Home or Pro |
| Best for | Users purchasing a new PC or building a computer with an appropriate OEM license | Users who want greater flexibility when transferring a license between computers |
What Is a Windows OEM License?
OEM is short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. When original equipment manufacturers produce computers, they always pre-install OEM Windows before selling them. When you buy these PCs, you will get a Windows OEM license.
Once the Windows OEM license is first activated in the PC, it is locked to the hardware (mainly the motherboard). The product key isn’t transferable and you can’t use it to activate another installation.
Microsoft also offers COEM (Consumer OEM) licenses. These licenses are sold to system builders who sell assembled computers or to users who build PCs by themselves. Like OEM license, the COEM license isn’t transferable.
What Is a Windows Retail License?
A Windows Retail license refers to the license that you acquire when purchasing a copy of Windows from Microsoft store or an authorized retailer. If you have a Windows Retail license, you can transfer it to another computer, as long as you deactivate the old device. There is no limit on hardware.
Further Reading:
Microsoft also offers other types of licenses.
- Windows Volume License: Designed for a large business, education, and government scenario, it can activate multiple computers with one master product key. No need to enter a different key for each computer. The license is non-transferable and cannot be used to activate devices outside the organization.
- Windows MSDN License: Designed for companies and people who develop software using Microsoft technology and have subscribed MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network), it neither be used for commercial purposes, nor be authorized to other users without Microsoft’s permission.
How to Check Whether Your Windows License Is OEM or Retail
Sometimes, you may want to know which kind of license you are using. If so, please refer to the following steps:
Step 1: Open a Command Prompt or PowerShell. Then, type in “Slmgr /dli” or “slmgr /dlv” and press Enter.
Step 2: Wait a few seconds for the Windows Script Manager to appear and tell you which license type you have.
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How to Transfer Windows Retail License to Another PC
If you get a new PC and you want to transfer a valid Windows license to the new PC, you can do that through the following steps:
Step 1: Deactivate Windows license by uninstalling the product key, which frees the license for use elsewhere.
- Press “Windows + X” keys simultaneously and then click Command Prompt (Admin).
- At the Command Prompt window, enter the following command: “slmgr /upk“.
- Press Enter. Then, you will see the message “Uninstalled product key successfully“.
Step 2: Activate the new PC with the previous license.
- After Windows is installed on the new PC, run Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type the following command: “slmgr /ipk xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx“. Please note that “xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx- xxxxx” represents the product key.
- Press Enter and the new PC will be activated.
Step 3: Type “slmgr /dlv” and press Enter to check License Status. If the status is Licensed, it means that the Windows is activated.
Back up Computer Before Hardware Replacement
Sometimes, license transfer may be related to hardware replacement. If you want to replace hardware, please back up computer to an external drive first in case the system or important data is damaged by improper operations during the process of the hardware replacement.
![Reactivating Windows 10 after a Hardware Change [with Pictures]](https://images.minitool.com/partitionwizard.com/images/uploads/2019/11/reactivate-windows-10-thumbnail.jpg)
If so, you may need the help of MiniTool Partition Wizard, with which you can back up your computer for free. Please refer to the following steps:
MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1: Connect an external drive to your computer.
Step 2: Click the above button to download MiniTool Partition Wizard for free. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard and get to its main interface. Then, click Copy Disk Wizard.
Step 3: Select a disk you want to copy and then click Next button. I recommend you to choose the system disk in case your computer can’t boot after hardware replacement.
Step 4: Select the external drive as the target disk and then click the Next button. After that, a warning window pops up and tells you “all the data on the disk will be destroyed“. If it’s OK, please click Yes to continue. Otherwise, click No to cancel this operation.
Step 5: Review the changes you have made. If all is OK, click the Next button.
Step 6: Click the Apply button to execute the pending operations.
After backing up your computer, you can replace the hardware. If the Windows cooperate well with the new hardware, then you can activate it with the license.
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Bottom Line
Has this post answered you doubts about Windows OEM vs Retail license? Do you have other ideas about them? Please leave a comment below and I will appreciate that. Besides, if you have any difficulty in backing up computer, you can send an email at [email protected] for help. We will reply to you as soon as possible.
Windows OEM vs Retail FAQ
There are 4 differences between Windows 10 OEM and Retail:
- The Windows 10 Retail license can be transferred to another PC while the Windows 10 OEM license cannot, because it is already locked to one PC.
- If you replace the motherboard in your PC, the Windows 10 OEM will not work. As for the Windows 10 Retail license, it will not be affected by any hardware replacement.
- An OEM Windows 10 license is much cheaper than a Windows 10 Retail license.
- Users who buy a Windows 10 Retail license can get support from Microsoft. However, users who have a Windows 10 OEM license can only get support from the manufacturer of their devices.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Linda has been an editor at MiniTool for seven years. She continuously learns about computers and puts her knowledge into practice. Moreover, she is particularly knowledgeable in disk management, data recovery, system installation, and PDF editing. Her articles typically reference multiple examples or are based on her own experience, providing users with the most suitable solutions.
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