Windows installation key: use generic keys

With a generic product key, you can install Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista or even XP on a PC for free. But after a variable trial period, you will need an activation key to continue using it.

To install and use Windows on a PC, you must have a license key – also called a product key – which is used to authenticate and activate the operating system. Made up of five groups of letters and numbers, this unique key is specific to each edition and each copy of Windows, much like a registration number. It was formerly indicated on a label stuck on the computer or in the box of the CD or DVD which contained the official copy of the operating system to install it. This practice has disappeared for the versions preinstalled on commercial PCs in favor of a “virtual” digital key associated with the PC. As a result, unlike what happened before, it is no longer necessary to enter it when reinstalling Windows 10 on the same computer, which simplifies the operation – see our practical sheet Retrieving a Windows or Microsoft license key Office on a PC for more on the subject.

But even if they have become practically invisible, the keys still exist and it is absolutely necessary to have them to install and use Windows. However, Microsoft regularly publishes “generic” product keys that allow you to install and use Windows for free for a variable period – from 30 to 90 days depending on the version. And you can perfectly – and legally – use these generic keys to try out a particular version or edition of Windows, which can be useful for testing on a virtual machine (VM) with a professional edition, for example. After the trial period, you will be prompted to enter a “normal” and duly purchased key to continue using this version of Windows, or to uninstall it from the computer.

There are generic license keys for the different editions of Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP. They are not essential with Windows 10, but remain necessary with older versions. Keep them, they can be useful in certain situations – if you have a bout of nostalgia one day, for example. Please note that you will need to enter your key manually in most cases during installation.

Generic license keys for Windows 10

Generic license keys for Windows 8 and 8.1

Generic license keys for Windows 7

Generic License Keys for Windows Vista

Generic license keys for Windows XP

Generic License Keys for Windows Server 2019

Generic License Keys for Windows Server 2016

Generic License Keys for Windows Server 2012

Generic license keys for Windows Server 2008