You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to activate Windows 10 on a clean Boot Camp install?

I've just gotten a brand new MacBook Pro 15" (mid 2015) - and have now set up a Boot Camp partition, and installed Windows 10 (using the 'no USB' option - so easy!) on it. The instructions on Apple's site (and here) don't detail the activation process at all. So how do you activate Windows 10 on a fresh install to Boot Camp?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11), Windows 10

Posted on Oct 9, 2015 5:32 AM

Reply
3 replies

Oct 9, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Loner T

That's great and all, but even from Microsofts site that you just linked:


"You created media and performed a clean installation of Windows 10, instead of first upgrading from your previous version of Windows

In order to upgrade to Windows 10 using the ISO image or upgrade media you created using the media creation tool, you need to select the Upgrade this PC now option.

If you performed a clean installation instead of an upgrade, you'll be asked to enter a Windows 10 product key or buy a new license in order to activate Windows 10. This is because we weren't able to register your free upgrade entitlement with the activation servers because you didn't upgrade to Windows 10. To fix this, you'll need to go back to your previous version of Windows, make sure the previous version is activated, and then upgrade to Windows 10."


I don't have a previous version of Windows, all these guides assume you came from a previous version, rather than fresh install. There's also no where to 'buy a license key' because the entire point of this is to get rid of them. Is there a location to buy a legit key?

Oct 9, 2015 10:32 AM in response to goudaman

goudaman wrote:


I don't have a previous version of Windows, all these guides assume you came from a previous version, rather than fresh install. There's also no where to 'buy a license key' because the entire point of this is to get rid of them. Is there a location to buy a legit key?

Use Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp - Apple Support shows both Clean install and Upgrade. You can buy a key for W10 from Microsoft at http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-10-Pro/productID.319 935900 .


If you have W7/W8 already, you can upgrade for free and have 30 days to go back to previous version, ager which you stay with Windows 10. A Windows 10 upgrade registers your hardware with M$ servers, which allows subsequent clean installation. The embedded upgrade contains a retail product key assigned to the W10 installation once it is registered with M$.

How to activate Windows 10 on a clean Boot Camp install?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.