Windows OEM VS Retail Keys | Are They Safe? Which is for You? 

Wanted to throw this out: on occasion, I was able to call Microsoft and have them reactivate a key as you describe in the video and I couldn't believe it worked. I even did this with a windows LTSC key I purchased. If you had a virus, or maybe your motherboard tanked, they can be cool about it. At the $20ish price area, it's almost not worth the work to get them to reactivate it though. Great content. I have bought OEM since windows xp/Win 7. Don't be scared to be your own OEM!

honestly I was just looking for a straight concise explanation so thank you for that. just saw a bunch of people talking about buying bad keys so I wanted more info since the other guy I saw pushing it was not explaining.

Thank you. I’ve never had a problem with the OEM keys . Liked and subscribed. Glad I found you.

Awesome help from you on this issue. I just rebuilt a machine and this is huge help! thank you!

As I usually build a new system every 4 to 5 years, I've only purchased an OEM version of Windows. Recently purchased a Win 10 Pro OEM for $42.00 . Comes with a DVD install disk & key. Have only had one instance where I was replacing a component and had to call support to reactivate windows. Fair winds and following seas to all.

Thanks man! This was very helpful about to go activate windows 11 on my first pc build!

Thank you for the thorough explanation. This has been a huge help and I can confirm the keys do work.

This is really awesome dude, I truly appreciate you doing this man. I feel a bit more confident and educated about this! Thank YOU very much

thank you for this information, its very helpful and time saver

Back in the day you could only activate OEM keys a certain amount of times. If you did a clean install of you PC too many times you were kind of locked out. Retail keys can be activated how many times you want.

Your my newest thing. You spoke clearly and precisely. To the point. I can appreciate that. SUBBED

You can also buy retail keys from these sites at discount prices. Usually these are gray market, meaning they are legit keys but meant to be sold in another region with different pricing. I have half a dozen retail keys that I bought when Windows 7 came out. Years later, they activate just fine on Windows 11. I think at some point MS stopped caring which version you were upgrading from, they just want everyone on Windows 11 as fast as possible so they can start pushing Windows Store apps and O365 subscriptions.

Can confirm that WhoKeys works just fine. I finally decided to get an SSD and upgrade my old Win 7 box to Windows 10. I had a retail version of Windows 10 on a thumb drive that I used to set up the computer. I didn't remember that is was Windows "Home" and I really need things like Remote Desktop Access so I decided to upgrade to Windows Pro and I definitely wasn't going to pay full price. Just a word of advice. Since my boxed version of Win 10 was a "retail" version, the OEM key I purchased would not activate my version of Windows to "Pro". Not a huge surprise. Luckily I had only installed video drivers and browsers, so I just downloaded the official Windows installer from Microsoft's website and put it on an 8GB thumb drive. I wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows, this time with the OEM key and it worked perfectly. Thanks for the discount code! I was able to fine cheaper keys online, but finding a reputable source like you made me feel much safer with my purchase.

Was going to build a PC w/o help in the first time forever. For this situation do you download the copy of windows in a flash drive and then have the key ready to go from this site?

Thanks bro, I bought a windows 10pro key and it worked perfectly. Much appreciated.

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

I will be building my first PC in the immediate future and I found this information helpful. Thank you!

Just bought a Windows 11 Pro CD Key with your discount code. Thank you so much!

I got a pc with a windows XP version years ago, it was an OEM license somehow I got the option for Windows 7 upgrade for free and then took the Windows 10 upgrade for free and nothing in the PC besides the case and fans and power supply is the same, everything was replaced over time ofc the motherboard too I don't even have the key anymore (it was on a sticker on the PC) so before you buy keys from the grey market check if your existing license is or can be linked to your Microsoft account, if so you should be able to upgrade your hardware at will (as long the windows license is only active at one device at the time)

Updated the BIOS on an MSI Pro Z690-A DDR4 and windows 11 all of a sudden became deactivated, after an hour long call with MS troubleshooting & letting them screen share / access my PC remotely they couldn't figure it out and told me to call MSI or try downgrading to previous bios, I ended up just buying a key from whokeys and had no problems , after Tek's 25% coupon & first time buyer coupon it came out to $23 for Win 11 Pro, didn't have to reinstall windows (it was already win 11 pro) just entered the key and it re-activated, Thanks!

Awesome thanks been trying to find a reputable place to get a key worked on first go 🎉

eyyy just got mine. thanks bro. helped a lot!!

One thing to also remember: If you e.g. have a retail key of Windows 10 and upgrade to Windows 11, you can no longer transfer that key to a new device, effectively downgrading it to an OEM key.

Just upgraded to windows 11 pro from home on my new laptop. Was able to use your discount code and the discount code for opening a new account at the same time. I got like $12 off. Thanks for the video!!

One of my biggest concerns with sites like this is if the key is a legit key or a volume license key. I found a video years ago showing that you can use a PID checker to see which key you have and when I bought my key from Whokeys, it was legit. No issues and no deactivation.

What does the Office 365 Pro Plus give you? Is it similar to a prepaid subscription key, how many month(s)?

Thank you for the key was struggling😭👌🏾

Have a question on this..... Suppose I have installed Windows 10 with OEM Key. And had to format the drive and reinstall windows again......will that same key work again or do I have to buy another key??

I've been using OEM keys for a while now, I have used the last two I bought on two different systems (not at the same time). Since you register the key under your microsoft account if you ever change your MOBO or change your system for a new one you can just remove the key from the old one and re-use it on the new system

I would agree , using hacked versions of Windows, leads to problems . But in saying that I have heard people say that if you change Hardware multiple times like Ram graphics hard drive etc I think more than 10 times a Oem key will deactivate. Though personally I haven't experienced this.

First time Whokeys user. Discount code worked without issue and Windows 11 Pro purchase experience was smooth. New machine, so should be many years before any drive upgrades.

Straight up, i bought a key from ur sponsor and i windows didnt let activate the pro key on an unactivated home install, so that was a small hurdle to consider but the key is legit and it was like 15$ instead of 100+. Very tight, my dude

You are so talented brother ❤❤❤

just found this dude and really simple explanation and he looks RAD

Thanks for this video. I followed the advice in this video and everything seemed to work very well. I used your discount code and it worked fine, and this is 1 month after you made this video. I haven't verified my key yet, but so far everything looks good. I appreciate what you did to make this video. I found this very helpful. Thanks!

Thanks! I just bought a windows 10 pro key and it worked! 🎉

Question for the community (thanks a lot for the content

My personal experience is I’ve purchased OEM products from a hardware shop since XP and have had no trouble. The trouble began when I purchased a retail copy of Win10 Pro from a Microsoft store-pre covid- and something weird went wrong with a Win update, 22H2 I believe, -man, the terminal in Linux is so much better than Win update- and my flash drive copy of Win 10 kept giving me odd errors with every (3 total)install. I tried the install on a fresh new SSD drive(2 installations)and I got the same odd errors from the flash drive. I tried several different phone numbers for Microsoft and finally got a human and described the situation to him and asked how do I get a replacement. I have the flash drive, the credit card sized product ID card and the receipt. After more than 30 minutes the final word was I was SOL... 🤢... 🤮. I was also told that I could purchase Win11. ❓I learned my lesson. I’m sticking with the hardware vendor and I’ve already started switching to another OS👍🤓❗️

Surprised to how easy this process was. Worked perfectly

Super wonderful and useful

is scdkey same as whokey as far as reliability?

Thanks, good explanation. Wish I’d seen this before I bought that retail key 😂

I'm confused. 3:17 you said the OEM key was locked to the MB. Then at 3:45 you said "$200 for the ability to move to multiple different systems.". But the 'Retail Key' is the one that you can buy for ~$35, and allows you to move to different MBs? Or do I have it backwards..? From what you have said, I thought the OEM was from MS at $200 for pc builders, and was locked to the MB. And the Retail key allowed for MB upgrades...?

This may be a dumb question but this key is what I put in to activate windows (I'm currently running in inactivated version of windows 11 pro)? Also So, if i install an OEM activation key on my system, it will make me not be able to upgrade my mobo without the key going away? Are there options for what to do if something like this happens?

My first time back from a long break from tech channels, been like years, Logan has long hair now, Like wow. As for someone who has a Windows OEM key and not a Retail Vendor key. I can say for the times I have been using the OEM key, I usually have sorted my own issues for the last 10 years. I have had to use the Microsoft tech support two or three times, which has been useful. but for an average person Id just suggest a Retail key. (If you are a crazy and rigging crazy hardware or making incompatible thing work. might be useful.)

I wish they would have your video higher in the list, going to sound crazy, but I always look up your video before getting a windows key to make sure you get that bang for the buck for showcasing a great and reliable source for windows keys.

Even upgrading my motherboard, I was able to reactivate with my existing key, as it's tied to my MS account, I simply said in the activation troubleshooter that I had had a hardware change. :)

Thank you very much for this info I will try using who keys

Building my first PC since the windows 95 days. I’m really worried about buying a windows code through a site like this. But the price isn’t even comparable.

If i buy windows 11 pro activation key do i get windows 11 pro or do i stay on windows 11 home?

Is g2g safe to buy windows key from?

Just bought my first OEM key, works great thanks.

late, but literally just bought a key from here, had some trouble but they had a guide right there to help so everything went smoothly, i recommend so far.

Thank you so much, I had so much troubles activating windows until I found your video.

Do you still use gpu's as cup holders?

Thank you!

im not comfortable putting in my credit card info thats about it, is their a way that i can use a visa gift card?

I went through the purchase process and bought Windows Pro 10 during the course of this video from Whokeys, on sale for Christmas...worked like a charm, got my code in 30 seconds, copy/paste, done.

Can I reset or reformat my pc back to clean from the start? And is it okay doing that using OEM product key?

First of all, THANK YOU. I’ve been using pirated copies of Windows for years but never felt good about it. I’ve bought several copies of windows 11 using your discount code. I have a question though: if I bought a windows 10 key would it still validate a windows 11 install?

You don't need to move to 11 different PCs only, if you format your PC it will lost its key and hence you'll need to buy a new one. Some people formats their PC 1 to 2 times even in a year their PCs, and considering for the last decade one key (from windows 7 to windows 11) can activate a windows operating system fine, we can quickly see the benefits here over a OEM key. Actually, I prefer to activate my windows through the cmd and a kms server, I can activate whenever I want and for free 👌

Very educational even if sponsored. Thanks for the great content!

bought new pc, but since my drive have OEM windows, new motherboard cant even see windows there to boot it up.... so i'm jumping here though hoops, trying to figure out how to boot new PC..... mb reinstall without activation and activate on new PC ?

OEM keys are great! I always use them when I build new PCs for friends & family! Also, I'm still using the same retail key I had back in college that was on my Windows Vista laptop... If I didn't have a retail key already, I would be using a OEM key instead.

Does this version of windows (oem) receive updates?

Thank so much, I finally found where to buy one and cheap

I bought a retail windows 8 ultimate key and it did not support moving to a new system after updating to windows 10....

Just went to whokeys based on your recommendation, paid for an OEM win pro 11 key, was sent a win 10 key that I checked PID and it's not even valid. Cool video dude.

Yea, just brought mine. Thanks

Will these OEM keys work on Virtual Machines?

I have MS Pro Office 10 OS on my computer and purchased MS Pro Office 10 OEM Key from the whokeys website, but I do not see any stand alone applications downloaded to my desktop (Word, Excel, etc). Do you know why?

Actually, I use an OEM key and when I changed motherboards, I was able to select the key that I used on my old motherboard during activation by saying I lost my key. It gave me the option to choose from my last two motherboards. I selected the old Gigabyte, and was activated immediately.

how long does it usually take for my key to get acceses

It worked thank you.

My SSD just broke on my prebuilt pc (that came with windows installed), i’m buying a new one. Will i have to buy a new windows key?

can buy for around that price along with a sealed scratch-to-show serial number and a DVD disc

I use this as a major upgrade to the KMS keys

I'm new to this, so what if more than one person buy the same key from this website+?

Thanks for the discount!

I just built my pc and I’m new to all this for me the I think it’s the piece of mind to get retail for everything so I don’t have to worry.

Ok I downloaded an activation key for the laptop I was fixing up for my granddaughter from a outlet called CDKeys Sales very much like the one that you use. Firstly what puzzles me is how can these places sell a key for that little amount of money. Secondly just where do those sites get the keys from do they buy them in bulk from MS if so then it sort of makes sense if they do not gives you their support - which by the way I have had rare occasions to contact MS thankfully because heir support is not the greatest in the world in my humble opinion. In reality there must be trillions of combination activation key sets for Windows systems? It is stranger than fiction eh?

Thanks for the advice! I was one of those skeptics 😆 ... Just bought a key from Whokeys!

Just bought mine easily and was able to pay through Paypal. I'll confirm this weekend that the key works.

I have used oem win10 key that was used to activate win11 in old laptop again later ( that laptop wasn't used for months at that point) to activate win11 in virtual machine.

thanks for this, with the cash i save will be so much better used for a new tasty plugin for FL... and thanks for clearing up what the difference of OEM key and retail...im getting ready to build my first computer , and learning how to be my own tech support . which i find important and necessary since the computer is an audio production dedicated PC .and the set ups can get pretty unique. and where i live at, none of the PC shops understand the differences they can require from gaming..

Thank you

For your kind information. MS do give support to the OEM OS Customer. I am taking since 7-8 years.

used the cheap keys and have managed to swap motherboards twice no issue, and have to contact MS when it was a platform change on the third swap.

*CD-KEY* does it mean I need a disk drive? Or does it mean I don’t? (NEW PC BUILDER HERE) or is it just a fancy wording basically meaning “activation code”

I have bought 3 keys today and I keep getting an error activating. it says hardware has changed connect to the internet. what should I do?

Please i need answer - i have OEM windows in ASUS laptop - i want to upgrade to bigger SSD, can i move my OEM windows to this new SSD ?

Very useful video

Just purchased from who keys and I have to admit, I thought I may have gotten scammed. I got the code within 30 seconds and it actually worked. Thanks so much really appreciate it!

Tried the WHOKeys site and it would not process my card. Don't know what the problem is.

if you associate your oem key with microsoft account ,can you change the motherboard ?

I just bought 2x using your code, seems like a small price to pay to not use some sketchy method. They both activated without issue.

It worked for me than you so much was very helpful and help me save more money 🧙🏾‍♂️🧙🏾‍♂️🙇🏾‍♂️🙇🏾‍♂️🙇🏾‍♂️

When I first bought a Windows XP Professional computer it came with an OEM key. I used that machine for tests, including of viruses. I had to format and reinstall the OS many times untill... I got the serial key blocked. I called Microsoft and they confirmed the OEM keys only allow a limited number of times for possible installations (which makes sense for since they are so cheap). OEM keys for me... NEVER AGAIN!!! But if you are the kind of user that installs the system once and NEVER AGAIN want to reinstall (after formatting the disk), that's wonderful!

Thankyou

does any of these keys gives me a link to download windows 10 software or is it only the key for activation?