For a long time, these manufacturers printed product keys on labels stuck on PCs or printed and inserted them into product packaging. It’s printed and included in the packaging, emailed to you, or stored in the cloud, which is usually the case for system builders.Ī digital license connects your installed Windows platform to a key embedded in pre-built systems from Acer, Dell, HP, and so on. What’s the difference? When you purchase an operating system from Microsoft or any retailer, it comes with a product key to unlock it. It would be best to have a valid product key or a digital license to get a free upgrade. Product keys and digital licenses Arif Bacchus/Digital Trends No need to worry, though - there are still ways to get Microsoft’s latest operating system without paying for a new license or breaking any rules. Unfortunately, the original free upgrade period for the two older versions ended years ago, and the workaround to get Windows 10 for free with Assistive Technologies ended not long after that.
