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

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?

google TheKey365


I like some of the transitions, but sometimes they're a bit too much and are seemingly random. Since we use these persistent elements that transition across pages to indicate some kind of relationship between the previous and the next states, some of your transitions confuse me because I can't immediately see what the relationship is.

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

Thanks for making this video. It's very helpful.
Microsoft's online help is worthless. I don't recall a single time when their instructions have been 100% correct. Usually, I'll search for a specific issue, but their instructions are for a similar, but not the same, issue. Their instructions aren't concise, either. They tend to write indirect instructions over several paragraphs, that should have been answered in just a couple of lines.

I love whokeys

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

linux no key bsd no key yes i hate windows all my life starting at win 1 yes it a thing the start of win 3.1

your information is not entirely correct

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.

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

I HAVE, actually, called Microsoft tech support.
It was a couple of years ago and I can't remember what it was for now. But I was SURPRISED because I expected to be told I had pay (like) $100 or something upfront. Because that was what it USED to be like. However, it was FREE! And it was on an older HP computer, too. One that had originally shipped with Windows 7. So it was CLEARLY an original OEM Windows 7 upgrade to Win 10. So Microsoft didn't seem worried about it not being a consumer-purchased operating system. It HAD, however, always been Windows Pro.

Also, the keys are lower price because they take advantage of exchange rates and buy keys in favorable currency exchange rates.

You can buy legit Windows keys for $3 you know?

I've seen people using crazy Chinese keys that require kms software to stay activated.

I need to say that in 2024 even i reached Microsoft chat support and they put effort and talked to me for more than 1 hour.
At the end of the day i reinstalled windows because me and Microsoft both couldn't find a solution for that specific problem.
And because i didn't change my laptop mother board I used my OEM key that registered to my Microsoft account to reactivate new windows.

So it seems retail keys the only advantage that they have is that it sticks with your Microsoft account and usable in more than 1 pc rather than stick with pc hardware (OEM Key) and not usable anywhere else.


So its totally safe to buy and use OEM keys as long as you're not switching your pc mother board regularly 😂😂

I hate going hone because I spend so much time fixing the family’s computers.

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

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

So you need to get the Opinion of a foreigner about Indian Sociology? Colonial inferiority complex quite evident here within the staff of NDTV. For gods sake wake up and realize that Indian at large and Hindus have moved on and you so called intellectuals are still langushing in the past. NDTV is just as confused as the Congress. Clueless and fast loosing relevance.

I'm more "concerned" about US vs ROW keys.... how about using to upgrade an existing system (home -> pro)

Simply updating a BIOS will trigger a Windows re-activation. Yeah, uh I don't care Microsoft, I'll get it however I want.

is this OEM key one time purchase or is it monthly purchase ?

Microsoft says point blank, if it registers, it's good.

Thank you for the key was struggling😭👌🏾

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

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.

it worked ngl i was very nervous a first

Question for the community (thanks a lot for the content <3). Do these oem key come with all the full capabilities around security? I recently saw a video where it teated win11 defender and it was pretty good but it said it does need access to internet so I wonder if it need a more 'official' licensed account or smthn. tyty

Damn... Another sponsored shill

I just want left information

I can't get the site to accept payment.

Discount code still works, thanks!

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.

Nah we are not them, don't worry

The reason for the huge discount is from the volume licensing deal for a block of OEM keys. As a builder, back in the day, we used to order a box of OEM licensed CDs (later DVDs) that came with a booklet that bore the OEM product key. The dead cost back then was quoted based on how many copies were purchased. You could also order these through a wholesale distributor at a slight markup over the bulk price that MS offered. This was useful if you were only making a couple of systems and had run out of copies of your own. Larger builders and larger scale manufacturers of course got the biggest discounts on volume purchases from MS. And they could order the Gold Disc from MS with a volume quantity of product keys. The Gold disc was beneficial in that the manufacturer could easily create customized installs and then produce their own system recovery CDs (later DVDs) for each specific system they produced and aheare the product key to the case. Once MS went to offering downloads of Windows verse selling the product on disc, they began offering keys in bulk that would work with the downloaded files. This is also when I first noticed the locking of an OEM key to the motherboard. I assume Who-Keys purchases a large block of keys from MS as an OEM and then, effectively acts as a wholesale distributor, which MS should be fine with because they have always allowed this as a way of distributing their OS to smaller OEMs.

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.

$16-$20!?!?!? LMAO they are like $3-$4 haha this is a ripoff

eyyy just got mine. thanks bro. helped a lot!! <3

How long can I use this key before it deactivates and I have to get a new one?

Hey Tek Syndicate, just wondering if your opinion has changed or not 11 months later, if not, I'll buy a key and respond to this comment if it worked or not. Thank you!

There are plenty of sites selling W10 keys for 2$. 22,50$ is a ripoff....ridiculously expensive.

You don't need to pay 200 USD to Microsoft. You can have Linux for free.

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!

I use this as a major upgrade to the KMS keys

Keys these days cost about 1 tot 2 bucks... So wouldnt care anymore to buy another

i will never buy a version of windows from one these shitty sites what you guys need to do is buy a real versions of windows from best buy .microcenter or any reputble store and stop being so gotdamn cheap i paid 150 dollars for windows ten pro and i made a microsoft account and i register my copy with microsoft i did this also 12 years ago and i have never been hacked also microsoft has never been hacked for peoples accounts for their pcs listen i am not crazy i do NOT put all my faith in microsoft they make mistakes also but you guys are just a bunch of scumbags who just want somthing for free

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

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.

Can you Upgrade windows 10 activated with Retail Key To Windows 11 without losing the activation !