Can you use a windows 11 license to install windows 10 and then upgrade it back up to windows 11?

Question

I'm having no end of trouble trying to do a fresh install of windows 11 on a new PC build. I know for a fact that everything in the system is ready for 11 and I even have TPM enabled correctly. My issue is that no matter what usb I find and put the windows boot data on, and no matter what settings I do in the BIOS to get it to boot, I just get a variety of blue screens with varying errors. Occasionally it will go all the way through and start the installation setup but only as far as the product key entry; if I put in my key or even just use the "I don't have one" option, it just blue screens again.

I'm wondering if I can instead put windows 10 onto a usb and try to install it on the off chance that it doesn't have the same issues. Would I be able to use my windows 11 key to activate windows 10 and still be able to use that license to upgrade back up to 11?

Answer 1

Hello.

Windows 11 keys do not activate Windows 10. Each version of Windows has its specific activation key.

It is recommended that you use Win11 Installation Assistant to perform a clean installation of Win11:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11/?msockid=1c9999426ba069af2dd68dbb6aa168ec

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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