Operating Systems
Buy a genuine Windows product key for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 and get the 25-character key, the official Microsoft download link and an installation guide delivered by email within minutes of payment. Every license here is a one-time purchase with the license type (retail, OEM or volume) stated on the product page, backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee.
Showing 1–24 of 28 results
Showing 1–24 of 28 results
Genuine Windows product key for every Microsoft desktop version
This is the parent category for every Microsoft Windows license we sell. It gathers Windows 11, Windows 10 and the two legacy releases, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, in one place so you can compare versions before you narrow down to an edition. Whether you need a Windows 11 key for a new build, a Windows 10 product key to reinstall an older laptop, or a Windows 7 key to keep a workshop machine running, each product page states exactly what you get: the edition, the number of PCs covered, the license type and the activation method.
We are Software in Store, an independent reseller operated by MAKERS UNITY LLC in Sheridan, Wyoming. We are not affiliated with Microsoft. What we do is sell genuine Microsoft product keys as one-time purchases, deliver them by email within minutes, seven days a week, and stand behind each one with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a support team that answers every day of the week. If Microsoft ever asks for a phone activation, we walk you through the Installation ID and Confirmation ID exchange ourselves.
The Windows versions in this category
Each child category below holds the editions for one Windows release. Use the links to jump to the version you need, or keep reading for a comparison that helps you decide which release still makes sense to buy in 2026.
- Windows 11: Home, Pro, Pro N, Pro for Workstations, Education, Enterprise, Enterprise LTSC 2024, IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024, the Home to Pro upgrade, and bundles that pair Windows 11 Pro with Office. This is the current release and the right choice for any PC that meets its hardware requirements.
- Windows 10: Home, Pro, Pro N, Pro for Workstations, Education, Enterprise, Enterprise LTSC 2019 and 2021, IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021, and the upgrade to Pro. Mainstream support ended on October 14, 2025, but the LTSC editions continue on their own longer schedules.
- Windows 7: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate keys for legacy hardware, lab equipment and software that was never ported forward.
- Windows 8.1: Professional keys for the machines that shipped with it and for the few applications that still require it.
Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 7 compared
Before you buy a Windows license key, see the four releases side by side. Support status matters most: a version that no longer receives security updates should only run on isolated machines. Hardware requirements matter next, because Windows 11 has a stricter floor than any earlier release.
| Release | Microsoft support status | Hardware floor | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Current release, receives feature and security updates | TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, 1 GHz dual-core 64-bit CPU | New PCs and any machine built in roughly the last eight years |
| Windows 10 | Ended October 14, 2025 (LTSC and IoT LTSC editions continue on their own dates) | 1 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM for 64-bit, 20 GB storage | PCs that fail the Windows 11 hardware check, or workloads that need LTSC |
| Windows 8.1 | Ended January 10, 2023 | 1 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM for 64-bit, 20 GB storage | Devices that shipped with it and software that was certified only for it |
| Windows 7 | Ended January 14, 2020 | 1 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM for 64-bit, 20 GB storage | Offline workshop, lab and industrial machines |
Our advice is direct. If the PC passes the Windows 11 compatibility check, buy Windows 11. If it does not, Windows 10 remains a working, activatable system, and an Enterprise LTSC or IoT Enterprise LTSC key extends the update window by years. Windows 7 and 8.1 are for specific legacy needs, not for daily use on a connected machine.
Home, Pro and the other editions explained
Across Windows 10 and Windows 11 the edition names mean the same things, so the Windows 11 home vs Pro question has the same answer on either release. Home covers everyday personal use. Pro adds BitLocker drive encryption, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Group Policy and the ability to join a company domain. Pro N is Pro without the built-in media features. Pro for Workstations supports more processors and memory and the ReFS file system for high-end hardware. Education mirrors the Enterprise feature set for schools. Enterprise is the volume edition with the full security and management stack, and Enterprise LTSC receives security updates without feature updates for a fixed period, which is what factories, hospitals and kiosks want.
Which Windows product key should I choose?
Most buyers land on one of a handful of products. These three cover the large majority of orders in this category, and each link goes to the product page where the license type and PC count are spelled out.
- Windows 11 Pro, 1 PC: the default choice for a modern PC used for work. It activates 32-bit or 64-bit installs and gives you BitLocker, Remote Desktop and Hyper-V.
- Windows 11 Home, 1 PC: for a family or gaming PC that does not need domain join or drive encryption. You can upgrade to Pro later with a separate upgrade key.
- Windows 10 Pro, 1 PC: for hardware that fails the Windows 11 check, or for a reinstall on a machine that has always run Windows 10.
Buying for several machines? Windows 11 Pro and Windows 10 Pro are also available as 5-PC keys. If you already run Home on a new PC, the Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade key unlocks Pro without a reinstall. Organizations that need a fixed image for years should look at the Enterprise LTSC products inside the Windows 11 and Windows 10 categories.
How activation and delivery work
Every order in this category follows the same path from checkout to an activated desktop.
- Choose the edition and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Checkout is encrypted and PCI-compliant; we never see your card number.
- Within minutes, usually well under an hour even on weekends, you receive an email with the 25-character Windows activation key, the official Microsoft download link for the matching ISO or Media Creation Tool, and a short installation guide. The same key is saved under My Account.
- Install Windows, or open Settings, System, Activation on an existing install, and enter the key. Windows contacts Microsoft's servers and activates. No third-party tools are involved at any point.
- If Microsoft's servers ask for phone activation, email support@softwareinstore.com with the Installation ID shown on screen. A person replies with the Confirmation ID, seven days a week.
We sell the key; Microsoft validates it. That is the difference between a genuine Microsoft product key and the activation scripts that circulate online and leave a PC unlicensed.
Retail, OEM or volume: read the license type before you buy
Every product page in this category states which license type the key is. The three types behave differently after activation, and the difference matters if you plan to change hardware.
- Retail keys can be moved to a new PC after you remove them from the old one. They are the most flexible option and the right choice for a machine you may rebuild or replace.
- OEM keys are bound to the first PC they activate and stay with that motherboard. They cost less and suit a computer you plan to run until it is retired.
- Volume (MAK) keys come from Microsoft's volume licensing program, allow a limited number of activations and are meant for organizations that image many machines from one key.
If a product does not say 5 PCs or similar, it covers one PC. Each key is a perpetual license that you pay for once.
Frequently asked questions about Windows product keys
Which Windows version should I buy for a new PC?
Windows 11. It is the only release still receiving feature updates, and every PC sold since 2018 or so meets its requirements: TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a 1 GHz dual-core 64-bit processor. Pick Home for personal use and Pro if you want BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V or domain join. If the PC fails Microsoft's PC Health Check, Windows 10 Pro is the practical fallback, and its LTSC editions keep receiving security updates well past the October 2025 end-of-support date for the mainstream release.
Can I still activate Windows 10 after support ended?
Yes. Microsoft ending support on October 14, 2025 means no more security updates for Home and Pro, but activation servers continue to run and a genuine Windows 10 product key still activates. Microsoft also offers a paid Extended Security Updates program for a limited period. If you need Windows 10 for longer, the Enterprise LTSC 2021 and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 editions follow their own lifecycles and receive security updates into 2027 and 2032 respectively. Both are in our Windows 10 category.
Can I use a Windows 7 or 8.1 key to activate Windows 11?
No. The free upgrade path that once accepted Windows 7 and 8.1 keys for Windows 10 and 11 has been closed by Microsoft, and those keys are now rejected during Windows 11 activation. If you want a current operating system, buy a Windows 11 or Windows 10 key. Buy a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 key only when you actually intend to run that older release, for example on a machine that controls equipment or runs software that was never updated.
Is one key enough for two computers?
Not unless the product says so. A standard key activates one PC. If you have several machines, choose one of our 5-PC keys for Windows 11 Pro or Windows 10 Pro, which cover five separate installs under one key. Retail single-PC keys can be moved from one computer to another, but only after the old install is retired; running both at once is not permitted. OEM keys never move, and volume keys are for organizations that manage many devices.
What happens if my key does not work?
Email support@softwareinstore.com. A person reads it seven days a week and will first check whether the issue is a typo, a mismatched edition (for example, a Pro key entered on a Home install) or a phone-activation request from Microsoft, all of which we resolve quickly. If the key itself is at fault and cannot be made to activate, our 30-day money-back guarantee applies: we send a replacement key or refund the order in full, whichever you prefer.
Ready to choose? Open the Windows 11 category above for current hardware, browse Windows 10 if your PC is older, and read how it works for the full delivery and activation walkthrough. If you also need Office, our Microsoft Office category holds one-time purchase licenses for every recent release.