Windows 10: Microsoft tweaks activation rules for Windows 10 Anniversary Update

The link works on Insider Builds as far as the App is concerned but, I'm not going to re-install the Feedback Hub.

 

I cannot see "Add a Microsoft Account" option under Settings/Update& security/Activation in Build 14372:

 

I would say It's not fully implemented yet? The activation server side of things likely isn't turned on yet.

 

It is again typical MS confusion - why are they so incapable of explaining things.

MS say it is automatically connected if you have logged in to an MSA account.

As far as I can make out, you only see the add account link if you are logged in with a local account.

When I clicked that link all it seems to do is change your login to an MSA.

Then you can see device on your account if you login to account on web.

Now here's the thing - if you go back to a local account, the registered device disappears again!

So I am unclear if the so called add account link does anything else reallyother than changing to an MSA account.

 

I think you have the best answer, Kerry

Windows GUI won't be updated until the 1607 release. This makes the most sense to me - why would MS register millions of Insider keys with this method?

I would venture a guess that this feature is only implemented for internal testing.

It won't be confusing until MS releases 1607 *Wink

 

@ Slartybart They aren't storing keys, just linking your Digital Entitlement for the device to your Microsoft ID. Insiders are likely all running with the same generic key. Just like those running with the Consumer version with Digital Entitlements. But yes, why do it now. Some code just slipped through is all. And likely some testing internally at Microsoft.

 

Good point ... Insider installs use a key, not digital entitlement. That was what I was really trying to get to - there's a difference between Insider builds and Consumer builds. I'm not sure any code slipped, MS just hasn't put it on the Insider build flight OR the feature doesn't appear in Insider Builds ... because there is no Digital Entitlement to link to an MS account.

I still think you have the best answer *Smile

 

Not that it matters, other than for conversations sake, but I can switch from Consumer to Insider in settings and I stay using a digital entitlement. I can clean install an insider build on this PC without entering a key and activate it with my digital entitlement. Would somebody running an insider build go to Settings > Updates & Security > Activation > Product key and post back if it says activated with a digital entitlement. I'm curious what it says. I will be installing an insider build very shortly, just don't have the time to do it right now. My spare PC is setup to test the GWX App in Windows 7.

 

That's all that it says on my computers running build 14372. It says nothing about linking my digital license to my Microsoft account.

I have two laptops that have never had an insider build on them. I'm thinking about doing a clean install of 14372 on one of them to see if I get any options to link the digital license to my MS account.

 

I don't think it will actually work/be an option until the anniversary update gets released. Go for it though.

 

Have just upgraded to 14376 and I now get the message my digital licence is linked, whereas on 14372 I did not.

Interestingly, if you change login to a local account, the message changes to just "windows is activated with a digital licence".

More importantly, the pc disappears as a device in your MS account which implies the linking of the digital licence to the MS account also disappears.

This implies you always have to be logged in with an MS account to ensure you can use the new activation mechanism?

The add account option appears when logged in with a local account. Clicking on it does not seem to do anything special other than changing local account to an MS account which is a bit sly really if I am right.

 

The option definitely exists and is functional now. However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account. You do not see (afaik) the add account if you are already logged in via your MS account.

 

This begs the question.... What if there is more than user with a MS Account login on that computer?

 

I don't follow you?

Do you mean more than one user - I assume it would have to be the primary admin account?

 

Those two statements contradict each other? "exists and is functional now", "However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account". It looks to me like it's there in that build of Windows, but the activation server side isn't set up yet. It's not fully functional yet.