Here’s what it’s crucial that you know about installing and running Windows 11 without paying a dime.
Once the installation is complete, Windows will report that it has not been activated.
What Happens If You Don’t Activate Windows 11?
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
It will appear in screenshots and screencasts, on all displays that are connected to your gear.
So if you plug in a projector to give a presentation, you’ll see the watermark.
If you’re streaming games on Twitch, the watermark will be visible.
If you’re taking full-screen desktop screenshots for your job as a tech blogger, it’ll be visible.
On top of this, you’ll lose access to most of the personalization options under configs > Personalization.
Can You Use Windows as Normal Without Activating?
Outside of the drawbacks outlined above, Windows will be largely unaffected by your decision to activate or not.
it’s possible for you to also pull up the Microsoft Store and download apps.
When Is It Not Worth Activating Windows 11?
The first is immediate cost.
The other reason to avoid activating Windows 11 is to try it before you buy it.
Mac users who are running Windows in a VMare another target audience.
There’s no need to activate until you’re confident your issue is resolved.
Still Using Windows 10?
Windows 11 has a fewadditional requirements like TPM 2.0that mean older hardware might not be officially supported.
If you still want to give the latest version a shot you caninstall Windows 11 on an unsupported PC.
If you’d rather stick with Windows 10, that’s okay.
Microsoft has promised to support the operating system withsecurity updates until October 2025.
You’ll either have to keep using Windows without activating it or buy a license from Microsoft.
Should You Activate Windows 11?
Get rid of the pesky “Activate Windows” watermark and unlock all the personalization options you want.
Related:Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Should You Upgrade to Windows 11?
