Bad news for those planning to activate Windows 11 with a Windows 7 or 8/8.1 key: users noticed that the latest Windows 11 preview builds no longer allow activation with old license keys. In December ...

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 7 and 8 keys can no longer activate any Windows 11 edition or version, not just Canary builds, as reported in September. However, Windows 10 keys are still valid.

Microsoft has ended the third and final year of Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) and is urging customers to migrate to Windows 11 on a new PC or buy Windows 10 if they can't or don't want to.