Microsoft is now preventing Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys from activating a copy of Windows 11. This is a vulnerability that has been around for years allowing people to upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 or 11 for free.
Microsoft originally announced the changes to block the Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys from Windows 11 late last month, but at the time, we saw that the keys were still active and it was unclear when the ban would actually take effect.
As of this week, Windows 7 keys are now completely blocked from clean installs of Windows 11, Microsoft confirms to The Verge.
I tested several Windows 7 keys on a clean install of Windows 11 (22H2) today and even though I can use the keys to install the operating system, it will not activate, and we cannot activate Windows on this device because you do not have a valid digital license or key Valid Product", and the error message appears when you now try to activate your Windows 7 key on Windows 11.
If you've previously upgraded a device from Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 11 or used one of these legacy keys, your activation status won't change and you have a digital license that should continue to work. But if you're hoping to use this vulnerability in the future, it's time to buy a key. Windows 11 is legitimate instead.