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IMSS  /  Services  /  Computers, Printers & Software  /  Software  /  Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows

Caltech's M365 license for Windows is an upgrade license from Windows Professional to Windows Enterprise, which can be activated by using your access.caltech credentials if you are an A3 or A5 licensee (refer to eligibility here).

IMSS does not provide Windows Pro licenses or activation keys. Newly purchased devices should have a Windows Pro license purchased, or included, as part of the device purchase. This upgrade license will not upgrade Windows Home.

Activating Windows Enterprise

If you log in to your device with access.caltech credentials, the upgrade from Windows Pro to Enterprise should happen automatically.

How to check activation:

  • To check activation status in Windows 11, select the Start button, and then select Settings > System and then select Activation. 
  • To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation
  • Your activation status will be listed next to Activation status

If you do not log in to your device with access.caltech credentials, activate Windows Enterprise this way:

  • From the Start button, select Settings > Accounts and then select Access work or school
  • Click Connect and enter your access.caltech credentials

For more information about Windows activation:

Windows Enterprise Activation Requirements

  • You must be an A3 or A5 licensee to use Caltech's Windows Enterprise license (refer to eligibility here)
  • Caltech's Windows Enterprise license is an upgrade license, which means that it may only be used on computers with an existing Windows Pro operating system
  • Using Caltech's Windows Enterprise license as a secondary operating system in a dual-boot system is not allowed (i.e. using Parallels, VDI, VMWare Fusion)
  • You should only activate Caltech's Windows Enterprise license for Caltech-owned computers
  • Activating Caltech's Windows Enterprise license on a non-Caltech-owned computer is NOT recommended as it may result in an unusable operating system upon leaving Caltech or when your Caltech account is deactivated
  • Activating the Windows Enterprise license requires Windows 10 Pro (version 1903 or higher)