URL: https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/productoffering/WindowsDesktopOperatingSystem/MCA
Change detected on: April 2, 2025, 6:30 am
What Changed
Windows Desktop Operating System Showing terms for the Microsoft Customer Agreement program. Not all terms apply to all products and programs. Get help selecting a program. Availability Use the chart below to see which Windows Desktop Operating System products are available with which programs. Product MCA Date Available Program Attribute Universal Print (Per User) Universal Print Volume Add-on (10K) Universal Print Volume Add-on (500) Windows 10 Home Academic Legalization Get Genuine Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (Per Device) 8/23 Windows 10 Pro Legalization Get Genuine Windows 11 Education A3 (Per User) 10/17 Windows 11 Education A5 (Per User) 10/17 Windows 11 Enterprise E3 (SL) 8/15 Windows 11 Enterprise E5 (SL) 8/16 Windows 11 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business Premium Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 (Per Device) 10/24 Windows 11 Pro (Per Device) 8/15 Windows 7 ESU 2021 (Per Device) Windows Enterprise LTSC 2021 (Per Device) 10/18 Windows Enterprise LTSC 2024 (Per Device) 10/24 Windows VDA E3 (SL) 12/14 Product Conditions:Provides additional information related to acquiring the Product, such as prerequisites for purchase, prior versions, and the applicable Product Pool.Product Conditions – GeneralPrior VersionWindows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 (10/18), Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry  (4/14)Product PoolSystemPromotionsNoneProduct Conditions – Program SpecificStudent Use BenefitRefer to Student Use Benefits and Academic ProgramsLicense Assignment for Windows Desktop Operating System LicensesPer User License Assignment Eligibility (Excluding Virtual Desktop Access)The Licensed User must be the Primary User of at least one device licensed with a Qualifying OS. This one device must also be the Primary Userâs primary work device.Per Device License Assignment Eligibility (Excluding Virtual Desktop Access)The Licensed Device must be licensed with a Qualifying OS, and the Qualifying OS must be installed on the Licensed Device. Per Device license assignment is permanent unless Customer has Software Assurance for that device.Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) License Assignment EligibilityVDA Per Device and Per User licenses may be assigned to any user or device.Qualifying Operating Systems Windows software acquired through a volume licensing agreement may only be installed or activated on devices licensed to run one of the qualifying operating systems (OS) below. Qualifying OS for Per User Licenses and Virtual Desktop Access Per Device/User LicensesQualifying Operating SystemsEnterprise Agreement, Microsoft Products and Services Agreement, Select, Select Plus, Open ValueMicrosoft Cloud Agreement and Microsoft Customer AgreementWindows 10/11Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, Pro, Pro for WorkstationsXXEducation, Home X (Academic licenses only)Windows 8/8.1 1Enterprise, Pro, Windows Embedded 8/8.1 Pro/Industry ProX 1 Windows 7 Operating Systems covered by an Extended Security Update (ESU) license are Qualifying Operating Systems during the deviceâs active ESU coverage period. Windows 7 Enterprise, Professional, Ultimate and Professional/Ultimate for Embedded Systems editions are equivalent to Windows 8 Pro edition eligibility. Windows 10 Operating Systems covered by an Extended Security Update (ESU) license are Qualifying Operating Systems during the device's active ESU coverage period. Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, Education, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions are equivalent to Windows 11 Pro edition eligibility.Qualifying OS – Per Device Licenses (Excluding Virtual Desktop Access Licenses)Unless Customer has Software Assurance for the device, Customer must remove the Qualifying OS from the device before installing Windows software acquired through a volume licensing agreement on a Licensed Device.Qualifying Operating SystemsNew Enterprise Agreement (EA)/Open Value Company Wide (OV-OW) 1Existing Enterprise Agreement (EA)/Open Value Company Wide (OV-OW)Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)/Select Plus/OpenMicrosoft Cloud Agreement and Microsoft Customer AgreementAcademic and CharityWindows 10/11 Enterprise, Pro, Pro for WorkstationsXXXXXEducation, Home   X (Academic licenses only)XWindows 8/8.1 2Enterprise, Pro X X X  XWindows 8/8.1     XApple     macOS 3 X  X  XWindows Embedded Operating Systems     Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise X X XX  XWindows 2000 Professional for Embedded Systems X  X  XWindows XP Professional for Embedded Systems X  X  XWindows Vista Business/Ultimate for Embedded Systems X  X  XWindows 7 Professional/Ultimate for Embedded Systems X X X  XWindows Embedded 8/8.1 Pro/Industry Pro X X X  X1 Also applicable to Qualified Devices acquired through merger or acquisition.2 Windows 7 Operating Systems covered by an Extended Security Update (ESU) license are Qualifying Operating Systems during the deviceâs active ESU coverage period. Windows 7 Enterprise, Professional, and Ultimate editions are equivalent to Windows 8 Pro edition eligibility. Windows 7 Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter Edition editions are equivalent to Windows 8 edition eligibility. Windows 10 Operating Systems covered by an Extended Security Update (ESU) license are Qualifying Operating Systems during the device's active ESU coverage period. Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, Education, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions are equivalent to Windows 11 Pro edition eligibility.3 macOS must be preinstalled by the authorized manufacturer prior to the initial sale of the device.Third Party Re-imagingBefore a third party may re-image a Customerâs devices, Customer must provide the third party with written documentation showing it has the requisite licenses for the installation.Purchase Eligibility for Windows 11 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business PremiumCustomers in Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA, any country in South America, any country in Central America, or any country in the European Union may license the Windows 11 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business Premium in any quantity up to the number of its Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscriptions. Notwithstanding the Qualifying OS license requirements, Customer may install Windows 11 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business Premium software on devices licensed with Windows Home version 7 or later.Automatic UpdatesCustomer authorizes Microsoft to download and install updates automatically on devices running Windows 10/11 unless they have been configured to prevent automatic updates using supported methods. All updates are licensed under the same terms as the Product to which they apply.Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates)Customer may acquire Windows 10 ESU licenses on a per device basis. Devices running a local OSE covered by ESU or accessing virtual OSEs covered by ESU must be licensed with Windows 10 ESU for the respective year of coverage. Devices do not need an ESU license to access Windows 10 OSEs covered by ESU running on Azure Virtual Desktop. If Customer has one or more ESU licenses, devices do not need an ESU license to run or access Windows 10 OSEs covered by ESU when the OSE is licensed through a Visual Studio Subscription for development or test purposes. Windows 10 ESU 2025/2026/2027 licenses may be assigned to any device. Windows 10 ESU 2026 & 2027 may only be assigned to devices also licensed with ESU(s) for the prior year(s).Windows 7 ESU (Extended Security Updates)Customer may acquire Windows 7 ESU licenses on a per device basis. Devices running a local OSE covered by ESU or accessing virtual OSEs covered by ESU must be licensed with Windows 7 ESU for the respective year of coverage. Devices do not need an ESU license to access Windows 7 OSEs covered by ESU running on Azure Virtual Desktop. If Customer has one or more ESU licenses, devices do not need an ESU license to run or access Windows 7 OSEs covered by ESU when the OSE is licensed through a Visual Studio Subscription for development or test purposes. Windows 7 ESU 2020/2021/2022 for M365 licenses may only be assigned to devices with active Software Assurance or used exclusively by users with Windows Enterprise, VDA, or M365 SLs (that include Windows Enterprise). Windows 7 ESU 2020/2021/2022 licenses may be assigned to any device. Windows 7 ESU 2021 & 2022 and Windows 7 ESU 2021 & 2022 for M365 licenses may only be assigned to devices also licensed with ESU(s) for the prior year(s).Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise LTSCWindows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 or Windows 11 loT Enterprise LTSC 2024 license may not be used on a General Purpose PC or as a commercially viable substitute for such a system. A âGeneral Purpose PCâ means a device used for consumer or business tasks or processes such as email, word processing, spreadsheets, database, network/Internet browsing, scheduling, and personal finance.Academic and Charity Programs License AssignmentPer User License AssignmentThe Licensed User must be the Primary User of at least one device that satisfies the Qualifying OS Per Device License requirements.Per Device License AssignmentThe Licensed Device must satisfy the Qualifying OS Per Device license requirements, and the Qualifying OS must be installed on the Licensed Device. Per Device license assignment is permanent unless Customer has Software Assurance for that device.Academic Program Windows Edition RightsWindows Education licenses include rights to install or activate Windows Enterprise in lieu of Windows Education.Lab and Library UseInstitutions with Windows Education E3/E5, or Windows Education (per device) assigned to all faculty and staff, Education Qualified Users or Knowledge Workers may install Windows Education, Windows Enterprise, or Windows Pro Academic on any open access lab or library within the Institutionâs Organization. Use of the software is otherwise subject to the License terms for Windows Education. This provision does not apply to User SLs acquired under the Microsoft Cloud Agreement and Microsoft Customer Agreement.Shared DevicesInstitutions with Windows Education E3/E5 assigned to all Knowledge Workers or Education Qualified Users are licensed to run Windows Education, Windows Enterprise, or Windows Pro Academic on any shared device with a qualifying operating system within the Institutionâs Organization. For the purposes of this subsection, shared device means a device not used by any one person more than 50% of the time during a single work day period, and not assigned to any Primary User as their primary work device. Use of Windows on shared devices does not count as use of an Education Platform Product under the Enrollment for Education Solutions. Use of the software is otherwise subject to the License terms for Windows Education.Get Genuine Windows LicensesCustomers may acquire Get Genuine Windows (also known as âGGWAâ) licenses for the full version of the Windows desktop operating system for devices that require valid Windows licenses. Because Get Genuine Windows licenses are full licenses for Windows, they do not have a Qualifying OS requirement.Get Genuine Windows licenses are available only as a one-time purchase per Customer, where all units must be placed under a single order. Get Genuine Windows licenses may not be assigned to devices without a Qualifying OS if such devices are obtained after the Customerâs order.Universal Print Volume Add-on PrerequisitesLicenseLicense PrerequisitesUniversal Print Volume Add-onMicrosoft 365 A3/A5/E3/E5/F3; Microsoft 365 Business Premium; Windows 11 Education A3/A5; Windows 11 Enterprise E3/E5; Universal Print Use Rights Identifies the License Terms for each Software Product, including the Universal License Terms, the applicable License Model, and any Product-Specific License Terms. References in Customerâs volume licensing agreement to âUse Rightsâ refer to the terms included in the Use Rights section of each Software Product Entry.Use RightsLicense TermsUniversal License Terms for all Software (see Additional License Terms for Online Services section below)Down EditionsEnterprise to ProExternal User Access RequirementsNoneIncluded TechnologiesNoneNoticesH.264 and/or VC-1, H.265/HEVC – refer to Notices Additional License Terms for Online ServicesCertain Windows software licenses include some Online Services which are governed by the Universal License Terms for Online Services, including but not limited to, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Windows Autopilot, Windows Autopatch, Windows Update for Business Reports, and Windows Update for Business deployment service. Windows Local UseCustomer may run Windows software acquired through a volume licensing agreement as one Physical OSE locally on Licensed Devices. This local use right applies to VDA per device licenses only if the Licensed Device is also licensed with a Qualifying Operating System. Licensed Users may run Windows software acquired through a volume licensing agreement as one Physical OSE locally on devices licensed with a Qualifying Operating System.Microsoft Entra ID Based Activation for WindowsLicensed Users using Microsoft Entra ID-based activation may activate the software in the Physical OSE on up to five concurrent devices running either Windows 10 Pro Anniversary Update or Windows 10 Enterprise Creatorâs Update or a later version.Microsoft Defender for EndpointEligible Licensed Users may use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on up to five concurrent devices.Windows AppsUnless other terms are displayed to Customer or presented in the appâs settings, Customer agrees the services that it accesses from the Windows app is governed by the Microsoft Services Agreement at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=246338 or for Windows apps that access Xbox services, the Xbox.com terms of use at http://xbox.com/legal/livetou.Microsoft Customer Agreement Activation Use RightsFor Customers licensed under a Microsoft Cloud Agreement or Microsoft Customer Agreement,Notwithstanding Microsoft Entra ID-Based Activation for Windows and Windows 11 Upgrade Benefit requirements, each user may activate no more than five concurrent instances of the software across physical and virtual OSEs.For subscription licenses only, notwithstanding the Universal License Terms for all Software or volume licensing agreement, upgrade subscription licenses do not include rights to run or install a prior version, different language version, different platform version, or a lower edition of Windows, including Windows Enterprise LTSC. Users may, however, apply their edition upgrades to Windows 10 devices without updating to Windows 11 if they choose.Software Assurance Benefits do not apply.Windows 11 Upgrade BenefitThe following User SLs include a Windows 11 upgrade benefit (version upgrade only, edition remains the same) for device(s) licensed with Windows 8, 8.1, 10: Windows 11 Enterprise/Education (all)Microsoft 365 (all that include Windows 11 Enterprise)Windows 11 VirtualizationCustomers with Windows 11 Enterprise Per User SLs (excluding local only), Windows 11 Education Per User SLs, or VDA Per User SLs using Microsoft Entra ID-based activation on supported editions may install the Windows 10 Creators Update or later version software on a virtual machine running in Customer's Microsoft Azure accounts or a Server (subject to the Outsourcing Software Management clause). Each Licensed User may access up to four instances of the software. Azure Government customers may use KMS activation in lieu of Microsoft Entra ID-based activation. When configuring the image(s) on Microsoft Azure, Customers must indicate their use of the multitenant hosting for Windows and adhere to other software configuration requirements available at https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/vda-subscription-activation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Outsourcing Software Management clause, Customerâs VDA E3 and E5 Licensed Users may remotely access Windows software under these virtualization rights on any Listed Providerâs devices dedicated to Customerâs use. This section does not apply to Students receiving access to software through Student Use Benefit.Azure Virtual Desktop for WindowsAzure Virtual Desktop for WindowsUsers licensed with Microsoft 365 E3/E5/G3/G5/F3/Business Premium/A3/A5/Student Use Benefit, Windows Enterprise E3/E5, Windows Education A3/A5, or Windows VDA E3/E5 may access Azure Virtual Desktop Windows virtual machines running in Customer's Microsoft Azure accounts. Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines do not count against a userâs device activation count limit.Azure Virtual Desktop for Development and TestUsers licensed with Visual Studio subscriptions and MSDN Platforms with active SA (âAuthorized Usersâ) may access Azure Virtual Desktop Windows, and Windows Server virtual machines running in Customer's Microsoft Azure accounts for development and test purposes. Customerâs end users may also access Azure Virtual Desktop Windows, and Windows Server virtual machines initiated by Authorized Users to perform acceptance tests or provide feedback.Azure Virtual Desktop Per User Access Operating System  Universal Terms. The following Universal License Terms for all Software do not apply to the Azure Virtual Desktop per user access operating system software: Rights to Use Other Versions and Lower Editions; Software Assurance; Outsourcing Software Management.Windows 365 Operating SystemUniversal Terms. The following Universal License Terms for all Software do not apply to the Windows 365 operating system software: Rights to Use Other Versions and Lower Editions; Software Assurance; Outsourcing Software Management. License Model Desktop Operating SystemsDevice LicenseCustomer may install one copy of the software on a Licensed Device or within a local virtual hardware system on a Licensed Device for each License it acquires.Customer may use the software on up to two processors.Local use is permitted for any user.Remote use is permitted for the Primary User of the Licensed Device and for any other user from another Licensed Device or a Windows VDA Licensed Device.Only one user may access and use the software at a time.Customer may connect up to 20 devices to the Licensed Device for file sharing, printing, Internet Information Services, Internet Connection Sharing or telephony services.An unlimited number of connections are allowed for KMS activation or similar technology.Adobe Flash PlayerThe software may include a version of Adobe Flash Player. Customer agrees that its use of the Adobe Flash Player is governed by the license terms for Adobe Systems Incorporated at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=248532. Adobe and Flash are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Related Resources Please note these resources are provided for reference purposes only and are not considered to be part of the Product Terms. To see more versions and languages click here. Featured Resources Windows 11 | Licensing Website Windows 11 | Product Website Windows 11 for business | Product Website Windows 365 | Product Website Windows 11 for enterprise | Product Website Licensing Windows 365 and Windows 11 Virtual Desktops for Remote Access | Licensing Brief Webpages Extended Security Updates FAQ Windows 11 | Licensing Website Benefits of Software Assurance | Licensing Website Rental Rights | Licensing Website Windows 11 | Product Website Windows 11 for business | Product Website Azure Virtual Desktop | Product Website Azure Virtual Desktop pricing | Product Website Windows 365 | Product Website Windows 11 for enterprise | Product Website FAQ about Windows 7 ESU Licensing Guide Windows 11 | Licensing Guide Licensing Briefs Windows 11 qualifying operating system requirements | Licensing Guidance Reimaging Rights Licensing Windows 365 and Windows 11 Virtual Desktops for Remote Access | Licensing Brief FAQs Extended Security Updates FAQ FAQ about Windows 7 ESU Windows Autopatch FAQ Datasheet Windows 10 Qualifying Operating Systems chart | Datasheet Others Microsoft Customer License Verification for Upgrade Installation Services for Microsoft Windows Operating System Software by Third Parties (WW) Microsoft Customer License Verification for Upgrade Installation Services for Microsoft Windows Operating System Software by Third Parties (WW) For more licensing resources click here.