I’ve noticed a lot of YouTubers suggesting KeysFan for buying Windows license keys, and I’ve also come across some keys priced around $13 on Groupon. I’m curious if there are any downsides or risks to using these cheaper keys compared to buying directly from Microsoft or authorized sellers. Are these keys safe to use, or could they cause problems later on?
3 Answers
Honestly, if a Windows license key is being sold for way below retail price, it’s worth being suspicious. Like the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You might get lucky and have it work fine for a while, but there’s no guarantee, and you could end up needing to buy a legitimate license anyway if Microsoft disables the cheap one.
I’ve read that while Microsoft doesn’t always crack down heavily on these gray market keys, using them is still a gamble. If the key was intended strictly for corporate use and is resold to consumers, there’s always a risk it could stop working after some time. So if you’re looking for a zero-risk setup, buying directly from Microsoft or an authorized retailer is safer.
Most of these super cheap keys come from what’s called the gray market. Basically, companies with volume licenses buy keys meant for internal use and then resell them. Technically, this goes against Microsoft’s terms of service, so while they usually work initially, there’s a chance Microsoft might blacklist or deactivate them later on. It’s not super common, but it can happen.
Yeah, I figured it might be risky. Seems like the hassle might not be worth the savings.