Windows: a licensing subtlety

Self-tutoring about Windows license agreements: the tutor mentions one case.

Today I am doing a reset of a Windows 11 computer, so of course am expected to re-read the license agreement. It’s a bit off-putting, yeah. Anyway, what follows is my understanding of a part of the license.

It seems that, if one purchases Windows 11 pre-installed on a device, one can transfer the device to another party, who then must agree to the license agreement. The transferer’s rights connected to that license then end.

On the other hand, it seems that if one buys Windows 11 as software, then installs it, one can then transfer the software to another device of one’s own. In such a case, Windows 11 must not remain on the previous device.

So, in the first case, the first person gives up possession of license; in the second case, the first device gives up possession, in a manner of speaking.

Interesting distinction, eh?

Such is my understanding.