My MAK key turns into RETAIL key after clean install

[CaiPott]

Hello. I have a MAK key, got it 5 years ago.

 

I've used it on my 4 different personal devices. Everytime I activated any device, Windows first said it's VOLUME_MAK key. But whenever I clean install Windows, it activates automatically and it says it's RETAIL key, and it's a totally different key from the MAK one. The RETAIL one MAK key turns into is always the same tho and the devices are being activated forever, no matter what until I clear the key myself with commands.

 

I found it out randomly and when I especially tried it out with awareness on a completely new device it worked as literally I said. I once gave my device to a family member, so clean installed Windows and logged into completely different Microsoft account and it still was activated with the same RETAIL key.

 

Also once I upgraded my MAK activated Windows 10 to 11 with Windows Update and the key has turned into RETAIL too.

 

How does this work? Just curious.. Any ideas?

[Needfuldoer]

Did you buy this key from a reseller? MAKs are only supposed to be for large enterprise deployments and/or system builders. As far as I'm aware, there's no 100% legitimate way for a consumer to purchase one.

[CaiPott]

46 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

Did you buy this key from a reseller? MAKs are only supposed to be for large enterprise deployments and/or system builders. As far as I'm aware, there's no 100% legitimate way for a consumer to purchase one.

Yep, a reseller on internet. It was very cheap, wasn't even a dollar back then.

[Needfuldoer]

5 minutes ago, CaiPott said:

Yep, a reseller on internet. It was very cheap, wasn't even a dollar back then.

That's the downside of buying cheap sketchy keys, Microsoft can pull the rug out from under them any time if they catch on that it's been used against its terms of service.

 

C'est la vie.

[CaiPott]

5 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

That's the downside of buying cheap sketchy keys, Microsoft can pull the rug out from under them any time if they catch on that it's been used against its terms of service.

 

C'est la vie.

Yeah, I know but it says retail and "Windows activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account." on my devices right now. Is it really a downside?  

 

Even one day my license will be gone, I'm fine with it. Served me 5 years already.