What happens if Windows 10 21H2 Pro or Windows 11 24H2 Pro gets deactivated?

Question

I wonder what happens if Windows 10 21H2 Pro or Windows 11 24H2 Pro gets deactivated. I read that I will lose some customization abilities, but I wonder:

• Which customization abilities will I lose?
• Will it reverse the settings I already customized to some default settings?
• Will I lose anything else?

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Here's my list of customizations, aimed to minimizing lag:

1. Enabling system-wide dark mode in Windows Settings

2. Put a solid black color as background

3. System & Security > System >Advanced System Settings > Settings Disable animations -> Disable all animations

4. Installed all Windows Updates + a few drivers + a few programs

5. Windows Explorer: show hidden files, show extension, and "View -> Show -> Compact View".

6. Taskbar settings: never combine, small icons (only for Windows 10 as Windows 11 removed that option so I use Windhawk on Windows 11 instead), hide search box.

Examples of other abilities I wonder I may lose:

• Microsoft speech-to-text feature (uses Microsoft's servers)
• Receiving further Windows Updates
• Microsoft Narrator
• 4k resolution
• Running some programs

Answer 1

I did a quick test on Windows 11 24H2 - I set a custom wallpaper and set to dark mode, removed my keys and deactivated it. Some of the effects - such as the watermark may take some time to occur, and honestly, I may not be able to check in a month. I tested this in a VM and connected over remote desktop for screenshots.

There are a few reports that things might change after 30 days - I don't see a watermark, which should appear, for example. It does look like the settings you've set are locked in for themes. Your wallpaper and theme will be what was last set.

So from your list

Enabling system-wide dark mode in Windows Settings

Will stay

Put a solid black color as background

Will stay - there's potential for a watermark to turn up later. I've not seen it in my brief testing

System & Security > System >Advanced System Settings > Settings Disable animations -> Disable all animations

These options appear to be adjustable

Installed all Windows Updates + a few drivers + a few programs

There's a YouTuber infamous for using non-activated systems for testing and dropping things. Chances are this'll work, but there's no good way to test this for me

Windows Explorer: show hidden files, show extension, and "View -> Show -> Compact View".

Works fine

Windows Explorer: show hidden files, show extension, and "View -> Show -> Compact View".

Taskbar settings: never combine, small icons (only for Windows 10 as Windows 11 removed that option so I use Windhawk on Windows 11 instead), hide search box.

Software runs, but I've no good way on this way to test your additional things. There may be additional effects after a grace period, aside from what I've listed. I believe some versions of Windows do periodic reboots for example.