Microsoft has confirmed that users can no longer use old Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 keys to activate Windows 11. And that applies not only to Canary builds, as it was last month—from now on ...

Also, bear in mind that activation depends on what type of Windows 8.1/10/11 license for your device. If Windows 8.1/10/11 came pre-installed with the computer, then the device has an OEM license.