That worked, so next I used the Software License User Interface command to run: In my case, Windows wouldn’t accept the key I knew to be valid, so I opened a command prompt and ran the slmgr (Software License Manager) command as follows: I want to stress that this is a legitimate process sanctioned by Microsoft it is not a “hack,” nor does it involve piracy.įirst you will likely need to right-click the Start menu, choose System, click Activate Windows or Change The Product Key Or Upgrade Your Version Of Windows, then click Change Product Key and apply the product key. It relies on a smartphone with texting capability, so make sure to have one handy. You can use this process whether you have a KMS server that’s “in the shop,” so to speak, or you don’t have a KMS server at all. I conducted these steps on several Windows 2012 machines, but they should also apply to Windows 10. I was able to quickly get Windows activated on these machines while also preparing to get a new KMS server stood up after the fact. Since these servers were due for some critical patches to be applied, I needed to move as fast as possible. SEE: Windows 11: Tips on installation, security and more (free PDF) (TechRepublic) Worse, Microsoft limits the functionality of unactivated Windows machines, preventing you from performing tasks such as customizing the taskbar or applying patches. In my case, I ran afoul of a rampant Windows activation prompt on several company-owned servers I administer because the KMS server went down and eventually the servers stopped using what they considered valid licenses. Windows 11: Tips on installation, security and more (free PDF) Windows 11 SE: Why it's both more and less locked down than Windows 10 S Windows Server IoT 2022 is for a lot more than Internet of Things

Windows 11 cheat sheet: Everything you need to know Unfortunately, it’s a bit trickier to get Windows activated if you’re not fortunate enough to have internet access (such as on a system connected to an internal network subnet that does not permit internet access for security reasons) or a working KMS server. KMS periodically reactivates Windows on machines to ensure their licenses remain legitimate. This can be a simple and easy process for computers connected to the internet or in an office environment with access to a Key Management Server (KMS), which can handle the activation process in the background. See how you can save time to get it done as quickly as possible.Īll current Windows products require activation with Microsoft to confirm their validity and prevent software piracy. Microsoft Windows activation can be tricky when you're using individual software licenses on systems not connected to the internet. How to activate Windows offline using Microsoft’s text-based options

Decipher text activation code