Windows Activation Issues
- FAQ: How do I resolve issues with activating Windows 10 or 11 using a product key?
- Upgrading Windows 10/11 Home to Windows 10/11 Pro
FAQ: How do I resolve issues with activating Windows 10 or 11 using a product key?
Issue:
Users may encounter various errors when trying to activate Windows 10 or 11 with a product key. Below are the most common activation errors:
Common Activation Errors:
-
"The product key is in use" error
This error occurs when the product key has been previously used or registered on another device. In some cases, this could be a false positive. -
"Windows can't activate. Try again later" error
This issue is usually caused by a temporary server problem or network-related issues. -
"The product key you entered didn't work" error
This error may occur if the product key entered is incorrect or meant for a different version of Windows. -
"This copy of Windows is not genuine" error
This can occur if the installed Windows copy is not legitimate or has been flagged by Microsoft. -
"Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" error
If you are trying to activate Windows on new hardware, this error may appear if the activation is tied to a previous device. -
Windows 10 Home Activation Failure due to missing .NET Framework
In some cases, Windows 10 Home fails to activate because the .NET Framework is not installed. -
Windows 10 Activation Failure due to missing Microsoft Store
Sometimes, activation may fail if the Microsoft Store is not installed.
Common Solution for Most Errors:
For most of the errors mentioned above, the following command can help resolve product key-related issues:
Solution:
-
Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges:
- Press the Windows key, search for "cmd," right-click, and select Run as administrator.
-
In the Command Prompt, enter the following command:
Changepk.exe /ProductKey XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Replace XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
with your actual product key.
Press Enter to apply the product key. This should resolve the issue.
Specific Solutions:
1. For "Windows can't activate. Try again later" error:
If the issue persists after using the Changepk
command, it might be due to server or network problems.
Additional Solution:
- Ensure you have an active internet connection.
- Retry the activation process after a few minutes.
- If it continues to fail, try activating Windows using the Phone Activation Method:
- Press Windows key + R and type
slui 4
into the Run dialog. - Follow the on-screen instructions to activate Windows by phone.
- Press Windows key + R and type
2. For "This copy of Windows is not genuine" error:
If using a legitimate product key, follow these steps:
Additional Solution:
- Ensure you are using a genuine product key.
- If you purchased the key from a third party, verify its authenticity with the vendor or Microsoft.
- If necessary, reinstall a genuine version of Windows.
3. For "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" error:
If you’ve changed hardware, the digital license may not transfer automatically.
Additional Solution:
- Sign in to your Microsoft account linked to your previous activation.
- Use the Activation Troubleshooter:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
- Click Troubleshoot, then follow the steps to re-activate Windows using your digital license.
4. For Windows 10 Home Activation Failure due to missing .NET Framework:
In some cases, activation fails because the .NET Framework required for certain activation processes is not installed.
Solution:
- Install Windows Updates:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.
- Once the updates and .NET Framework are installed, retry the activation process.
5. For Windows 10 Activation Failure due to missing Microsoft Store:
Sometimes activation can fail because the Microsoft Store is not installed on the computer.
Solution:
- Reinstall Microsoft Store:
- You can download and run a script to reinstall the Microsoft Store.
- Download this script to reinstall the Microsoft Store before continuing with activation.
- After reinstalling the Microsoft Store, retry the activation process.
Upgrading Windows 10/11 Home to Windows 10/11 Pro
Upgrading from Windows Home to Pro can be done during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) or after setup. Below are the different methods for upgrading:
Option 1: During OOBE (Out of Box Experience)
- Press the FN KEY Once. ( This will ensure that the F1 - F12 Keys are active)
-
Press Ctrl + Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
- If Command Prompt does not show up, press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type
cmd
, and press Enter to manually open Command Prompt.
- If Command Prompt does not show up, press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type
- Enter the upgrade key using the following command in the Command Prompt:
-
Changepk.exe /ProductKey XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Option 2: Ctrl + Shift + F3 Method
- Press the FN KEY Once. ( This will ensure that the F1 - F12 Keys are active)
-
Press Ctrl + Shift + F3 to boot into audit mode. This will skip the OOBE and allow you to perform administrative tasks before the user account is created.
-
Open Activation Settings and click Change Product Key.
- Enter the upgrade key to initiate the upgrade.
-
After updating, you may encounter a situation where you are locked out of your account. In this case:
- Restart the computer instead of shutting it down.
- You will be logged back into your account automatically.
Note: If you see a blank screen, wait for a few minutes to ensure all updates are completed, and then force shutdown the computer.
Option 3: Regular Mode Upgrade
If you're already in the regular user mode of Windows (not during OOBE or audit mode):
-
Go to Activation Settings:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Update & Security > Activation.
- Click Change Product Key.
-
Enter the upgrade key in the prompt.
-
If you encounter any issues, you can open Command Prompt with administrative privileges and enter the following command to apply the key manually:
Changepk.exe /ProductKey XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Replace
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
with your upgrade key.