Have you ever got an error stating that Windows 10 activation key not working? Do you know how to fix Windows 10 activation not working problem? Don’t worry, this guide will help you!
Do you remember those days when you had to write down Windows Activation keys because you were afraid you will lose them someday? It was such a mess to keep Windows Activation keys safe but this was all before Windows 10 operating system.
Windows 10 OS arrival changed many things for the betterment of the users especially removing the DVD-based installation. Since then, there were a lot of advancements made in Windows 10. Being such an advanced OS doesn’t mean, there is no problem with the software.
There are many problems and the most irritating one is Windows 10 Activation key doesn’t work and many users don’t have the idea to fix it. But, before that let’s check why you need an Activation key and what are the causes of the Windows 10 Activation key not working error.
Once we know what we are dealing with, it becomes easy for you to fix Windows 10 Activation key not working problem.
Why Do you Need Windows 10 Activation Key?
When you activate Windows 10 with a valid license key, you will be able to use the operating system without any restrictions or nag screens. Also, you may even be eligible for free upgrades to the next generation of operating systems.
Common Causes of Getting Windows 10 Activation Key Not Working
Activating Windows 10 isn’t always straightforward, and problems with the activation key do arise from time to time. Here are some of the most common concerns that users have reported:
- The product key for Windows 10 does not function.
- Windows 10 not activated after update
- Error activating Windows 10 0x8007007b, 0x803f7001
- The activation key for Windows 10 is about to expire.
How to Fix Windows 10 Activation Key Not Working
This section is for troubleshooting and we will try to fix Windows 10 Activation key not working issue. There could be many reasons as we mentioned earlier and you can try any or all of these fixes to solve the problem.
So, let’s check out how to resolve Windows 10 Activation key not working issue by following the below solutions:
1. Restart your Internet and Computer
If your Windows 10 activation key isn’t working, it could be due to a problem with your Internet connection. A problem with your network or its settings may be preventing you from activating Windows.
However, restarting your router/modem may be sufficient to resolve the issue. To do so, hit the power button on your router/modem to turn it off. Wait for 30 seconds before turning the device back on.
Try to reactivate Windows after your modem/router has booted. If the issue repeats, reboot your desktop.
2. Is your Activation Key Genuine?
It is possible that you won’t be able to activate your copy of Windows 10 since the key isn’t authentic in some cases. If you’ve used this key to activate Windows 10 before, it’s likely legitimate, and the issue stems from something else.
Nevertheless, if you’re trying to activate Windows 10 for the first time with this key, it’s conceivable that it’s not genuine or does not work. Several third-party services advertise the sale of Windows 10 keys, and the majority of these websites are set up to defraud people.
If you want to be certain that your key is authentic, get it directly from Microsoft or one of its authorized resellers.
3. Make Sure Windows is Activated
To fix Windows 10 Activation key not working issue, you need to make sure Windows is activated. Follow the steps on how to check Windows is activated or not.
- Type Activation in the Task Bar Menu search bar. Select See if Windows is activated from the list of results.
- Click on Activation option from the left pane. On the right side, if you see Connect to the Internet to Activate Windows status, you need to click on it.
- Make sure you have a working internet connection before you click on Connect to the Internet to Activate Windows Status.
- If you’re connected to the Internet, this should attempt to reactivate Windows – this should typically solve all of your activation issues, but if it doesn’t, try another approach.
4. Use Command Prompt to Activate Windows
If the above solution didn’t work, check below steps on how you can activate Windows using the command prompt:
- Type cmd in Task Bar Menu search bar to open Command Prompt. Right-click on Command Prompt to select Run as Administrator option.
- Once the Command Prompt is open, type slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx and press Enter on keyboard. Make sure to substitute the real activation key for the X characters.
Users claim that you may be able to activate Windows 10 directly from Command Prompt. This is a basic task that can be accomplished with one command. The issue should be addressed after running this command.
If not, do not worry because we have other solutions that will help you to fix Windows 10 activation key not working issue.
5. Fix Windows 10 Activation Key not Working by Running SLUI4 Command
If the above method didn’t work, we can try out running the SLUI4 command and try to reactivate Windows. Let’s check how to do it easily by following the below steps:
- Type Run in the Task Bar Menu search bar and click on Run from the list of results.
- You can press Windows Key + R simultaneously on the keyboard to open it directly.
- A small window will open, type SLUI 4, and press Enter.
- Once you press Enter, you will see an Activation Prompt on your PC. From there, select your country and click Next.
- After selecting your country, call on the given numbers. Now, follow the guidelines as directed by the support team.
6. You Might Select Do This Later Option
Whenever your activation key doesn’t work, try activating Windows 10 again later. It’s probable that Microsoft’s servers are overburdened as a result of the enormous number of users trying to activate their operating system at the same time, causing the problem.
However, that there’s no way to fix this problem on your own, but you’ll have to wait a few hours to several days to try again. Few customers have reported that selecting the Do this later option resulted in Windows 10 activating automatically after a few days later.
If you facing the same problem, you can try Do This Later option as well to activate Windows 10.
7. Fix Windows 10 Activation Key Not Working by Resetting your License Status
Resetting your License status sometimes fix the Windows 10 activation not working issue. Check the below steps on how to do so easily.
- Right click the Start Button or Windows Icon button. A drop-down menu will appear, choose Windows Powershell (Admin) option to proceed.
- Type the following command into your terminal: slmgr.vbs -rearm and press Enter.
- Once the command is executed, close Windows Powershell (Admin).
- Reboot your computer to make sure the changes comes in effect. Try to activate it once again once your system restarts.
You might be able to fix the problem by resetting the license status if your Windows 10 activation key isn’t working.
8. Force the Activation
We will try to fix the problem by forcing the activation. To do so, check the below easy steps:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Check Step no.1 in Use Command Prompt to Activate Windows solution to do so.
- Once the Command Prompt is open, type slmgr.vbs -ato and press Enter.
Try to reactivate Windows once the above command is executed. Hopefull, this method will resolve Windows 10 activation key not working issue.
9. Ensure you Just Sse this Key Solely on a Single Computer
When your activation key isn’t functioning, it’s conceivable that you’ve previously used it to activate Windows 10 on another computer. If this is the case, you must first disable the other copy of Windows before attempting to activate Windows 10 on your computer.
Please remember that your key is only as good as the device it was activated on. Although if you don’t intend to use Windows 10 on that old PC, you must delete the license number from the hardware.
When you don’t know how to do it, contact Microsoft and request that they do it for you virtually.
10. Are you Activating the Correct Version?
Certain PC difficulties, such as corrupted repositories or deleted Windows files, are difficult to resolve. If you’re having problems repairing a mistake, it’s possible that your system is partially damaged.
As per customers, whenever you attempt to activate the wrong version of Windows 10, your activation key may not function. As you may be aware, Windows 10 comes in two versions: Home and Pro, each with its own set of features.
The Windows 10 Pro key will not function with Windows 10 Home, and vice versa. If you’re having trouble activating Windows 10, make sure you’re using the right activation key for the right version of Windows.
Conclusion
That is it, these are best possible solutions that will help you to fix Windows 10 activation key issue on your PC. Try to understand, even being the most outstanding operating system, Windows 10 has own limitations and some problems might arise from time to time.
We try to cover these common problems on our site and try to give solutions that are not much complicated for a non-technical person to understand. If you still have any confusion with the article on how to fix Windows 10 activation key not working, you can tell us in the comments section below.
We will check all your comments and try to fix the problem as soon as we could. Till then, enjoy and try not to damage your PC.
