2 Easy Ways to Activate a Windows Product Key

Co-authored by Michael Thompson-Brown

Last Updated: May 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to enter your Windows product key and activate Windows on your computer. Product activation tells Microsoft's servers that you have purchased a legitimate license. On Windows 11 and 10, failure to activate Windows will limit your ability to personalize your machine, as well as give a scarlet letter of shame reminding you to Activate Windows . On older versions, it might limit your ability to personalize, give you activation prompts several times, disable Windows updates , or even prevent you from logging on. If you haven't purchased the full version of Windows, you can buy it from the online store.

How do you activate Windows?

Go to "Settings" on your computer, followed by "Updates & Security" and "Activation."
Select "Change product key" and input your 25-digit product key.
Keep your device connected to the internet as the activation completes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Activating Online

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You can find it on your Start menu , or use the search or Cortana button on your taskbar to quickly open it. ^{[1]
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This option looks like two rotating arrows on the Settings menu. ^{[2]
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This will open your product activation options on the right-hand side. ^{[3]
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Click Change product key . This will allow you to enter your 25-digit product key to activate Windows on your computer. ^{[4]
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- If you haven't purchased the full version of Windows yet, you can click Go to Store here, and purchase the full version from the online Windows Store.
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Enter your product key to activate. Type in your 25-digit product key, and click Activate to fully activate all of Windows's features on your computer. ^{[5]
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- You can find your product key in an email from whoever sold or distributed Windows to you.
- If you installed your system from an official Windows USB, you can find your product key on the box the USB came in.
To ensure that your product key has not been used on another device, you must remain connected to the Internet to finish activation. If you do not have an Internet connection, you can activate over the phone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Activating Via Telephone

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This can be used if you are activating an unsupported version of Windows or if you do not have an Internet connection.

Type in slui 4 . ^{[6]
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Click on Next . ^{[7]
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This will connect you to the Microsoft activation center. ^{[8]
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Dial the CAPTCHA number provided. As a measure against spam, only human callers are allowed to proceed to activate Windows.
To do this, you will have to enter one group at a time. Each group is separated by spaces.
Then choose Activate Windows . This will finish activation.