Activation Windows 11 can helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. And now i will help you troubleshoot and fix common activation errors in Windows 11.
- You need to confirm that your device is up to date and running Windows 11. First, in the search box on the taskbar, type winver, and then select Winver from the list of results. You’ll see the version and build of Windows.
- Use the Activation troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > System > Activation and then select Troubleshoot.
- Check the list of error codes below and follow the suggested steps to resolve it.
See also: How to Get Help with Installation & Updates in Windows 11
| Error | What it means and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed.
0xC004F211 |
A Windows license is associated with your device hardware. If you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows won’t be able to find a matching license the next time you start your device. If Windows was preinstalled on the device and you have made a change such as replacing the motherboard, you’ll need a new license.
To purchase a new Windows license, Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store. If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then selecting Change product key. Additionally, Microsoft provides an exception path for transferring a Windows License after a hardware change. You’ll need to be signed in to the same Microsoft account before making the hardware change and to use the exception path. To access this exception path, select Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter can’t resolve the issue, you’ll see a link to reactivate after a hardware change. Select it to follow this path. |
| The product key used on this device didn’t work with this edition of Windows. You might need to get in touch with the store or company you bought Windows from, enter a different product key, or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows.
0xC004F212 |
When you reinstall Windows 11 using a digital license, you’re asked to choose which edition to install. If you choose an edition other than the one you’re licensed to use, you may receive this error.
If you think you installed the wrong edition, select Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter detects a valid Windows 11 digital license for an edition not currently installed, it will let you know and show you how to install the correct edition. |
| Windows reported that no product key was found on your device.
0xC004F213 |
A Windows license is associated with your device hardware. If you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows won’t be able to find a matching license the next time you start your device. If Windows was preinstalled on the device and you have made a change such as replacing the motherboard, you’ll need a new license.
To purchase a new Windows license, select Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store. If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then selecting Change product key. In addition, Microsoft provides an exception path for transferring a Windows License after a hardware change. You’ll need to be signed in to the same Microsoft account before making the hardware change and to use the exception path. To access this exception path, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter can’t resolve the issue, you’ll see a link to reactivate after a hardware change. Select it to follow this path. |
| “Your Windows License Will Expire Soon” warning | This may occur if you have a volume license client installed. Windows 11 Pro volume license clients are used by large organizations that deploy Windows 11 to hundreds or thousands of computers.
In this situation, activation is typically managed by your organization, and you’ll need to contact your system administrator for assistance. |
| 0x803f7001 | If you see error code 0x803F7001, it means that a valid Windows 11 license couldn’t be found to activate Windows on your device. Here’s how to activate Windows:
Note: Your product key should be in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows, included with the packaging that came with your device, or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the back or bottom of your device. |
| 0x800704cF | This error means we didn’t find a valid Windows license for your device.
You must use a valid product key to activate Windows. Your product key should be in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows, included with the packaging that came with your device, or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the back or bottom of your device. If you have a valid product key, use it to activate Windows:
If you’ve made a major change to your device’s hardware, such as a motherboard replacement, run the Windows Activation troubleshooter located on the activation settings page. Note that you might be asked to go through the reactivation process. |
| 0xC004C060, 0xC004C4A2, 0xC004C4A2, 0x803FA067L, 0xC004C001, 0xC004C004, 0xC004F004, 0xC004C007, 0xC004F005, 0xC004C00F, 0xC004C010, 0xC004C00E, 0xC004C4A4, 0xC004C4A5, 0xC004B001, 0xC004F010, 0xC004F050 | Reasons why you might see these errors:
|
| 0xC004C003 | You may see this error because the Windows 11 product key you entered isn’t valid. Product keys are unique—assigned to a specific user to install on a single device. If a key was used (or attempted to be used) on multiple devices, it’s marked as not valid. To activate Windows, you’ll need to provide a different Windows key unique to your device.
If you bought a device from a reseller of Windows 11 and expected the key to be valid, contact the reseller. If your device was purchased with Windows 11 preinstalled and you received this activation error upon turning it on for the first time, contact your device manufacturer. If your experience with your device is different from those listed above, try the following:
|
| 0xC004F034 | You might see this error if you entered an invalid product key or a product key for a different version of Windows.
Enter a valid product key that matches the version and edition of Windows 11 installed on your device. If Windows is installed on a device that connects to a Key Management Service (KMS) server, contact your organization’s support person for more info about how to activate Windows. |
| 0xC004F210 | You might see this error if you entered a product key for a different edition of Windows than the edition installed on your device. You might also see this error if you previously upgraded to Windows 11, but the current edition of Windows installed on your device doesn’t match the edition of your digital license.
You can either enter a valid product key that matches the edition of Windows installed on your device or reinstall the edition of Windows 11 that matches your digital license. If your device is running Windows 11 (Version 1607 or later), the Activation troubleshooter can help you install the correct edition of Windows on your device. |
| 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210 | You might see this error if you entered a product key for a different version or edition of Windows. For example, a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows 11can’t be used to activate Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Core editions.
Enter a product key that matches the version and edition of Windows installed on your device or buy a new copy of Windows from the Microsoft Store. |
| 0xC004FC03 | You might see this error if you’re not connected to the internet or your firewall settings are preventing Windows from completing the activation process online.
Make sure that you’re connected to the internet and your firewall isn’t blocking Windows from activating. If you’re still having problems, try to activate Windows by phone. In the search box on the taskbar, type SLUI 04, select SLUI 04 from the list of results, and then follow the instructions on the screen to activate Windows. Note: If you’re running Windows 11 Pro EDU or Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, you must activate Windows over the internet—phone activation and SLUI 04 can’t be used. |
| 0xC004E028 | You might see this error if you try to activate a device that is already in the process of activation. Your device should be activated after the first request is completed. |
| 0x8007267C | You might see this error if you’re not connected to the internet or the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Make sure that you’re connected to the internet and your firewall isn’t blocking Windows from activating. |
| 0xD0000272, 0xC0000272, 0xc004C012, 0xC004C013, 0xC004C014 | If the activation server is temporarily unavailable, your copy of Windows will automatically be activated when the service comes back online. |
| 0xC004C008, 0xC004C770, 0x803FA071 | You might see this error if the product key has already been used on another device, or it’s being used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, buy a product key for each one of your devices to activate Windows on them.
If you’re using Windows 11, you can buy Windows from the Microsoft Store:
Notes:
|
| 0xC004F00F | You might see this error if you entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. Enter a product key that matches the edition of Windows on your device. |
| 0xC004C020 | This error occurs when a Volume License (a license that was bought from Microsoft by an organization to install Windows on multiple devices) was used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you might need to use a different product key to activate Windows on your device. Contact your organization’s support person for more info. |
| 0x8007232B, 0xC004F074, 0xC004F038, 0x8007007B |
You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice. |
| 0x80072F8F | You might see this error if the date and time for the device is incorrect, or Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.To verify the date and time, select Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
To check your internet connection:
If the network troubleshooter didn’t find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your device to see if that fixes the problem.
|
| 0xC004E003 | You might see this error after installing third-party software that changed system files. Windows activation needs certain system files to complete activation. You can try to restore the system files back to an earlier point in time. This removes any software you installed after that point in time without affecting your personal files. |
| 0x80004005 | Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter. |
| 0x87e10bc6 | An error occurred with our activation server or licensing service. Please wait a few minutes and then try the following Windows 11 Pro License Recovery steps: Select Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter.
When the troubleshooter is complete, select Go to Microsoft Store to launch the Microsoft Store app. If the Microsoft Store app shows there was a problem, select Try again. After a few minutes, you should see a message that thanking you for activating genuine Windows, followed by another message showing that Windows was activated. |
| 0x80070652 | This error can occur if the update components are missing or corrupted on the computer. This error might also occur due to poor network connectivity received by the system.
Use the Windows update troubleshooter to check for the corrupted or missing updates or components. Running the troubleshooter will help find and in some cases fix the issue. Select Start > Settings > System > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. Also, check the strength of your internet connection. |
| All other error codes | Go to Windows Help, enter the error code in the Search for Help box at the top-right, and run the search. Browse through the search results carefully to make sure you try only those that apply to your situation. |
