activate windows

If Activate Windows is showing but there is no obvious button or key to enter, first check which activation method applies.

• Windows activates by either a digital license or a 25-character product key.
• Without one of these, Windows cannot be activated.

Try these steps:

1. Open Settings and check the Activation page.
2. If the device was previously activated and the license is linked to a Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter:
   • Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
   • Sign in as an administrator if prompted.
   • The troubleshooter is available only when Windows is not activated.
3. If there was a recent significant hardware change, especially a motherboard replacement, Windows may no longer find the matching digital license. In that case, use the Activation troubleshooter and the reactivation flow for hardware changes.
4. If activation options are missing in Settings, an offline activation path is available:
   • Open Command Prompt as administrator.
   • Run SLMGR /dti to get the Installation ID.
   • Go to the Product Activation Portal at https://aka.ms/WindowsActivate.
   • Select Activate a Microsoft Product > Windows > Windows 11 and submit the Installation ID to get a Confirmation ID.
   • Back in Command Prompt, run SLMGR /atp <Confirmation ID>.
   • Verify with SLMGR /dli.

If the device was never linked to a digital license and there is no valid product key, activation cannot complete until one of those is available.

• Activate Windows
• Using the Windows Activation troubleshooter
• Activate Windows: Online or Offline activation using an Installation ID and Confirmation ID