Newest methods to activate Windows 8/8.1 for FREE without additional software

A lot of people say Windows 8 (or 8.1) is not a patch on Windows 7 but I don’t think so. Perhaps its Metro user interface is more difficult to use than traditional Start menu and you will have to spend hours to get the run of things. However, there is no denying the fact that Windows 8 shows outstanding performance against earlier Windows versions. Reduction of startup time is the easiest to see. Besides, if you own touchscreen computer, an upgrade to Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 is needed in order to make maximum use of your hardware.

In today’s post, I will show you two ways to activate Windows 8 or 8.1 for FREE without using any software. If you really want to know how it works, please try first way (manual method). Or you can follow second way (batch file) if you need save your time. The following are the detailed instructions for activating all versions of Windows 8.1 and 8.

Here is my windows 8 activation status in control panel
Here is my windows 8 activation status in control panel

Method 1: Manual

How-to video

Step 1.1: Select the right license key for your Windows edition.
Here’s the list of Windows 8/8.1 KMS client setup keys.
W8 Core: BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4
W8 Core Single Language: 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ
W8 Professional: NG4HW-VH26C-733KW-K6F98-J8CK4
W8 Professional N: XCVCF-2NXM9-723PB-MHCB7-2RYQQ
W8 Professional WMC: GNBB8-YVD74-QJHX6-27H4K-8QHDG
W8 Enterprise: 32JNW-9KQ84-P47T8-D8GGY-CWCK7
W8 Enterprise N: JMNMF-RHW7P-DMY6X-RF3DR-X2BQT
W8.1 Core: M9Q9P-WNJJT-6PXPY-DWX8H-6XWKK
W8.1 Core N: 7B9N3-D94CG-YTVHR-QBPX3-RJP64
W8.1 Core Single Language: BB6NG-PQ82V-VRDPW-8XVD2-V8P66
W8.1 Professional: GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9
W8.1 Professional N: HMCNV-VVBFX-7HMBH-CTY9B-B4FXY
W8.1 Professional WMC: 789NJ-TQK6T-6XTH8-J39CJ-J8D3P
W8.1 Enterprise: MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7
W8.1 Enterprise N: TT4HM-HN7YT-62K67-RGRQJ-JFFXW

Step 1.2: Run command prompt in admin mode.
Click on the start button, search for “cmd” then open Command Prompt as administrator.

Open cmd with admin rights
Open cmd with admin rights

Step 1.3: Use command “slmgr /ipk your_key” to install a license key.
your_key is the activation key you got above.
Note: You need to hit [Enter] key to execute commands.

Run command slmgr ipk
Run command slmgr ipk

Step 1.4: Use command “slmgr /skms kms8.msguides.com” to connect to my KMS server.
kms8 is one of the servers I managing.

run command slmgr skms
run command slmgr skms

Step 1.5: Activate your Windows using the command “slmgr /ato”.
After running this command, the activation progress will be started.

Run command slmgr ato
Run command slmgr ato

If you see the error 0xC004F074, it means that your internet connection is unstable or the server is busy. Please make sure your device is online and try the command “ato” again until you succeed.

Method 2: Batch file

This one is not recommended anymore due to the new update of Microsoft.

Step 2.1: Copy the code below into a new text document.

@echo off
title Activate Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 ALL versions for FREE - MSGuides.com&cls&echo =====================================================================================&echo #Project: Activating Microsoft software products for FREE without additional software&echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo #Supported products:&echo - Windows 8 Core&echo - Windows 8 Core Single Language&echo - Windows 8 Professional&echo - Windows 8 Professional N&echo - Windows 8 Professional WMC&echo - Windows 8 Enterprise&echo - Windows 8 Enterprise N&echo - Windows 8.1 Core&echo - Windows 8.1 Core N&echo - Windows 8.1 Core Single Language&echo - Windows 8.1 Professional&echo - Windows 8.1 Professional N&echo - Windows 8.1 Professional WMC&echo - Windows 8.1 Enterprise&echo - Windows 8.1 Enterprise N&echo.&echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo Activating your Windows...&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ckms >nul&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /upk >nul&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /cpky >nul&set i=1&wmic os | findstr /I "enterprise" >nul
if %errorlevel% EQU 0 (cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk TT4HM-HN7YT-62K67-RGRQJ-JFFXW >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 32JNW-9KQ84-P47T8-D8GGY-CWCK7 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk JMNMF-RHW7P-DMY6X-RF3DR-X2BQT >nul&goto skms) else (cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk HMCNV-VVBFX-7HMBH-CTY9B-B4FXY >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk NG4HW-VH26C-733KW-K6F98-J8CK4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk XCVCF-2NXM9-723PB-MHCB7-2RYQQ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk GNBB8-YVD74-QJHX6-27H4K-8QHDG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk M9Q9P-WNJJT-6PXPY-DWX8H-6XWKK >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 7B9N3-D94CG-YTVHR-QBPX3-RJP64 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk BB6NG-PQ82V-VRDPW-8XVD2-V8P66 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 789NJ-TQK6T-6XTH8-J39CJ-J8D3P >nul||goto notsupported)
:skms
if %i% GTR 10 goto busy
if %i% EQU 1 set KMS=kms7.MSGuides.com
if %i% EQU 2 set KMS=kms8.MSGuides.com
if %i% EQU 3 set KMS=kms9.MSGuides.com
if %i% GTR 3 goto ato
cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /skms %KMS%:1688 >nul
:ato
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo.&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ato | find /i "successfully" && (echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo #My official blog: MSGuides.com&echo.&echo #How it works: bit.ly/kms-server&echo.&echo #Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.&echo.&echo #Please consider supporting this project: donate.msguides.com&echo #Your support is helping me keep my servers running 24/7!&echo.&echo ============================================================================&choice /n /c YN /m "Would you like to visit my blog [Y,N]?" & if errorlevel 2 exit) || (echo The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one... & echo Please wait... & echo. & echo. & set /a i+=1 & goto skms)
explorer "http://MSGuides.com"&goto halt
:notsupported
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, your version is not supported.&echo.
:busy
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, the server is busy and can't respond to your request. Please try again.&echo.
:halt
pause >nul

Create a new text document.

Create new text file
Create new text file

Step 2.2: Paste the code into the text file. Then save it as a batch file (named “1click.cmd”).

Save the batch script
Save the batch script
Set name of the script file
Set name of the script file

Step 2.3: Run the batch file as administrator.

Run the script with admin rights
Run the script with admin rights

Please wait…

Windows 8/8.1 activation progress
Windows 8/8.1 activation progress

Done!

Windows 8/8.1 product activation successful
Windows 8/8.1 product activation successful

Finally, check the activation status again.

Check activation status again
Check activation status again

If you would have any questions or concerns, please leave your comments. I would be glad to explain in more details. Thank you so much for all your feedback and support!

5/5 - (1244 votes)

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534 Comments

  1. Sorry, your version is not supported.

    ============================================================================

    Sorry, the server is busy and can’t respond to your request. Please try again

    any help ?

  2. Thank you guys, I wish you would be the best Windows problem fixer forever, and MsGuides will never loses at the Command and Batches points

  3. Dear Sir,
    I commend you, after replacing my hd, I have gone through nightmares of searches and constant interruptions with Windows wanting to activate my original version I no longer had the key for. Thank you for making the process so simple. I bow to your proses
    Thank you.

  4. Only activates for 1080hrs, or 6wks 2days.

    Sad that keys for an old and unmaintained operting system are so expensive.