Activating all versions of Windows Server without a product key

Posted byAlways Smile Hours Updated on
Comments 166 Comments

As you know, Windows Server is a specialized operating system which is designed for server only. In today’s post, I will show you how to activate Windows in your VPS or dedicated server for FREE using KMS client product keys. Although the KMS license is valid for 180 days only but there is no limit on the number of activation. So you can renew it whenever you want. Actually, the license will be renewed automatically every 7 days by default (almost similar to Let’s Encrypt certificate). In this way, just do it one time and forget it completely.

Note:

  • If you are a student, an office worker or any standard user who is using desktop edition of Windows, just skip this post and please do not follow the instructions. I will not be responsible for any damage caused by you.
  • All editions of Windows Server in the Microsoft homepage are evaluation ones and not supported by KMS. So if you are using an evaluation version, just convert it to the retail one before following the instructions below.

Supported products:

  • Windows Server 2022/2019/2016.
  • Windows Server, version 1809, 1803, 1709.
  • Windows Server 2008/2012 (R2).
Here is Windows Server status when it is not activated
Here is Windows Server status when it is not activated

As you can see in the image above, I am using a copy of Windows Server 2016 Standard and it is not activated.

Contents
Method 1: Manually installing KMS client key and activating it.
Method 2: Using a pre-written batch file.

Method 1: Manually installing KMS client key and activating it.

How-to video

Step 1.1: Get the right product key from the official article of Microsoft.
The KMS Client Setup Key of Win Server 2016 Standard is “WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY”. I will use it in the next step.

Step 1.2: Install the key on your server.
To open command prompt, click on the Windows button, search for “cmd” and run the command prompt as administrator. Then, enter “slmgr /ipk CLIENTKEY” in the command window.
Note: each command is followed by hitting Enter.

Open cmd with admin rights
Open cmd with admin rights
run command slmgr ipk
run command slmgr ipk

Step 1.3: Set the KMS server.
Enter “slmgr /skms kms8.msguides.com” in the window.

run command slmgr skms
run command slmgr skms

Step 1.4: Activate the KMS client key.
Finally, use the command “/ato” to activate your Windows.

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: Using a pre-written batch file.

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

Step 2.1: Copy all the text below into a text file.

@echo off
title Activate Windows Server (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 http://bit.ly/kmsclientkeys&echo.&echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo Activating your Windows...&set i=1
cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 4DWFP-JF3DJ-B7DTH-78FJB-PDRHK >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 22XQ2-VRXRG-P8D42-K34TD-G3QQC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 7M67G-PC374-GR742-YH8V4-TCBY3 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk RCTX3-KWVHP-BR6TB-RB6DM-6X7HP >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 39BXF-X8Q23-P2WWT-38T2F-G3FPG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk YQGMW-MPWTJ-34KDK-48M3W-X4Q6V >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk W7VD6-7JFBR-RX26B-YKQ3Y-6FFFJ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk TM24T-X9RMF-VWXK6-X8JC9-BFGM2 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WYR28-R7TFJ-3X2YQ-YCY4H-M249D >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk GT63C-RJFQ3-4GMB6-BRFB9-CB83V >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 74YFP-3QFB3-KQT8W-PMXWJ-7M648 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 489J6-VHDMP-X63PK-3K798-CPX3Y >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk YC6KT-GKW9T-YTKYR-T4X34-R7VHC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk TT8MH-CG224-D3D7Q-498W2-9QCTX >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6TPJF-RBVHG-WBW2R-86QPH-6RTM4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 48HP8-DN98B-MYWDG-T2DCC-8W83P >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk XNH6W-2V9GX-RGJ4K-Y8X6F-QGJ2G >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk HM7DN-YVMH3-46JC3-XYTG7-CYQJJ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk XC9B7-NBPP2-83J2H-RHMBY-92BT4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 4K36P-JN4VD-GDC6V-KDT89-DYFKP >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 8N2M2-HWPGY-7PGT9-HGDD8-GVGGY >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk KNC87-3J2TX-XB4WP-VCPJV-M4FWM >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk W3GGN-FT8W3-Y4M27-J84CP-Q3VJ9 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk DPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk PTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk N2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H >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.&goto halt
: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 a new text document
Save batch script
Save batch script

Step 2.2: Save the text file as a batch file with .cmd extension. (Eg run.cmd)

Set name of the batch script
Set name of the batch script

Step 2.3: Run the batch file with admin rights.

Execute the batch script as admin
Execute the batch script as admin
Windows Server is activated successfully
Windows Server is activated successfully

Finally, check activation status of your server again.

Check out Windows Server activation status
Check out Windows Server activation status

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 - (1366 votes)
Always Smile

I am Guang, a freelancer and a blogger. I'm currently managing KMS system, MSGuides blog and 2 tech Youtube channels.

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166 Comments

  3. hello amazing website just love it and want to know how to convert windows home edition to windows pro for free

    Reply

  4. Guang, what do you mean by “If you are a student, an office worker or any standard user who is using desktop edition of Windows, just skip this post and please do not follow the instructions.” In note sections at the beginning?? I dont really understand that part…

    Reply

    1. It means that if you are using standard windows, don’t use this; instead use the normal windows activation guide.

      Reply

  13. Please provide key for en_windows_server_2012_x64_dvd_915478

    as it is asking for a product key before installation

    Reply

    1. Your keys are:
      Windows Server 2012: BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4
      Windows Server 2012 N: 8N2M2-HWPGY-7PGT9-HGDD8-GVGGY
      Windows Server 2012 Single Language: 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ
      Windows Server 2012 Country Specific: 4K36P-JN4VD-GDC6V-KDT89-DYFKP
      Windows Server 2012 Server Standard: XC9B7-NBPP2-83J2H-RHMBY-92BT4
      Windows Server 2012 MultiPoint Standard: HM7DN-YVMH3-46JC3-XYTG7-CYQJJ
      Windows Server 2012 MultiPoint Premium: XNH6W-2V9GX-RGJ4K-Y8X6F-QGJ2G
      Windows Server 2012 Datacenter: 48HP8-DN98B-MYWDG-T2DCC-8W83P
      – From official Microsoft homepage

      You can use this prompt:
      cscript slmgr.vbs /ipk CLIENTKEY&cscript slmgr.vbs /skms kms8.msguides.com&cscript slmgr.vbs /ato
      *Value CLIENTKEY from above is the product key from the list

      Reply

  14. PLEASE HELP ME – I want to install Windows Server 2019 Standard for our small non-governmental group. We don’t have enough money to buy original from Microsoft. If I use this method and activate it – will this work just as same as Original from Microsoft? Will it have the same features? How many cores does this have?

    Reply

    1. Hello! Yes it works like thepurchased Activation. You can use it now without any restricitions! It does have that much cores like your processor.

      Reply

  17. Hello , i have WS2019 Datacenter, and i have the this error
    Error: 0xC004E016 on a computer running microsoft windows non-core edition run slui.exe 0x2a 0xc004e016 to display the error text
    I have tried the Datacenter key from the official article of Microsoft, didn’t work.
    help please.

    Reply

    1. You can use this prompt:
      cscript slmgr.vbs /ipk WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG&cscript slmgr.vbs /skms kms8.msguides.com&cscript slmgr.vbs /ato

      – Product key from official Microsoft homepage

      Reply

  18. error
    Sorry! Your version is not supported.

    I have been use 2nd method on my window server standard edition 2016 but I got this error . please reply

    Reply

  19. Hi, thanks for the instructions, when I am trying to activate windows 2019 Standard I got:

    Activating Windows (R), ServerStandard edition
    (de32eaf-aaee-4662-9444-c1befb41bde2) ….
    Error: 0xc004f074 The Software License Service reported that the
    computer could not be activated. No Key Management Service (KMS)
    could be contacted. Please see the Application Event Log for additional
    Information.

    The ipk is the recommended terminated in J464C, and I will prove in al KMS server of msguides,com

    Kindly I want to know I you can help me or if you can tell me if I am in a mistake

    Thank you

    Reply

  21. Hello,

    What will happen if kms8.msguides.com is down? Is there a way to create a KMS server locally on the network for such case?

    Thank you

    Reply

    1. There are KMS7, 8, 9.msguides.com for KMS activation.

      Create your own KMS Server, you need buy KMS Host key from MIcrosoft To run KMS Server.

      Reply

  23. Thanks a lot for your guide. Just a question.
    What happen, if i leave my win 2019 server, always disconnected from internet ?
    Do it stop to works after 180 days ?
    Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Any time after seven day success activation, when you turn on your windows server, connect internet, it will automatic activate back to 180 days. If you insist your windows server, after activation, not connect internet anymore, is no way to get update from Microsoft.

      Reply

    1. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

      KMS Activation Key CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG

      Use the above same method to activate.

      Reply

    1. This post only for Windows server version activation.

      Windows 10 pro

      Top Search: 2 ways to activate Windows 10 for FREE without additional software

      Enjoy

      Reply

  29. If, i cant find another iso of windows server without microsoft evaluation, where is the place that you taked your ISO, plz help me

    Reply

    1. Run the batch file with admin ID without restriction online, otherwise won’t work.

      Where did you get windows server iso file?

      Please be noted that Windows Server Evaluations versions are not supported because they have been attached 180-day trial license.

      Reply

      1. You can change the version to retail using PowerShell after installing the Evaluation version on the microsoft website.

        Ignore steps 1-3 above and do the following:

        To determine installed edition name, type the follwoing in PowerShell:
        dism /online /get-currentedition

        To determine possible Target Edition names, type the following:
        dism /online /get-targeteditions

        Using the KSM Client Server Key (I’m targeting Windows Server 2019 Datacenter) relevant to the target version you are after, type:
        dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

        where the above product key is the KSM key for Windows Server 2019 Datacenter taken from the supplied link in the article.

        If you then follow from “4.Activate the KMS client key”

        Your retail version taken from the evaluation install will now be activated.

        Reply