Activating all versions of Windows Server without a product key

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.

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!

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157 Comments

  1. Hi,
    I have old windows server 2008 R2 without internet – how can I acctivate? Activation by phone is not possible. Microsoft changed in the phone connection and it is not feasible ;/.

  2. how many hours/mins it takes to complete the activation progress ? I don’t have clear idea on this please help me to overcome this

  3. …continuation of my earlier comment:

    You can also successfully activate Windows 10 pro version using the same KMS activation cmd. Works like charm!!!

  4. Hey champ,

    After successful activation of my Office LTSC 2021 using your tutorial, I came across this tutorial on activation of Windows servers.
    Kudos to you again.. It worked like charm.
    Thanks a ton, Guang…

    P.S. Earlier I used to see “Activate Windows” on my lower right corner of my screen. Now, it is totally vanished after the activation!!!!

    1. … continuation of my earlier comment:

      You can successfully activate Windows 10 pro also using this Kms activation cmd. Works like charm!!

  5. Thanks for best help services
    MSguide.com
    Teams
    thaks you for all suport team members.
    Thanks for quick work.
    Thanks 100% for
    Suport.

  6. Thanks for best help services
    MSguide.com
    Teams
    thaks you for all suport team members.
    Thanks for quick work.
    Thanks 100% for
    Suport.

  7. server 2022 standard key VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H will activate if done manually, but the script says not supported. but it is. can you fix the script ?

  8. I paid for server-2003/2008/2012/2016 and never got credit to use for an upgrade when it came time for 2016 to expire, I found you. I work for a nonprofit and sometimes the work is 24/7. They have no more money because of the state of the world and so many people in need. You just helped a lot of people. The cost of Win Server feeds many and provides meds. Thanks again.

    Thank you, friend. Very much.
    Happy New Year

  9. Hi Guang,
    thanks a lot for the detailed instructions. Worked fine for Windows 2022 DC. It was annoying to always re-install the server after the 180 days of evaluation period was gone. Even for testing purposes that may last longer than the granted 180 days.
    1 question is remaining: What happens if MS asks you to shut down the webpage/KMS server or if you do this on your own ? Because when I cut the internet connection and changed the system date to 2025 Windows told me that the system cannot be activated because the KMS server is not reachable

  10. every time i enter slmgr /ipk windows key it says windows script host disabled in this machine contact your administrator can you help me to remove this i tried to do the regedit thing but it didnt work

  11. Hello –

    Thank you so much for setting this up. It’s very helpful. However I am stuck and could use some guidance. I have a Windows 2016 DataCenter Server Eval which I have setup as Primary DC running as a VM. I purchased a license for Standard 2016 assuming that I should be able to convert from DataCenter Server Eval to Standard Retail. I followed the slmgr /upk and then slmgr /ipk and got a non-core edition error. Didn’t realize before that DataCenter Server Eval can only be converted to DataCenter Server Retail and not Standard. What are my options at this point? I tried running the notepad file, it says, Sorry, your version is not supported. Any guidance will be much appreciated.

    Respectfully,

    BB

  12. Hi!
    Today, 2022-08-17 i can’t activate Windows Server 2019, i try, all servers possible in skms step.
    When i look the status of the servers, all is online.

  13. hello dear !
    thanks your meaningful support! but something error is happened while i am activating it .while i run the site up , it replays that the version is supported. so may support me ?

    1. don’t use standard key… instead use “W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX” key for windows 10 pro and follow the method 1 from above and it will work. It worked for me 🙂

  14. Hello, g**s my windows 7 is not activiate before these proccess.Plz help me for my windows 7 activation

  15. Dear Guang, thanks for all you do. Pls my version of windows is not supported on the activaton, what can i do? my version is windows 10 Pro N