Help with Windows activation errors

Activation Troubleshooter

If you're running Windows 10, version 1607 or later, the Activation troubleshooter may help reactivate Windows if you recently made a hardware change (such as replacing the motherboard) or reinstalled Windows. You must be an administrator to use this option.

Error Codes

Here are some of the most common activation errors with possible solutions for Windows 10. 

Code: 

0xC004F211

Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed.

Possible Solutions: 

• If you make a significant hardware change and Windows was preinstalled on the device, you will need to get a new Windows license. 

• If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then selecting Change product key.

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.

Code:

0xC004F212

The product key used on this device didn't work with this edition of Windows.

Possible Solutions:

• If you think you have installed the wrong edition, select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter detects a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition not currently installed, it will let you know and show you how to install the correct edition.

Code:

0xC004F213

Windows reported that no product key was found on your device.

Possible Solutions:

• If you make a significant hardware change and Windows was preinstalled on the device, you will need to get a new Windows license. 

• If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then selecting Change product key.

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.

Code:

0x803f7001

A valid Windows 10 license couldn’t be found to activate Windows on your device.

Possible Solutions:

• Activate Windows - Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

• If you have a valid product key, select Change product key, and then enter the 25-character product key. If you don’t have a valid product key, you’ll need to buy a digital license for Windows.

Code:

0x800704cF

Microsoft didn’t find a valid Windows license for your device.

Possible Solutions:

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: Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .Select Change product key, and then enter the 25-character product key.

Code:

0xC004C060, 0xC004C4A2, 0xC004C4A2, 0x803FA067L, 0xC004C001, 0xC004C004, 0xC004F004, 0xC004C007, 0xC004F005, 0xC004C00F, 0xC004C010, 0xC004C00E, 0xC004C4A4, 0xC004C4A5, 0xC004B001, 0xC004F010, 0xC004F050

Reasons why you might see these errors & Possible Solutions:

• You entered a product key that can't be used to activate Windows.
• Enter a different product key or buy a new product key.
• You upgraded to Windows 10, but the activation servers were busy.
• If you upgraded from an activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, your copy of Windows 10 will be automatically activated, or you can wait for a while and then select Activate. If you continue to have problems with activation, contact customer support.
• You upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, but Windows 10 isn't activated after a reinstall.
• Your copy of Windows 10 should automatically be activated as long as you didn't make any significant hardware changes to your device.

Code:

0xC004C003

You may see this error because the Windows 10 product key you entered isn’t valid.

Possible Solutions:

• Product keys are unique and 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 10 and expected the key to be valid, contact the reseller.

• If your experience is different from those listed above, try the following: Run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter: Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation and then select Troubleshoot.

Code:

0xC004F034

Entered an invalid product key or a product key for a different version of Windows.

Possible Solutions:

• Enter a valid product key that matches the version and edition of Windows 10 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.

Code:

0xC004F210

Entered a product key for a different edition of Windows than the edition installed on your device.

Possible Solutions:

• You can either enter a valid product key that matches the edition of Windows installed on your device or reinstall the edition of Windows 10 that matches your digital license.

• Try running the Activation Troubleshooter

Code:

0xC004E016, 0xC004F210

Entered a product key for a different version or edition of Windows

Possible Solutions:

• Enter a product key that matches the version and edition of Windows installed on your device or buy a new copy of Windows

Code:

0xC004FC03, 0x8007267C

Not connected to the internet or your firewall settings are preventing Windows from completing the activation process online.

Possible Solutions:

• 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.

Code:

0xC004E028

Trying to activate a device that is already in the process of activation.

Possible Solutions:

• Your device should be activated after the first request is completed.

Code:

0xD0000272, 0xC0000272, 0xc004C012, 0xC004C013, 0xC004C014

The activation server is temporarily unavailable.

Possible Solutions:

• Windows will automatically be activated when the service comes back online.

Code:

0xC004C008, 0xC004C770, 0x803FA071

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.

Possible Solutions:

• To fix the problem, buy a product key for each one of your devices to activate Windows on them. 

Code:

0xC004F00F

Entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

Possible Solutions:

• Enter a product key that matches the edition of Windows on your device.

Code:

0xC004C020

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.

Possible Solutions:

• You might need to use a different product key to activate Windows on your device. Contact your organization's support person for more info.

Code:

0x8007232B, 0xC004F074, 0xC004F038, 0x8007007B

Reasons why you might see these errors & Possible Solutions:

• Entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro
• Try entering a product key that matches the edition of Windows on your device.
• You're trying to activate your work device but aren't connected to your workplace's network.
• If you're connected to your work network and still see this error, you might need to change the network settings. Contact your organization's support person for more info. If your organization doesn't have a support person, you might need to enter your product key again: Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Code:

0x80072F8F

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.

Possible Solutions:

• To verify the date and time, select Start  > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.

• Check your internet connection: In the search box on the taskbar, type network troubleshooter, then select Identify and repair network problems from the list of results. Follow the instructions to fix any problems with the network.

• If the network troubleshooter didn't find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your device to see if that fixes the problem.

Code:

0xC004E003

After installing third-party software that changed system files. Windows activation needs certain system files to complete activation.

Possible Solutions:

• 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.

Code:

0x80004005

Possible Solutions:

• Try Activation Troubleshooter: Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter.

Code:

0x87e10bc6

An error occurred with our activation server or licensing service.

Possible Solutions:

• Please wait a few minutes and then try the following Windows 10 Pro License Recovery steps: Select Start  > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter.

Code:

0x80070652

The update components are missing or corrupted on the computer or poor network connection.

Possible Solutions:

• Use the Windows update troubleshooter to check for corrupted or missing updates or components. Running the troubleshooter will help find and in some cases fix the issue.

• Check the strength of your internet connection.

For all other codes please contact customer support.