Are you looking to activate Windows 11 on your device but want to avoid paying for a product key? Well, there are several methods to activate Windows 11 for free. This article will guide you step-by-step to do so on your PC.
If you are running Windows 11 without activation, you might be facing certain restrictions in terms of features and functionality. Activating Windows 11 is essential in getting the most out of your device. It is because it ensures you have access to all the features and functionality the operating system offers. So, here’s how to get full access to Windows 11.
1. How to Activate Windows 11 for Free Using CMD
The steps to activate Windows 11 using Command Prompt are simple and easy to follow. Moreover, this is a legal way to activate your Windows for free, as Microsoft offers KMS keys. That said, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Command Prompt, and click on ‘Run as administrator.’
In the prompt, click Yes.
Step 2: Type the below command and press Enter.
slmgr /ipk kmsclientkey
Note: The KMSClientKey is the activation key you will have to enter depending on your chosen Windows edition. Find the keys below:
- Windows Home: TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
- Windows Home N: 3KHY7-WNT83-DGQKR-F7HPR-844BM
- Windows Pro: W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
- Windows Pro N: MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9
- Windows Education: NW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2
- Windows Education N: 2WH4N-8QGBV-H22JP-CT43Q-MDWWJ
For example, if you want to activate Windows 11 Pro, use the command ‘slmgr /ipk W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX.’
Step 3: You will need to set up a KMS server by using the following command.
slmgr /skms yourserver
Note: In place of yourserver, type kms.msguides.com or kms8.msguides.com.
Step 4: Finally, type the below command and press Enter.
slmgr /ato
With this command, your Windows will get activated for free. If this method is too complicated or lengthy to follow, check out the next method.
2. How to Activate Windows 11 for Free Using Batch File
Disclaimer: Although we have verified the batch script, Microsoft doesn’t recommend using batch scripts to activate Windows 11. So, execute this method at your discretion.
Step 1: Right-click the Desktop, select New, and choose Text Document.
Step 2: Name the File and press Enter.
Example: Name the file ‘Windows 11 Activator.’
Step 3: Copy and paste the below script to the text document. Or you can download the text document using the below link and skip to Step 5.
@echo off title Activate Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 for FREE!&cls&echo =====================================&echo #Copyright: MSGuides.com&echo =====================================&echo.&echo #Supported products:&echo - Windows 7 Professional&echo - Windows 7 Professional N&echo - Windows 7 Professional E&echo - Windows 7 Enterprise&echo - Windows 7 Enterprise N&echo - Windows 7 Enterprise E&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 - Windows 10 Home&echo - Windows 10 Home N&echo - Windows 10 Home Single Language&echo - Windows 10 Home Country Specific&echo - Windows 10 Professional&echo - Windows 10 Professional N&echo - Windows 10 Education N&echo - Windows 10 Education N&echo - Windows 10 Enterprise&echo - Windows 10 Enterprise N&echo - Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB&echo - Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB N&echo.&echo.&echo ====================================&echo Activating your Windows... & cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk FJ82H-XT6CR-J8D7P-XQJJ2-GPDD4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk MRPKT-YTG23-K7D7T-X2JMM-QY7MG >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk W82YF-2Q76Y-63HXB-FGJG9-GF7QX >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 33PXH-7Y6KF-2VJC9-XBBR8-HVTHH >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk YDRBP-3D83W-TY26F-D46B2-XCKRJ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk C29WB-22CC8-VJ326-GHFJW-H9DH4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk NG4HW-VH26C-733KW-K6F98-J8CK4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk XCVCF-2NXM9-723PB-MHCB7-2RYQQ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk GNBB8-YVD74-QJHX6-27H4K-8QHDG >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 32JNW-9KQ84-P47T8-D8GGY-CWCK7 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk JMNMF-RHW7P-DMY6X-RF3DR-X2BQT >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk M9Q9P-WNJJT-6PXPY-DWX8H-6XWKK >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 7B9N3-D94CG-YTVHR-QBPX3-RJP64 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk BB6NG-PQ82V-VRDPW-8XVD2-V8P66 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk HMCNV-VVBFX-7HMBH-CTY9B-B4FXY >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 789NJ-TQK6T-6XTH8-J39CJ-J8D3P >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 3KHY7-WNT83-DGQKR-F7HPR-844BM >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk PVMJN-6DFY6-9CCP6-7BKTT-D3WVR >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9 >nul echo ------------------------------------&echo.&echo.&set i=1 :server if %i%==1 set KMS_Sev=kms7.MSGuides.com if %i%==2 set KMS_Sev=kms8.MSGuides.com if %i%==3 set KMS_Sev=kms9.MSGuides.com if %i%==4 goto notsupported cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /skms %KMS_Sev% >nul cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato | find /i "successfully" && (echo.& echo ====================================== & echo. & choice /n /c YN /m "Would you like to visit my blog [Y,N]?" & if errorlevel 2 exit) || (echo The connection to the server failed! Trying to connect to another one... & echo Please wait... & echo. & echo. & set /a i+=1 & goto server) explorer "http://MSGuides.com"&goto halt :notsupported echo ======================================&echo.&echo Sorry! Your version is not supported. :halt pause >nul
Step 3: Go to File and select Save As from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Name the file as ‘Windows11activator.bat’ and save it as a .bat file.
Step 5: Right-click the file and choose ‘Run as administrator.’
Step 6: You will get a prompt saying Windows has detected a threat. Click on it.
You will be taken to Windows Defender settings.
Step 7: In ‘Virus & threat protection,’ under Current threats, select ‘Allow on device,’ and click on Start actions.
Once done, close the Window.
Step 8: Return to the file, right-click on it, and select ‘Run as administrator.’
A command prompt will open, and the activation process will start. You will get the prompt saying ‘Product activated successfully.’ After this, close the window. You can check if the activation succeeded by following the steps in the next section.
How to Check if Windows 11 is Activated
Before activating your Windows 11 PC for free, checking whether it is already activated is essential. You don’t always need to enter the product key, most of the time, Windows automatically fetches it from the registry or physical media (in some cases) to verify that it is properly licensed.
There are a couple of ways to check your PC’s activation status. Continue reading.
Method 1: Check Using Windows Settings App
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Settings, and click Open.
Step 2: Under System, scroll down and click on the Activation option.
Step 3: If your PC is unactivated, it will display the Activation state as Not active.
Method 2: Check Using Command Prompt
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Command Prompt and click open ‘Run as administrator.’
In the prompt, click Yes.
Step 2: Type the below command and press Enter.
slmgr /dli
If the Windows Script Host prompt displays ‘Error: product key not found,’ it means that there’s no product key linked to the Windows 11 PC.
If you want to avoid going through all these steps and want a quick way to activate your Windows 11 PC, it is better to get a license than workarounds. However, first, you need to uninstall the Windows 11 license installed by following the above methods.
How to Deactivate Windows or Uninstall a Product Key
Before purchasing a digital license, it is ideal to uninstall the Windows 11 license installed by the above-mentioned methods. Here’s how to do so.
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator.
Step 2: Type the below command and press Enter.
slmgr /upk
You will get a ‘Windows Script Host’ prompt saying, ‘ Uninstalled product key successfully.’
That’s it. Now that you have uninstalled the Windows product key, jump to the next method to buy a digital license.
How to Purchase a Digital License and Activate Windows
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Settings, and click Open.
Step 2: Under System, scroll down and click on the Activation option.
Step 3: Click on Open Store beside ‘Get a new license in the Microsoft Store app.’
Step 4: Click the Buy button and follow the purchase prompts.
Note: Make sure you have logged in to the Microsoft Store using your Microsoft account.
There you go. Your Windows 11 digital license gets activated once you complete the prompts and pay for it. You can check the status by going to the Activation state on Windows settings.
FAQs on Activating Windows 11 for Free
Yes, you can activate Windows 11 later if you cannot do so during the initial installation process. Windows usually give you a grace period for a limited time, typically 30 days. During this time, you can use most of the features and functionality of the operating system, although some features may be limited or unavailable.
It is not illegal to use unactivated Windows. However, you will have fewer features and functionality. For example, you will not be able to personalize, use security features, get automatic updates, or use remote desktop.
Activating Windows does not delete any files or data from your device. The activation process verifies that you are using a legitimate and properly licensed copy of the operating system. It unlocks all the features and functionality of Windows.
Use Windows Full-Fledged
As you see, it is easy to activate Windows 11 for free. Following the steps mentioned in this article, you can successfully activate Windows 11 on your PC and begin using all its features and functionality without any restrictions. Now, that you know how to activate Windows 11 for free, you may also want to know the top 4 ways to add or remove optional features on Windows 11.
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Last updated on 16 January, 2023
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Thankyou so much .
First method didn’t work. But 2nd method did.
Again thankyou so much
Thanks a lot. Anyone’s interested, go to check on onthehubstore.
Thank you for this. I thought I was gonna have do windows 10 on my new pc.
Thanks. I tried onthehubstore, it’s good.
Do you have similar steps for win10 enterprise. I had a registered copy before the PC crashed and I had to reinstall afresh.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH.
Been trying to find a solution to my WIndows 11 PRO (re-)activation problem for two days. Yours is the first site that gave me a working solution – CMD Prompt, slmgr /
Nice work, appreciate it.
None of this worked for me. So I tried buying a license from onthehubstore and I get an error that says my account cannot currently make live charges. Googling the message I find that I need to enter my business info, which I did, and I’m still getting the error message.. can anyone help?
First method was so easy, thanks, author.
Thank you so much it works perfectly.! Life saveer!
Works great. I had to change te server to kms8.msguides.com and then activated 😉
Have setup a VM to test it for my nephew who has build a new Game PC so that I can help him.
Thank you so much for the steps. But I have purchased the genuine and real activation key from Pro Web software
Thank you very much. It worked (1.step).
Thankyou sooooo muchhh
Awesome Brah…Keep up the good work.
Awesome work. Glad I read the comments and thanks to Carel “Works great. I had to change the server to kms8.msguides.com and then activated.” Thanks my guy.
2nd method works perfectly on Windows 11. Thanks !
Thanks for sharing it but people who are using non genuine, cracked or pirated operating system, Mostly facing problems and after the bogus updates their issues may become complex. I also used windows 11 pro trail with many issues on weekly basis but when I activated it there’s no more issue found. To fix it, I purchased license key from odosta store which I think is a Microsoft product reseller.