Windows 10 activation errors

0xC004F211

To purchase a new Windows license, Start  > Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store.
Open Activation settings

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.

Additionally, 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. For more info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

0xC004F212

If you think you 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.
Open Activation settings

0xC004F213

To purchase a new Windows license, select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store.
Open Activation settings

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.

In addition, 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. For more info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

In this situation, activation is typically managed by your organization, and you’ll need to contact your system administrator for assistance. For more info, see Troubleshooting Windows license expiration issues.

1. Select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation .
2. 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, select Go to Microsoft Store, and follow the instructions to buy a digital license for Windows.
   Open Activation settings

For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info on how to troubleshoot error code 0x803F7001, see Fix Windows 10 activation error 0x803F7001.

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.

For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

If you have a valid product key, use it to activate Windows:

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

If you’ve made a major change to your device’s hardware, such as a motherboard replacement, run the Windows Activation troubleshooter located on the activation settings page. Note that you might be asked to go through the reactivation process. For more info, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

• 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 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 (such as replacing the motherboard). If you continue to have problems with activation, contact customer support.

If you bought a device from a reseller of Windows 10 and expected the key to be valid, contact the reseller. If your device was purchased with Windows 10 preinstalled and you received this activation error upon turning it on for the first time, contact your device manufacturer.

If your experience with your device 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.
  Open Activation settings
• Check to see if you have a paper copy of your Windows 25-character product key you can enter to activate Windows 10.
• If your device was recently repaired at an independent repair facility, contact them to see if the repairs require a new Windows 10 license.
• If the device is new and has never been activated, contact your device manufacturer.

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.

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.

If your device is running Windows 10 (Version 1607 or later), the Activation troubleshooter can help you install the correct edition of Windows on your device. For more info, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

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

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. In the search box on the taskbar, type SLUI 04, select SLUI 04 from the list of results, and then follow the instructions on the screen to activate Windows.

If you’re using Windows 10, you can buy Windows from the Microsoft Store:

1. Select Start > Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation .
2. Select Go to Microsoft Store, then follow the instructions to buy Windows 10.
   Open Activation settings

• You might see this error if you 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.
• Or, you might see this error if 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:

1. Select Start > Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation .
2. Select Change product key, and then type your 25-character product key.
   Open Activation settings

 You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

To verify the date and time, select Start > Settings  > Time & language > Date & time.
Verify date and time in Settings
To check your internet connection:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type network troubleshooter, then select Identify and repair network problems from the list of results.
2. 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.

For more info, see the section about how to restore from a system restore point in Recovery options in Windows 10.

Open Activation settings

If this doesn’t work, you might need to reset your device. For more info, see the section in Recovery options in Windows10.

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

Also, check the strength of your internet connection.