If you are having problems activating Windows 10, Server 2016, Windows 8, or Server 2012 one of these three solutions below should get you through:

Command Line to Launch Activation GUI:

This is handy if the GUI won’t start and you want to skip some steps to get it to work.

1. click START (gets you to the tiles)
2. type RUN
3. type slui 3 and press ENTER
   1. yes, SLUI: which stands for SOFTWARE LICENSING USER INTERFACE
      1. SLUI 1 brings up the activation status window
      2. SLUI 2 brings up the activation window
      3. SLUI 3 brings up the CHANGE PRODUCT KEY window
      4. SLUI 4 brings up the CALL MICROSOFT & MANUALLY ACTIVATE window
4. Type in your product key
5. Have a nice day.

Folowing these steps will allow you to activate Windows 10 (Also works for Windows 7, 8,8.1) by phone. 1.Press and Hold “Windows” key on Keyboard and press “R” Key. 2.The “Run” Window will open, enter “slui 4” (without quotes) and click “OK” 3.Phone activation Wizard will open, select. Uninstalling the product key on a Windows 10 PC will not remove the digital license for that PC from Microsoft activation servers. If you try to activate Windows 10 on another PC with this same retail product key, you may have to activate by phone if online activation fails.

Command Line to Activate Windows Through Command Line:

1. Launch a CMD as an Administrator
2. Type: slmgr.vbs /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
3. Press Enter

If your key is valid and you are connected to the internet, it should activate within a second or two.

Call Microsoft Activation Center:

In Canada and the US, call the support line directly at 1 800-936-4900, otherwise, use this table of Microsoft Activation Phone Numbers to do the deed.

Phone Activation Windows 10 2020

You also might find some of our previous posts on activation problems to be helpful: urtech.ca/?s=activation