Users who had a licensed copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on their computer should receive the activated system automatically and free of charge when upgrading to Windows 10. In practice, sometimes this does not happen; As a result, after a clean installation, a warning appears on the desktop stating that Windows is not activated, and some functions remain unavailable.

How to activate Windows 10 if you had a licensed copy, but an error occurred during the update? Let's look at several manual activation methods to tell the Microsoft server that you are the owner of a legally purchased Windows license.

Important: to avoid problems with activation, Microsoft experts recommend first and only then running a clean installation. After the update, you need to check that the system is activated. If everything is in order, then the clean installation field with formatting the system partition will not be activated.

Manual activation procedure

If you purchased a computer with a pre-installed system, then you may not have an activation key. However, this is not a problem - it is built into the motherboard, so it can be easily recognized using special utilities.

The easiest way to do this is through the ProduKey program, when launched, information about all found Microsoft product keys will appear. You need a Windows 10 key - you will use it to manually activate the system.

Changing the key

You have found out the key - now you need to specify it in the system settings to register a copy of Windows on the server:

1. Open the Update & Security section in Settings.
2. Go to the "Activation" tab.
3. Click "Change Key" and enter a new value.

If the error appears again, try activating the system through a command line launched with administrator privileges:

1. To delete the old key, enter “slmgr.vbs /upk”.
2. Specify the new value with the command “slmgr.vbs /ipk your key”.
3. Type "slmgr.vbs /ato" to activate the system.

If the command line indicates that the key has been accepted, but the system cannot be activated, you will have to use the activation function by phone.

Using your phone

Launch a command prompt with administrator privileges and enter the command “slui 4”. You will be asked to select the country you are in. Then a toll-free number will appear on the screen that you need to call.

The voice assistant will tell you what to do next. You will have to enter the installation code from your phone. If you enter it correctly, you will receive a confirmation code in response, which must be entered in a special field on the computer screen.

If the installation code you entered does not match, you will be connected to an operator who will tell you what you need to do to activate the system.

Delayed activation

If you urgently need an activated system, but you are unable to register it manually, you can temporarily fix the problem by delaying activation. On Windows, 3 free deferments are provided, for 30 days each. During this period, all functions will be available as if the system was registered.

1. Launch Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
2. Enter the query “slmgr.vbs –rearm”.
3. Restart your computer.

Delayed activation is a legal way to use Microsoft products without purchasing a license. But when the delays end, you will still have to think about how to activate Windows 10, so it’s better to contact technical support if something doesn’t work.

Windows 10, a popular operating system from Microsoft, requires activation from the user after installation, which is quite complex and multi-step compared to most proprietary programs. In particular, activation can be done through a phone call. Let's look at how to do this.

How to find out the activation key

First of all, to activate the system we need an activation key. As a rule, it is written on the back of the system disk or sent to you in an email during installation. If you don’t know it, it is recommended to use a simple program that analyzes the system and gives the user a key “hardwired” into it - for example, using the ShowKeyPlus utility. How to use it? Nothing complicated! Just run it and the utility itself will find all the data you need. ShowKeyPlus is free and open source. You can download it.

However, since the system is not activated, it means that you may not have a key at all. In this case, you must first obtain it from Microsoft and only then continue with activation.

Video: where to find the key

Activating Windows 10 by phone - step-by-step instructions

Once you have found out the key, you can begin the main part of the work - activation. To do this, you need to have a phone, a console, administrator rights and, preferably, a piece of paper with a pen in order to successfully write down the number dictated by the robot.

1. First you need to go to the console. This is done in several different ways: you can click “Run” (Win + R) and enter cmd in the window that opens, you can right-click on the “Start” button and select “Command Prompt (Administrator)” from the menu that opens.
2. In the console you need to type slmgr.vbs /upk. This way we will delete the old key. After this you need to enter the command slmgr.vbs /ipk<ваш ключ>, and enter the key without spaces, through hyphens, as it was originally displayed. To activate the system in the standard way, you can enter slmgr.vbs /ato. But this is not our case, and to activate via phone you will need another command.
3. A message will appear indicating that the key has been successfully installed into the system. Now you can move on to the next step: in the same command line you need to type the slui 4 command. It will open the phone activation menu. In the menu that appears, you need to indicate the country in which you live, and after that a window will appear with the data necessary for activation.
4. All that remains is to make a phone call. To a toll free number. Don’t worry: you won’t have to communicate with people, the activation is carried out by a robot, and all you have to do is press the buttons according to the given script:
   • press 1 if you are a private person;
   • press 1 if you want to activate Windows 10;
   • During the briefing, you can press # if you do not want to listen to it;
   • enter the first block of numbers from the activation window; then the second; then the third, and so on;
   • if everything went well, the robot will report that the data has been received.
5. The robot will begin to dictate the numbers of the confirmation code. If you type slower than you write, then this is where a piece of paper and a pen will come in handy. Carefully record the code and enter it in the appropriate field in the activation window (it’s called “Enter confirmation code...”).
6. "Ready!" - the system will happily report. That's it, Windows 10 is activated and you can do whatever you want with it.

Is this method safe?

In short, yes, it is safe. No more dangerous than any other type of activation. Of course, it is advisable to follow simple safety precautions: do not show the key or confirmation code to anyone, do not perform activation in public places, do not record calls or delete the recording immediately after activation. But objectively, the worst that can happen is that your activation code will leak onto the Internet and will be used to activate pirated versions of the system. If used for a long time, this can lead to the code being blocked and the need to obtain it again - this is not the easiest procedure. But it is impossible to gain any access to personal data or files on the computer through the activation code.

And if you follow the simple rules described above, the probability of code leaking into the network drops to such an insignificant level that it can be neglected. So activation by phone is secure and in some ways simpler than standard activation.

When it is impossible to activate the OS

The most common reason why activation by phone fails is the robot message: “The code is not recognized.” Why could this happen?

Video: getting a Windows license key by phone

So, activation of Windows 10 by phone is completed, and you can safely enjoy the system without restrictions and annoying inscriptions. In case you need to activate the system again, the experience gained will definitely be useful.

Windows 10 is the latest operating system released by Microsoft. Most likely, it will stay on users’ devices for a long time: according to forecasts, subsequent versions will only be improved updates to the “tens”. This makes the issue of activating this operating system more and more relevant.

Windows 10 downloaded and installed. Now you need to move on to activation, that is, to confirm the authenticity of the installed version of the operating system, without which its full operation is impossible. But why is this procedure necessary?

Firstly, a user with a non-activated OS will not be able to install the background they like on their desktop. The selected picture will be reset and replaced with a black canvas.

Secondly, a notification constantly appears in the corner of the screen about the need to activate the OS.

Finally, the computer randomly restarts after several hours of operation, which can lead to the loss of important data.

Note! Without it, the user will not be able to appreciate its capabilities and functionality. That is why this procedure is mandatory.

Video - Activating Windows 10 PRO

Activation methods

There are several main ways to activate Windows 10 Pro. Let's consider them separately.

Video - How to activate Windows 10 in less than 5 minutes

Via "Options"

Have you updated your OS from licensed 7 or 8 to 10 through the official Microsoft website? You are very lucky, since the activation procedure will be quick and “painless”, that is, without the need to purchase a key. This is often done automatically when installing a new version. But sometimes you need to activate it yourself.

This procedure is performed in a few simple steps:

Windows 10 Windows 10

By phone

Can't connect to the Internet? You can also activate Windows 10 Pro via a phone call:

Via "Properties"

This method, like the previous one, requires a key. It will be indicated on the packaging of the OS disc or on a special sticker on the new device. Follow these steps:

KMS program

Don't have an activation key? You can use a special KMS program. Its main features include:

1. Simple interface, understandable even for novice users.
2. Wide range of supported operating systems.
3. Free.
4. Preliminary check for activation, etc.

Activating Windows 10 Pro via KMS is very simple:

The program will independently select the required activation bypass mechanism and carry out the procedure.

Interesting! The program can be downloaded absolutely free on the official website. Before downloading and installing.

So, Windows 10 Pro is one of the most functional OS. You should not neglect its activation, especially since this procedure is performed simply and quickly.

Any copy of the Windows 10 operating system requires activation. If you purchased a licensed version, then the activator will be a special key. If you use a pirated copy, you will have to resort to third-party software in the form of an activator or a crack. Let's figure out how to properly activate Windows 10 in each situation.

The activation method that is suitable for your computer depends on how you installed the operating system:

• if you purchased a licensed product and just installed it on your PC or laptop, then you just need to enter the key;
• restoring the pre-installed OS on a laptop will not require re-activation if you are using exactly the same version of Windows 10 (bit size, build, etc.) In this case, you will receive a license without a key and activator;
• upgrading a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8 to “ten” also does not require confirmation with a key;
• The pirated copy works fully during the trial period. After that, you need to activate it using KMS Auto or another similar program.

How to check your license

To find out whether the installed system is activated, the standard Windows application “Settings” will come to the rescue. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Start icon on your desktop and select Settings.

1. Go to the "System" section.

1. Open the “About the system” subsection. Here you can see the version and build of your OS (Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit). Next, click on the button marked in the screenshot.

1. In the “Activation” subsection you will see the following message if your OS is activated with a key:

In PC settings, you can also change the product key using the marked button. This operation can only be performed under an administrator account.

Traditional method

Did you buy the boxed version or the digital key? Then all you have to do is enter it into the appropriate window in Windows 10. To do this, follow the instructions:

1. Open Settings by right-clicking on the Start icon.

1. Now open the Update & Security section.

1. In the left column, select the “Activation” subsection and click on the “Activate” button. In the window that appears, enter the existing key.

Via phone

Activating the OS over the phone is quite easy if you have the license key in hand. To complete the procedure, you will need a command line and a mobile phone. The advantage of this method is that you do not need to connect to the Internet, which can help in some cases (for example, problems installing a driver on a network card).

For the first or repeated activation via phone you must:

1. Open a command prompt with administrator rights. Do this via the Run window, cmd command and run with Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

1. In the command line, enter “slui 4” and press Enter. A menu will open on the screen where you need to specify your personal data. Next, call a paid or toll-free number.

1. Now you need to follow the instructions from the answering machine. Click on one if you are an individual, and “2” if we are talking about the corporate version. Now press “1” again to proceed to the activation procedure. You must enter each block of numbers one by one, as required by the operator. If everything is entered correctly, the answering machine will notify you about this. It will then begin dictating a verification code that must be entered in the marked fields. At the end of the procedure, click on “Activate”. If the entire procedure was completed correctly, you will receive an activated OS.

Be sure to check the success of the event through Windows settings as described above. In this way, you can permanently obtain a license before reinstalling the OS later.

If you were unable to activate by phone, then you did something wrong. Check that the code dictated by the operator is entered correctly.

There is also a possibility of a hardware problem related to the computer ID. To fix it you need to do the following:

1. Go to "Device Manager". This can be done through the search bar. Enter the name in Russian or the command “devmgmt.msc”.

1. Open the “Network Adapters” subsection, right-click on your network card and select “Disable”. Do the same with the sound card.

1. Now perform the activation again, after which you can turn on the equipment again.

Reinstallation on laptop

If you purchased a laptop with a pre-installed operating system (OEM), then activation is available to you without entering a key. This is due to the fact that the license information is already “hardwired” into the BIOS or UEFI on the motherboard. You can restore the OS to its factory state without activation using the standard Recovery utility, which is available on the laptop’s hard drive. For example, Lenovo products have their own recovery menu:

After reinstallation, you will see a message in the “About System” window indicating that the OS has been activated. To find out about a specific recovery method without reactivation for your laptop, you need to go to the manufacturer’s official website and read the help information.

Thus, you will not need to write the Windows 10 distribution onto a USB flash drive, and you will not need to manually enter the key.

Using activators

If we are talking about a pirated copy, then you can activate the OS using special utilities. Let's figure out how to get a license for free and forever.

The first program is KMSAuto. You can download and install it yourself.

Using KMSAuto Net you can activate the operating systems Windows 7, 8, 10 (Home/Professional/Insider Preview/Enterprice/Enterprice LTSB, etc.), Microsoft Office suite of office programs. rus/en versions and 32/64-bit systems are supported. Before unpacking the zip or rar archive with the utility, it is recommended to disable the standard Windows Defender:

1. Open "Windows Defender Security Center" through search.

1. Click on the marked button.

1. Open Security Settings.

1. Set Real-time Protection to Off.

Any antivirus has the ability to add software to exceptions/trusted programs. After you finish working with KMSAuto, you can remove it from the list or completely remove it from your computer. During the procedure, the Microsoft KMS service is replaced with a virtual server created on a PC. After the activator has managed to “deceive” the OS, it removes the server from the computer.

Now you can proceed to activation:

1. On the main screen of the activator, press the marked button.

1. At the bottom of the window you can see the status of the procedure.

1. At the end of the process you will see the following message:

If you are unable to activate in automatic mode, then use the instructions for manual mode:

1. Go to the "System" tab. To begin, click on the “Install KMS-Service” button.

1. Next, click on “Install Windows Key”.

1. After this you must remove KMS-Service. Now you need to click on “Create a task” so that the activator can carry out the procedure again after the license expires.

The second activation utility is Re-Loader Activator. The program is less known, but no less effective. Before using it, also disable your antivirus protection. After launching the application, you will be asked to agree to the rules:

Leave a checkmark next to Win and click on the “Activation” button:

After completing the procedure, restart your computer.

Results

If you are the owner of a licensed copy, then activating Windows 10 for you means entering the key in a special window or one phone call. If you don’t understand why you should buy an OS that can be quite expensive, then install one of the activators.

In both cases, you get a complete and functional operating system.

Video

We invite you to watch the video instructions. In it you will discover something new about activating the OS or learn how to do it yourself from scratch. The video is an addition to the main manual and clearly explains each step.

One of the ways to activate Windows 10, that is, confirm the officiality of the entered key, is by calling by phone. Although the "Phone Activation" operation is performed in the same way in different operating system packages (Home, Premium, Pro, Enterprise, etc.), the keys must be used differently for each version of Windows.

Confirming a license key in Windows 10 by phone

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Write and execute the command “slmgr –ipk license_key”.
3. A window will appear confirming that the key you entered is correct.
4. Run the slui 4 command to proceed to activating the entered key.
5. Select the country you are currently in.
6. You will see two numbers: free and paid. You can call any of them. Below the numbers is the installation code, which you will be asked to provide to the operator.
7. An answering machine will answer your call and ask you to press number 1 to confirm the start of the operation. Next, the briefing will begin. If you don't want to listen to it, press pound (#). At the next step, you need to tell the robot operator the numbers from the blocks that he will ask you to name. Confirmation that you did everything correctly will be the phrase “Your data has been accepted.”
8. As soon as you hear this phrase, return to the activation wizard in Windows 10 and click on the “Enter verification code” button.
9. They will tell you numbers over the phone, and you must enter them in the appropriate blocks.
10. If all data is entered correctly, you will receive a “Done” message.
11. Open PC settings.
12. Go to the Update & Security section.
13. Go to the “Activation” subsection.
14. In the Windows block, opposite the “Activation” line, an entry should appear that the system has been successfully activated. At this point, you can consider the mission completed: your Windows 10 has full license rights, and all restrictions on pirated copies have been lifted.

Video: Activating Windows 10 by phone

Is activation by phone safe?

The method is absolutely safe, since during the call you do not provide any personal data or keys that could be stolen. The whole operation consists of the robot at the other end of the line checking your license key, the code that you dictate to it, and the code that it dictates to you. Therefore, you cannot lose anything during a telephone conversation. The main thing is to call only the numbers provided by the system, and not by fraudulent sites.

When activation by phone is not possible

You will not be able to activate the system when working in safe mode, or if your key is not suitable: it has already been entered by another user or is intended for a different version of Windows. If the problem is with the key, you will receive a notification similar to “Data not recognized.”

Another reason for problems to arise during activation is that the number you are calling may be busy. The best time to call is between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays. Try calling both the paid and toll-free numbers provided by the system. If the call does not go through, try calling later.

Before proceeding with activation, check whether the time and date settings are set correctly.

If you are faced with the fact that activation by phone does not work in your case or is associated with problems, use other methods. If, when entering a real license key that you purchased, and not taken from the Internet, an error occurs in all activation methods, you should contact the official Microsoft support service.