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Activate using Key Management Service

Tip

For information on retail activation, see the following articles:

Volume activation can be performed via Key Management Service (KMS). KMS can be hosted either on a client version of Windows or on Windows Server.

Key Management Service in a client version of Windows

Installing a KMS host key on a computer running a client version of Windows allows the following scenarios against this KMS host:

  • Activation of other computers running the same client version of Windows.
  • Activation of other computers running earlier client versions of Windows.

Clients locate the KMS server by using resource records in DNS, so some configuration of DNS is required. This scenario can be beneficial if the organization uses volume activation for clients and MAK-based activation for a smaller number of servers.

To enable KMS functionality, a KMS key is installed on a KMS host. The host is then activated over the Internet or by phone using Microsoft activation services.

Configure KMS in a client version of Windows

KMS can be activated on client versions of Windows by using the slmgr.vbs. To activate KMS on a client version of Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.

  2. In the elevated Command Prompt window, run the following command to install the KMS key:

    cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ipk <KMS_Key>

  3. Once the KMS key is installed, it needs to be activated using one of the following methods:

    • To activate online, in the elevated Command Prompt window, run the following command:
    cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ato

    • To activate by telephone, follow these steps:

      1. In the elevated Command Prompt window, run the following command:

        cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /dti

        This command should display the installation ID.

      2. Call the Microsoft Volume License Key assisted support telephone numbers. Follow the voice prompts and when prompted, enter the installation ID obtained in the previous step.

      3. Continue following the voice prompts. When prompted, write down the 48-digit confirmation ID for OS activation given by the prompts.

      4. In the elevated Command Prompt window, run the following command:

        cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /atp <confirmation_ID_from_previous_step>

Key Management Service in Windows Server

Installing a KMS host key on a computer running Windows Server allows activation of computers running the same or earlier versions of Windows Server. Additionally, it also allows activation of client versions of Windows.

Important

A client KMS key can't be installed into the KMS in Windows Server.

Configure KMS in Windows Server

  1. Sign in to a Windows Server server with an account that has local administrative credentials.

  2. Open Server Manager.

  3. Under the Manage menu in Server Manager, select Add Roles and Features. The Add Roles and Features Wizard window opens.

  4. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard:

    1. In the Before you begin page, select the Next > button.

    2. In the Select installation type/Installation Type page, select Role-based or feature-based installation, and then select the Next > button.

    3. In the Select destination server/Server Selection page, make sure Select a server from the server pool is selected. Under Server Pool, select the server on which to install KMS, and then select the Next > button.

    4. In the Select server roles/Server Roles page, under Roles, select Volume Activation Services, and then select the Next > button.

    5. In the Add features that are required for Volume Activation Services? window that appears, select the Add Features button, and then select the Next > button.

    6. In the Select features/Features page, select the Next > button.

    7. In the Volume Activation Services page, select the Next > button.

    8. In the Confirm installation selections/Confirmation page, select the Install button.

    9. Installation can take a few minutes to complete. Once the role installation completes, select the Close button.

  5. Go to the Start Menu > Windows Administrative Tools and select Volume Activation Tools. The Volume Activation Tools window appears.

  6. In the Volume Activation Tools window:

    1. In the Introduction to Volume Activation Tools/Introduction page, select the Next > button.

    2. In the Select Volume Activation Method/Activation Type page, select the Key Management Service (KMS) option, and specify the computer that acts as the KMS host. This computer can be the server on which the KMS role was installed, or another server/client computer. After the server/computer is specified, select the Next > button.

    3. In the Manage KMS Host/Product Key Management page, enter in the KMS host key in the text box under Install your KMS host key, and then select the Commit button.

    4. If asked to confirm replacement of an existing key, select Yes.

    5. After the product key is installed, in the Product Key Installation Succeeded/Product Key Management page, make sure Activate Product is selected, and then select Next > button to begin the activation process.

    6. In the Activate Product/Product Key Management page, make sure the current product is shown under the Select product menu, and then select the desired activation method. The available methods are:

      • Active online - If selecting this option, select the Commit button to finish activating the product online.

      • Active by phone - If selecting this option:

        1. Select the desired location from the Select your location drop-down menu, and then select the Next > button.

        2. In the Activate by Phone/Product Key Management page, follow the instructions to activate the product by phone.

        3. Once finished, select the Commit button.

    7. In the Activation Succeeded/Product Key Management page, review the configuration options:

      • If the configuration options are as expected, select the Close button.

      • If configuration changes are desired:

        1. Select the Next > button.

        2. In the Configure Key Management Service Options/Product Key Management page, make the desired configuration changes, and then select the Commit button.

        3. In the Configuration Succeeded/Configuration page, select the Close button.

Once the KMS host is configured, it begins to listen for activation requests. However, it doesn't activate clients successfully until the activation threshold is met.

Verifying the configuration of Key Management Service

KMS volume activation can be verified from the KMS host server or from the client computer. KMS volume activation requires a minimum threshold of 25 computers before activation requests are processed. The verification process described here increments the activation count each time a client computer contacts the KMS host. If the activation threshold hasn't been reached, the verification generates an error message instead of a confirmation message.

Note

If Active Directory-based activation was configured before configuring KMS activation, a client computer must be used that doesn't first try to activate itself by using Active Directory-based activation. For example, a client computer that is a workgroup computer that isn't joined to a domain.

To verify that KMS volume activation works, complete the following steps:

  1. On the KMS host, open the event log and confirm that DNS publishing is successful.

  2. On a client computer, open an elevated Command Prompt window and run the command:

    cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ato

    The /ato command causes the operating system to attempt activation by using whichever key is installed in the operating system. The response should show the license state and detailed Windows version information.

  3. On a client computer or the KMS host, open an elevated Command Prompt window and run the command

    cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /dlv

    The /dlv command displays the detailed licensing information. The response should return an error that states that the KMS activation count is too low. This test confirms that KMS is functioning correctly, even though the client isn't activated.

For more information about the use and syntax of the script slmgr.vbs, see Slmgr.vbs Options.

Important

Clients require RPC over TCP/IP connectivity to the KMS host to successfully activate. For more information, see Key Management Services (KMS) activation planning: Network requirements and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) errors troubleshooting guidance.

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