How to Activate Windows Server 2019, 2022 & 2025 With a Key

You've installed Windows Server and the desktop is showing an evaluation timer or an "Activate Windows" watermark. Here's how to activate it properly, for 2019, 2022 and 2025.

Method 1: Settings

1. Open Settings → System → Activation.
2. Click Change product key.
3. Enter your 25-character key and click Next → Activate.

Method 2: Command line (works on Server Core too)

Open an administrator Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
slmgr /ato

Check the result with slmgr /xpr.

You installed the Evaluation version?

The 180-day evaluation can be converted without reinstalling. First see which editions you can move to:

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

Then convert (use ServerStandard or ServerDatacenter):

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

The server restarts a couple of times. It then activates with your key.

Edition must match the key

A Standard key doesn't activate a Datacenter install and vice versa. Pick the right edition in the first place:

Common errors

• 0xC004F069 (edition mismatch): the key and installed edition differ.
• 0x8007232B (DNS name does not exist): the server is trying to find a KMS host. Enter your own key with slmgr /ipk.
• 0xC004C003 (key blocked): contact us. We replace faulty keys.

Remember: users connecting to the server need CALs. See RDS CALs explained.