In this article, I will tell you how to activate Windows Server for free, not just this but also the activation does not require you to use any third-party application such as KMSpico, KMSAuto Net, or any other program. Therefore, you will not have to be worried about your system’s security and its protection from viruses. Both of the methods that I will tell you are completely safe and you can activate Windows Server very easily. The activation procedure is quite easy and for your ease, I have explained all the steps below with images. The first method uses Windows Server activator cmd activation and the second method includes using Windows Server activation txt file. Now, before activating Windows Server let me tell you a thing or two about the Windows Server upgrade.
Microsoft Windows Server Overview
Windows Server (formley called Windows NT Server) is a set of server operating systems that is developed by Microsoft. This is generally for helping businesses of all sizes from big to small with tasks like storing data, handling communication, and running applications. I will show you how to activate Windows on your VPS or dedicated server for free using KMS client product keys.
KMS licenses let you activate Windows Server for 180 days, and you can renew them whenever you need to. The license also automatically renews every 7 days, just like Let’s Encrypt certificates. Once you activate Windows this way, you do not have to worry about it anymore.
Now, let’s go through the steps to activate Windows Server using KMS client product keys, so your server runs smoothly without any recurring costs.
Important Note:
- If you are a student, office worker, or standard desktop user of Windows, please disregard this post and refrain from following the instructions provided. I will not take on responsibility for any damage incurred as a result of your non-compliance.
- It is crucial to note that all editions of Windows Server available on the Microsoft homepage are evaluation versions and are not supported by KMS. Therefore, if you are currently using an evaluation version, ensure to convert it to the retail version before proceeding with the instructions outlined below. This will ensure compatibility and successful activation using KMS client product keys.
Supported Products
Following are the list of products that are supported:
- Windows Server 2022/2019/2016.
- Windows Server, version 1809, 1803, 1709.
- Windows Server 2008/2012 (R2).
Method 1: Manually Installation of KMS Client Key and Activate it.
Now, let me tell you how you can use KMS Client Key to activate Windows Server. This method is the almost the same as the method of activation of Windows 11. I have tried my best to properly explain to you the complete activation procedure and not just that but also I will provide you images for each steps as well.
Step 1: Get the Right Product Key
First of all before you will have to get the right product key for your Windows Server activation. Here we are activating Win Server 2016 Standard and its KMS Client Setup Key is “WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY”. We will be using it in the next step.
Step 2: Install the Key on Your Server.
For this you will have to open your command prompt, to open cmd. Search for ‘cmd‘ in the Windows Search Bar and run it as the administrator of your system. For more details read this article “How to Open the Command Prompt (CMD) as Administrator“.
When the command prompt initiates copy and paste the below given command:
slmgr /ipk CLIENTKEY
Press Enter after pasting the command in the cmd.
Step 3: Select the KMS Server
Next, to select the KMS server copy and paste the below command and press enter afterwards.
slmgr /skms kms8.msguides.com
Step 4: Activate the KMS Key
Now, it is time to activate the KMS key by using the following command:
slmgr /ato
Error 0xC004F074 and its Solution
If you come across error code 0xC004F074, it suggests that your internet connection might be shaky or the server could be busy with lots of traffic. To fix this problem, make sure your device is connected to the internet, and then try running the command “ato” again. It might take a few tries before you successfully activate Windows Server, so don’t get discouraged. Just keep trying until the activation process goes through.
Method 2: Use a Pre-Written Batch File
There are some news that this method of activation is not valid anymore because of the latest update of Microsoft. Therefore, it is not recommended now. Howevere, you can still use it for activating it.
Step 1: Copy the Script:
Copy the code that is available below, you can use the copy script button just below the code:
@echo off
title Activate Windows Server (ALL versions) for FREE - MSGuides.com&cls&echo =====================================================================================&echo #Project: Activating Microsoft software products for FREE without additional software&echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo #Supported products:&echo http://bit.ly/kmsclientkeys&echo.&echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo Activating your Windows...&set i=1
cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 4DWFP-JF3DJ-B7DTH-78FJB-PDRHK >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 22XQ2-VRXRG-P8D42-K34TD-G3QQC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 7M67G-PC374-GR742-YH8V4-TCBY3 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk RCTX3-KWVHP-BR6TB-RB6DM-6X7HP >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 39BXF-X8Q23-P2WWT-38T2F-G3FPG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk YQGMW-MPWTJ-34KDK-48M3W-X4Q6V >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk W7VD6-7JFBR-RX26B-YKQ3Y-6FFFJ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk TM24T-X9RMF-VWXK6-X8JC9-BFGM2 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WYR28-R7TFJ-3X2YQ-YCY4H-M249D >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk GT63C-RJFQ3-4GMB6-BRFB9-CB83V >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 74YFP-3QFB3-KQT8W-PMXWJ-7M648 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 489J6-VHDMP-X63PK-3K798-CPX3Y >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk YC6KT-GKW9T-YTKYR-T4X34-R7VHC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk TT8MH-CG224-D3D7Q-498W2-9QCTX >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6TPJF-RBVHG-WBW2R-86QPH-6RTM4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 48HP8-DN98B-MYWDG-T2DCC-8W83P >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk XNH6W-2V9GX-RGJ4K-Y8X6F-QGJ2G >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk HM7DN-YVMH3-46JC3-XYTG7-CYQJJ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk XC9B7-NBPP2-83J2H-RHMBY-92BT4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 4K36P-JN4VD-GDC6V-KDT89-DYFKP >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 8N2M2-HWPGY-7PGT9-HGDD8-GVGGY >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk KNC87-3J2TX-XB4WP-VCPJV-M4FWM >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk W3GGN-FT8W3-Y4M27-J84CP-Q3VJ9 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk DPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk PTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk N2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk 6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk WX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33 >nul||cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H >nul||goto notsupported
:skms
if %i% GTR 10 goto busy
if %i% EQU 1 set KMS=kms7.MSGuides.com
if %i% EQU 2 set KMS=kms8.MSGuides.com
if %i% EQU 3 set KMS=kms9.MSGuides.com
if %i% GTR 3 goto ato
cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /skms %KMS%:1688 >nul
:ato
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo.&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ato | find /i "successfully" && (echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo #My official blog: MSGuides.com&echo.&echo #How it works: bit.ly/kms-server&echo.&echo #Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.&echo.&echo #Please consider supporting this project: donate.msguides.com&echo #Your support is helping me keep my servers running 24/7!&echo.&echo ============================================================================&choice /n /c YN /m "Would you like to visit my blog [Y,N]?" & if errorlevel 2 exit) || (echo The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one... & echo Please wait... & echo. & echo. & set /a i+=1 & goto skms)
explorer "http://MSGuides.com"&goto halt
:notsupported
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, your version is not supported.&echo.&goto halt
:busy
echo ============================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, the server is busy and can't respond to your request. Please try again.&echo.
:halt
pause >nul
Step 3: Create a .cmd Executable File
Now, it is time to create a .cmd executeable file for activating Window. Therefore to do so first of all you will have to create a text file.
Right click on your desktop and hover on the new option and then select “Text Document“. Open the text document and paste the code in it. After pasting click on “file” option and then on “Save as…“. Select the location where you want to save it and then rename it anything with ‘.cmd’ extension. O am giving it the name ‘run.cmd‘.
After that saving the batch file run it as the administrator of your system.
Then you will see that your Windows Server is activated successfully.
Step 4: Check Activation Status
Now, it is time to check the activation status of Windows Server.
Conclusion
In this article, I have told you two methods to activate Windows Server, and these methods offer free Windows Server activation. Not only that but these activation methods do not require you to use any third-party activators. Therefore, after reading the complete article you can now activate your Windows Server for free. The command prompt method (Windows Server Activator cmd) is way easier and you can use it even now. Other than this, the Windows Server Activator txt file is also available which is a highly popular method of activation. Use whatever you want and activate your Windows Server.