1 - Windows Activation
Local or Remote KMS Activation
To Activate with KMS on local domain, if activating a product that has not done so automatically, go to the activation page in the System manager and click activate or change key. Find the key for your specific product on this page. If unable to activate, follow the instructions as follows:
*Anything after # symbol, do not type. These are notations.
**This guide assumes you already have a KMS server setup; otherwise, use a remote one as shown in the (e.x.) brackets.
Windows Servers
Using Current Version/Edition
Run "dism /online /get-currentedition" to see which edition you are running. If it is running the edition you want, run the following commands to change and activate your chosen edition:
| slmgr /skms {kmsserver:port} | #Use this command with the correct server and port number (if port number is different) if KMS is on a remote server. 1688 is the default KMS port and is not needed if it is not different: do not type :port if 1688. (e.x. kms1.jjmtech.uk, kms8.msguides.com) |
| slmgr /ipk | #This installs the product key. |
| slmgr /ito | #This command activates the key above for edition selected. |
This should activate your OS with KMS.
Upgrading to a Different Version/Edition
Run "dism /online /get-currentedition" to see which edition you are running. If it is not running the edition you want, run the following commands to change and activate your chosen edition:
| dism /online /get-targeteditions | #This command is to see which editions you are eligible to run. You will not see lower editions and cannot downgrade from a high edition to a lower edition. Please ensure you choose the edition you want. On Server, you can either have Standard or Data Center editions. |
| dism /online /set-edition:{edition} /productkey:{product key} /accepteula | #product key from below. Either set edition as ServerStandard or ServerDatacenter. |
| Reboot | Not necessary unless an error occurs. Reboot installs the necessary component upgrades before activation. |
| slmgr /ipk {product key} | #same as product key above |
| slmgr /ato | #This command activates the key above for edition selected. |
Windows Workstations
The steps for activating workstations are similar to the servers section above; however, there are a few changes and additions.
Using Current Version/Edition
Run "dism /online /get-currentedition" to see which edition you are running. If it is running the edition you want, run the following commands to change and activate your chosen edition:
| slmgr /skms {kmsserver:port} | #Use this command with the correct server and port number (if port number is different) if KMS is on a remote server. 1688 is the default KMS port and is not needed if it is not different: do not type :port if 1688. (e.x. kms1.jjmtech.uk, kms8.msguides.com) |
| slmgr /ipk {product key} | #This installs the product key. |
| slmgr /ato | #This command activates the key above for edition selected. |
If the activation fails, try one more time. If it fails a second time. Run the following commands instead:
| Changepk.exe /ProductKey {product key} | #This command manually changes the product key on the system if the "slmgr /ipk" command fails. |
| slmgr /skms {kmsserver:port} | |
| slmgr /ato |
Upgrading to a Different Version/Edition
Run "dism /online /get-currentedition" to see which edition you are running. If it is running the edition you want, run the following commands to change and activate your chosen edition:
| dism /online /get-targeteditions | #This command is to see which editions you are eligible to run. You will not see lower editions and cannot downgrade from a high edition to a lower edition. Please ensure you choose the edition you want. On workstations, there are many editions to choose from. |
| dism /online /set-edition:{edition} /productkey:{product key} /accepteula | #Set this to the edition that you want such as Pro or Enterprise. See results for above command to get the edition you will input for /set-edition. |
| slmgr /skms {kmsserver:port} | #Use this command with the correct server and port number (if port number is different) if KMS is on a remote server. 1688 is the default KMS port and is not needed if it is not different: do not type :port if 1688. (e.x. kms1.jjmtech.uk, kms8.msguides.com) |
| slmgr /ipk {product key} | #This installs the product key. |
| slmgr /ato | #This command activates the key above for edition selected. |
If the activation fails, try one more time. If it fails a second time. Run the following commands instead:
| Changepk.exe /ProductKey {product key} | #This command manually changes the product key on the system if the "slmgr /ipk" command fails. |
| slmgr /skms {kmsserver:port} | |
| slmgr /ato |