Error on my PC with licence Windows

Victor NORET 5 Reputation points
2025-10-20T10:35:40.5933333+00:00

My computer told me that my license had been deactivated, even though I hadn't done anything.

When I run slmgr cmd, it tells me that I have a Windows KMS license, but my key indicates that I have a retail license on this site : https://mskey.in/pid-key-checker-for-office-windows-license-key/?srsltid=AfmBOorAX2A6zGY2EASF_OE7mzexkDMtRzEofVzOFRmTI6Eaq10LoQx0 .

Do you have any idea what might have happened?

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Devices and deployment | Licensing and activation
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  1. HarryPhan-2691 8,010 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-10-20T10:45:07.9633333+00:00

    Hello Victor, maybe you can try these steps:

    Open a Command Prompt as an Administrator (right-click the Start button and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)").

    To clear the current, incorrect KMS key, type the following command and press Enter: slmgr /upk This will uninstall the product key.

    Now, we need to install your valid retail key. Use the following command, replacing XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX with the actual retail product key you verified on the website: slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

    Finally, force Windows to attempt activation with this new key by entering: slmgr /ato

    This process should re-activate Windows using your retail license. If you receive an error during the /ato step, it may indicate that the specific key has reached its activation limit. In that case, using the Activation troubleshooter in Settings > Update & Security > Activation can often resolve it by guiding you through re-linking your digital license to your Microsoft account.

    I hope this process resolves the activation conflict for you. If this solution works, please feel free to mark this response as "Accepted" 🙂


  2. Victor NORET 5 Reputation points
    2025-10-20T13:53:54.8633333+00:00

    I already trie that but I got this error message in an OK popup : Error: 0xC004E016 On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004E016' to display the error text.

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  3. Darrell Gorter 2,901 Reputation points
    2025-10-20T14:26:38.8566667+00:00

    Hello,

    Open an elevated cmd prompt and run licensingdiag.exe.

    Post a link to the generated cab file.

    Licensingdiag runs a set of commands to collect diagnostics on the licnsing status which includes event log entries, output from slmgr, etc.

    This can help us identify some activation/licensing issues.

    Darrell

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  4. Victor NORET 5 Reputation points
    2025-10-21T07:47:33.1966667+00:00

    We had an old unused license lying around, I entered it and it worked. I don't have an explanation for this issue, sorry.

    Thank you for your feedback.

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  5. Victor NORET 5 Reputation points
    2025-10-21T07:47:49.85+00:00

    We had an old unused license lying around, I entered it and it worked. I don't have an explanation for this issue, sorry.

    Thank you for your feedback.

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