How to Activate Windows 11 and Windows 10 with a Product Key

A guide in Italian on how to activate Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home, and Windows 10 using the product key you received via email, upgrade from Home to Pro, and resolve the most common activation errors.

5 minutesAn Internet connection is requiredNo reinstallation required

Before You Begin

  • Check the edition. A Pro key activates Windows Pro; a Home key activates Windows Home. If you have Home installed on your PC and you've purchased Pro, you don't need to reinstall: when you enter the Pro key, Windows will switch to Pro on its own (your files and programs will remain in place).
  • Keep your order confirmation email handy with the 25-character code (in the format XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX).
  • If you need to install Windows from scratch, download the official tool from our Download Page.
1

Open the Activation page

Windows 11: Start › Settings › System › Activation.

Windows 10: Start › Settings › Updates and Security › Activation.

Shortcut: Press Win + R, write ms-settings:activation and press Enter.

2

Enter the code

Click Change Product Key (In Windows 11, it's in the “Update your edition of Windows” section), paste the code from the email, and press Next, then Activate.

If you're upgrading from Home to Pro, Windows will prepare the update and restart—this is normal.

3

Check to see if it's active

The following must appear on the same page “Windows is activated” (or “Activation Status: Active”). Fact: The license is permanent; there are no renewals.

Alternatively: Activation from the Command Prompt

Useful if the button isn't responding. Search cmd In the Start menu, right-click › Run as administrator, then type (replacing the Xs with your code):

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

With slmgr /xpr Check to see if Windows is permanently activated.

If they ask you to activate it over the phone

Sometimes Windows offers to activate “by phone.” Click Win + R, write slui 4, select the country and write down the’Installation ID. Then use our free tool Get CID: Enter your email address and order number to get the confirmation ID, which you'll need to enter in the same window.

Most Common Activation Errors

0xC004F050: The code is not valid for this edition or was entered incorrectly. Make sure you have the correct edition (Home or Pro) and copy and paste the code from the email.

0x803F7001: Windows cannot find a valid license on this PC. Enter the code as described in step 2.

0x8007007B: Windows is looking for a corporate server (KMS). Enter the code using the commands slmgr above.

0xC004C008: The code has reached its limit for online activations. Try activating it by phone using the link above; if that doesn't work, please contact us.

0xC004C003 o 0xC004C060: The code is blocked or no longer valid. It's not your fault: just submit a request, and we'll replace it.

It won't turn on? We'll take care of it.

Submit a request from the page Support of your account (or Write to us) along with the order number and a screenshot of the error: we'll help you activate it or replace the code.