If you have issues activating a product key, try these steps.
DISM Method
- Open up the command prompt and run:
- DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
- Replace X's with your product key. The server will restart twice.
SLMGR Method
Step 1: Open the Start Menu, type Command, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
Step 2: Enter the following command, replacing XXXXX with your product key from your email:
slmgr -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX
Step 3: Enter the following command:
slui 4
Step 4: Once presented with your installation ID, Please visit: https://visualsupport.microsoft.com/
Step 2: Enter the following command, replacing XXXXX with your product key from your email:
slmgr -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX
Step 3: Enter the following command:
slui 4
Step 4: Once presented with your installation ID, Please visit: https://visualsupport.microsoft.com/
Provide your Installation ID, and when asked how many machines the software is installed on, enter 0.
Step 6: **You’ll then receive a Confirmation ID to complete the activation. If you see an error saying activation by phone isn’t available after entering the Confirmation ID, simply click the Troubleshoot button found on your system properties window. This typically just means the connection to Microsoft’s activation servers needs to be refreshed.**
Step 6: **You’ll then receive a Confirmation ID to complete the activation. If you see an error saying activation by phone isn’t available after entering the Confirmation ID, simply click the Troubleshoot button found on your system properties window. This typically just means the connection to Microsoft’s activation servers needs to be refreshed.**