How to Activate Windows 8.1 for Free

When you first upgrade to Windows 8.1, you need to activate the operating system for a certain period of time before you can continue using it.

Activating a program is quite simple, instructions and activation key (code) are included in the installation package.

However, if somehow you lose the activation key, there are still many alternative ways to activate the operating system.

Table of Contents

Recover lost keys

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Download a key retrieval program. While the Windows product key is hidden in the registry, you can still easily export it using a free key retrieval program. Two of the popular options are ProductKey and Key Finder.

Both programs are free and can be downloaded from the developer’s homepage. Both offer a paid version, but with a Windows key you can access the free version.

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Start the free key retrieval program. Usually, you don’t need to install the program. Just launch and a list of available keys will appear. Look for the “Windows” entry to find the key.

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Rewrite or copy the key. Your key will be in the “Product Key” or “CD Key” section. The Windows Product Key consists of 25 characters, divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each.

Activate Windows 8.1

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Open the Activation window. Open the Activation window by pressing ⊞ Win + R and typing slui 3 . Press ↵ Enter to open the window.

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Enter the product key. Enter the key that you recovered or received in the Windows package when you purchased it, or attached to your computer as a sticker. You don’t have to type dashes as they will be added automatically. Windows will automatically initiate activation as soon as the key is entered.

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Use Command Prompt. If the above step doesn’t work, you can enter the key through an extended Command Prompt (command line environment under administrator). Press ⊞ Win + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Type slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX and press ↵ Enter , replacing XXXXX with your product key. Make sure you include the dash as well. A window will appear saying “Installed product key XXXXX successfully”.
Type slmgr.vbs /ato and press ↵ Enter . A window will appear saying “Activating Windows(R) Your Version ” (Windows is being activated). After a while, if the activation is successful, there will be a message “Product activated successfully”.

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Call Microsoft if you still cannot activate. If you still have problems with activation, you can call Microsoft’s automatic activation service. To find the hotline in your area, press ⊞ Win + R and type slui 4 . A window with your contact information as well as your account (ID) settings will appear.

You must make sure you have copied the login ID as we will need to enter it into the phone. It’s long, but this ID is essential in identifying your computer. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Advice

The product key is included in the Windows 8.1 package. If you already have a product key, it is not necessary to install a key using the command line.
The product key can only be used on a limited number of computers. If you have reached the maximum number of computers, the key will become invalid.
This article is written for guidance purposes only. Only licensed Windows 8.1 operating system should be purchased and activated to avoid software problems.
Microsoft has greatly facilitated users of the new operating system, they also changed the way the product key reaches users. The Windows 8 product key is now embedded in the computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system) and is no longer a common sticker found underneath laptops. This has affected users in many different ways because some people are satisfied, others find it inconvenient. Here we can take a quick look at the pros and cons of the new Windows 8 product key.
Be careful when doing this with Xbox consoles. The device may stop working.

Steps

Recover lost keys

Activate Windows 8.1

Advice

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