Activation Help

What happened

Microsoft's online activation server has locked the key because it has already been activated there once before. With pre-owned licences that is normal: your key is valid, the server just doesn't know it yet. We now bypass the server using phone activation. Microsoft officially provides this route for exactly this purpose.

Step by step

1. 1

   Press Windows key + R

   A small window titled «Run» opens in the bottom left corner.

2. 2

   Type slui 4 and press Enter

   Lowercase, with a space before the 4. This is Microsoft's hidden command for phone activation.

3. 3

   Select your country from the list

   The matching phone number is shown automatically.

4. 4

   Call the number shown

   It is an automated system. No person on the line. No queue. No sales pitch. Just a voice computer that asks you to enter numbers.

5. 5

   Enter the Installation ID on the phone

   The ID is 54 digits in 9 blocks. You can see it on your screen. Simply type it in on your phone keypad. The voice guides you through it.

6. 6

   Write down the Confirmation ID

   The phone system reads you 48 digits in 8 blocks. Enter them in the activation window.

7. 7

   Click «Activate». Done.

   Office should now show green. If you still see an error message: scroll to the next step.

What happened

The yellow bar in Office does not mean your licence is invalid. Office temporarily couldn't reach the online licence server or no longer remembers the activation. We simply enter the key again.

Step by step

1. 1

   Open Office (e.g. Word or Excel)

   Any app will do. If it is Office, it works the same everywhere.

2. 2

   Click «File» in the top left, then «Account» in the bottom left

   If you don't see it: maximise the window. On small screens it is sometimes hidden.

3. 3

   Click «Activate Product» or «Change Product Key»

   The label varies depending on your Office version. Both lead to the same dialog.

4. 4

   Enter the key from your Keywi confirmation email

   Tip: paste the key in instead of typing it. That way there is no mix-up between O and 0 or I and 1.

5. 5

   Is the key rejected online? Choose phone activation

   This is exactly the same route as for error 0xC004C008.

What happened

Windows recognises the key as valid. But it is meant for a different edition. The classic case: you have a Pro key, but Windows Home is installed (or the other way round). We exchange it without any discussion.

Step by step

1. 1

   Check the installed edition

   Settings → System → About. Right at the top it says «Edition». It should say e.g. «Windows 11 Pro» or «Windows 11 Home».

2. 2

   Compare with your order

   Look at your Keywi order confirmation. Does it say e.g. «Windows 11 Pro» while «Home» is installed? Then they don't match.

3. 3

   Message us, we will swap it for the matching one

   With your order number via live chat or email. We correct it in under 10 minutes.

What happened

Microsoft keys never contain a 0 (zero), a 1 (one), an O (the letter O), or an A, E, I or U. If a key is flagged as invalid, usually a letter was typed instead of a digit, or the other way round.

Step by step

1. 1

   Copy the key from the email instead of typing it

   Select the key in your Keywi confirmation with the mouse, then Ctrl+C. Paste it into the activation window with Ctrl+V.

2. 2

   Check for mix-ups

   Microsoft keys never have 0/O/I/1/L. If your key contains these, something is wrong.

3. 3

   Does the key match the installed product?

   Office keys don't work for Windows and vice versa. An Office 2019 key doesn't work for Office 2021.

4. 4

   Is the key still rejected? Phone activation

   Press Windows + R, type slui 4, Enter. Follow the instructions shown.

What happened

Windows can't find a stored licence on this device. Either because you have just installed it fresh, or because the hardware has changed. We simply enter the key again and let Microsoft unlock it.

Step by step

1. 1

   Open Settings (Windows key + I)

   Or click the gear icon in the Start menu.

2. 2

   System → Activation → Change product key

   On Windows 11 it is sometimes hidden behind «Activation state». Look for «Change product key». The link opens the entry window.

3. 3

   Enter the key from your Keywi confirmation email

   Copy with Ctrl+C, paste with Ctrl+V. That way you avoid typos.

4. 4

   Is the key rejected online? Phone activation

   Press Windows + R, type slui 4, Enter.

What happened

Microsoft has blocked this key on the server side. With pre-owned licences this happens rarely, but it does happen. No discussion: you get a new key. As simple as that.

Step by step

1. 1

   Message us with your order number

   Via live chat (bottom right), email to support@keywi24.ch, or the contact form. Your order number is at the top of every Keywi email.

2. 2

   We send a new key, usually within 10 minutes

   You activate with the new key just like the first time. The old one is then irrelevant.

What happened

Windows remembers your hardware fingerprint at activation. If you replace important components (usually the motherboard or the system drive), Windows thinks it is a new PC. The licence is valid, it just needs to be linked again.

Step by step

1. 1

   Settings → Activation → Troubleshoot

   On Windows 11 this is sometimes only visible when you are signed in with a Microsoft account. Don't have one? No problem, go straight to the next step.

2. 2

   If available: click «I changed hardware on this device recently»

   Windows shows you the devices linked to your account. Select the right PC, click «Activate». Done.

3. 3

   Alternative: phone activation

   Press Windows + R, type slui 4, Enter. You don't have to explain anything to Microsoft on the phone. The hardware question is built into the voice system.

What happened

Microsoft's online activation service was unreachable or responded incorrectly at the moment you activated. It is not your key, it is Microsoft's server. We bypass it.

Step by step

1. 1

   Restart your computer once

   Sounds trivial, but fixes the error in about 30% of cases. Try this first.

2. 2

   Check the date and time

   Settings → Time & Language → Date & time. If the time is wrong, Microsoft rejects the activation. Turn on «Set time automatically».

3. 3

   Try activating again

   For Office: File → Account → Activate Product. For Windows: Settings → Activation.

4. 4

   Still an error? Phone activation

   Windows + R, slui 4, Enter. This bypasses the online server completely.

What happened

Microsoft's licensing service (SLS) couldn't verify the key with the activation server. This almost always has to do with the internet, a firewall or an antivirus program blocking the connection to Microsoft. Very rarely the key itself is faulty.

Step by step

1. 1

   Check your internet connection

   Open microsoft.com in your browser. If the page loads, the internet is fine. If it doesn't load: fix the internet first.

2. 2

   Date and time correct?

   Settings → Time & Language. A wrong time makes Microsoft reject the connection. Turn on «Set time automatically».

3. 3

   Pause your antivirus briefly

   Some antivirus programs block Microsoft's activation servers. Pause your antivirus (real-time protection) for 5 minutes and try the activation again. Then turn the antivirus back on.

4. 4

   Restart your computer and activate again

   This resets the network and the Microsoft services.

5. 5

   Still an error? Phone activation

   Windows + R, slui 4, Enter. Bypasses the online server completely. No more internet problems.