How to Use Slmgr to Remove, Extend or Change Windows License?

Ever since the launch of Windows Vista, Windows OS has been incorporated with enhanced anti-piracy features. This initiative was primarily aimed for keeping a legal track of Windows OS licensing, whether it is about removing it, activating the product key, changing the product key, protection with System Locked Preinstallation (SLP 2.0) along with BIOS which is added with SLC table for immediate activation and signed Windows Marker.

Now all these protocols are managed by a single Windows Software Licensing Tool, called Slmgr (Software Licensing Manager Module). It is a VBScript that keeps track of every licensing status.

You can use this very command in the advanced command prompt Window to query any kind of licensing details regarding the Windows OS. There are many additional features ascribed to this particular command which we will discuss one by one in this article.

#1:  Run  Command Prompt in Advanced Mode

The first step towards using the slgmr command is to open the cmd operating Windows with admin rights.

Follow the steps and cmd will be opened in advanced mode:

Step 1. If you are using Windows 8 or 10 OS, just use the “Windows + X” short keys or right-click the Start button.

Step 2. From the menu list that pops up, click the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option. For older versions of Windows OS, like 7, type “command prompt” in the Windows searching field. Right-click on the option and choose the “Run as administrator” option from the context menu.

#2: How to Check Activation, License Details

Once you have opened up the command prompt in advanced mode, now you just have to use the slmgr command to check your activation and license status for the current OS.

To do this, follow the steps:

Step1. Enter the following command and hit “Enter”:

slmgr.vbs /dli

This command will specifically tell you the version of Windows OS, and a part of the product key so that you can recognize it, and the Windows activation status.

Step 2. To get more detailed information about the licensing and the activation ID, installation ID, etc. enter the following command followed with “Enter”:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

#3: How to Check License Expiration Date

The same command of slmgr is used here to view the license expiration date but with different additional script with slmgr text.

To do that, within the advanced command prompt type the command and hit “Enter” :

slmgr.vbs /xpr

NOTE: This particular command execution will be helpful only for those Windows systems activated off an organization’s KMS server. In case you have not been provided a product key, the command will show you an error message.

#4: How to Uninstall the Product Key

Uninstalling the product key means to remove the product key from your latest Windows OS.

Just in case you have installed the OS from a retail license, and now you wish to transfer the license to another computer, the command will help you to remove it first. Moreover, if you are giving away your PC to someone, the command can be helpful in that case also.

So basically, within the cmd dialogue box, type the given command and hit “Enter”:

slmgr.vbs /upk

After you run this command, your Windows system will become an unactivated, unlicensed OS with no product key.

Windows by default stores the product key in the registry as well. Running the above command can remove the product key for sure, but not from the registry.

So after uninstalling the product key, run the following command and hit “Enter” to ensure the product key is removed from the registry as well:

slmgr.vbs /cpky

#5: How to Change the Product Key

If you wish to silently replace the currently activated product key with a new one, the command below will help you do that.

Just type the command shown below and replace “#####-#####-#####-#####-#####” with the new product key:

slmgr.vbs /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####

The command will first check if the new product key is genuine or not. It is also advisable to restart the computer after the execution of the above command.

NOTE: You can also modify the product key from the Activation Screen in the “Settings” app.

#6: How to Activate Windows OS Online

If you are using a retail edition of the OS, then the following command will push your system to online activation with Microsoft servers. If the system is adjusted with the KMS activation server, it will be activated with the KMS server instead.

Just type the command and press “Enter”:

slmgr.vbs /ato

#7: How to Activate Windows OS Offline

The Slmgr command also allows you to do the activation of product key offline.

So to gain the activation ID offline, enter the given command followed with pressing “Ok”:

slmgr.vbs /dti

Now you need to contact Microsoft. Just provide them the installation ID you just received above, and they will give you the activation ID, if they find everything genuine.

Once you get the activation ID, type the following command for key activation:

slmgr.vbs /atp ACTIVATIONID

Conclusion:

Hopefully, the article has given you a proper insight into how to use this one command Slmgr in varying modes. Apart from the tricks mentioned above, you can additionally use it also to perform remote actions on the computer as well or to extend the activation Timer as well.

But it is better to seek expert advice on that pursuit. Without expertise it may lead to blunder, that’s why such tricks and trades are not mentioned here in the article.

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