Activation error

0x4004F00C

The Software Licensing Service reported that the application is running within the valid grace period

This Office-specific code means the licensing service has not activated the product, but Windows is currently letting it run inside its grace (trial) window. It usually appears with KMS-licensed Office installations that cannot reach their activation host, or with an unactivated Office volume install.

Symptoms

ospp.vbs /dstatus shows "---NOTIFICATIONS---" with ERROR CODE: 0x4004F00C
Office apps show a yellow "activation required" banner but still open
The grace period counter counts down each day

Causes

A KMS-licensed Office install cannot contact its KMS host (network, firewall, or DNS issue)
Office was installed from volume media without a key being set for it
The grace period is expiring and no successful activation has occurred yet

How to fix it

Check the Office license status

Run cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /dstatus (adjust the path for your Office version). Note the license name, the last five characters of the installed key, and the error code reported.

Reinstall the product key

Run cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX with your key, then cscript ospp.vbs /act to force a new activation attempt.

For KMS clients, verify the KMS host is reachable

Confirm TCP port 1688 to the KMS host is open and that DNS publishes a valid _vlmcs SRV record. Office KMS clients activate against the same KMS infrastructure as Windows clients.

If this is a retail copy, sign in instead

For Microsoft 365 or retail Office, open any Office app, go to File > Account and sign in with the Microsoft account the license belongs to. Subscription licenses activate at sign-in, not with a key.

Still need help?

If error 0x4004F00C keeps blocking activation after these steps, our support team can check your key and license channel directly.

Contact support

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