Activate Windows or Office by phone

Telephone activation is Microsoft's alternative when online activation is not possible, for example on a PC without internet access, when online activation keeps failing after a substantial hardware change, or when you move a one-time purchase of Office to another computer. You give Microsoft the installation ID shown on your PC and enter the confirmation ID you receive in return. Have a pen ready; both numbers are long.

Telephone activation is available for retail keys and for volume keys (MAK). For a MAK, a telephone activation counts toward the activation limit like an online one. Windows 11 Pro for Workstations and Windows 11 Pro EDU can only be activated online.

Windows

Make sure your own key is installed first. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Activation > Change product key and enter your 25-character key, then continue below.

With the activation dialogue

1. In the search box on the taskbar, enter the following and select it from the results:

SLUI 04

2. Select your country or region.
3. Call the number shown and follow the instructions.
4. Give the installation ID shown on screen.
5. Enter the confirmation ID you receive, as the on-screen instructions describe, and complete the activation.

With the command line (volume keys)

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator and install your key:

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

2. Restart Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator again and show the installation ID:

slmgr /dti

3. Call the Microsoft activation number for your country. Microsoft lists them on its activation centres page.
4. Replace CONFIRMATIONID with the confirmation ID you received:

slmgr /atp CONFIRMATIONID

Office

Retail Office: the Activation Wizard

If retail Office has trouble activating, the Activation Wizard appears.

1. Select "I want to activate the software by telephone", then Next.
2. Under Step 1, select your country or region and call the number shown.
3. Give the installation ID shown under Step 2.
4. Enter the confirmation ID under Step 3, then select Next.

If you are moving a one-time purchase of Office to another computer, uninstall Office from the original computer after activating it on the new one.

Volume Office (MAK): the command line

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. Install your key:

cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

2. Show the installation ID:

cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dinstid

3. Call the activation number for your country from Microsoft's activation centres page and give the ID.
4. Replace CONFIRMATIONID with the confirmation ID you received:

cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /actcid:CONFIRMATIONID

Earlier Office versions may keep the script in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16. If it is not in the root folder, check there.

Check that it worked

Windows 11: open Settings > System > Activation and check that the activation status says Windows is activated. In Command Prompt you can also run:

slmgr /dlv

Volume Office: in Command Prompt as administrator, run:

cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus

The status line reads ---LICENSED--- when Office is activated.

Tips for the call

• Call from a quiet place and keep the installation ID on screen.
• Read the groups slowly and check each group of the confirmation ID before you confirm it.

If something goes wrong

The confirmation ID is rejected. Check every group against what you wrote down. If it is still rejected, show the installation ID again and repeat the call. If that fails too, contact support with your order number.

You are told the key cannot be activated. Contact our support with your order number and the exact message. If you see one of these codes, see error 0xC004C020 or error 0xC004C003.

0xC004F074 after the call. The PC is still using the generic volume key. Install your own key, then repeat the steps. See error 0xC004F074.