Active Windows By CMD

Microsoft command guide for activating Windows and Office with a valid licence, with copy buttons and status checks.

WINDOWS + OFFICE

Open your terminal as administrator

Open Start and type cmd.
Choose Run as administrator and approve the Windows prompt.
Copy one command at a time, paste it into CMD, press Enter and wait for the result.

Commands do not grant a free licence. Use your own key for the installed edition. Never enter a product key on this website; replace the placeholder only inside CMD.

Choose the shell you are using

If the prompt starts with PS, select PowerShell. Commands and copy buttons update to match your selection.

Do not run XXXXX literally. Replace it with your real key in the terminal, or skip the key step if it is already installed.

Activate Windows

For a digital licence, connect to the internet, sign in with the linked Microsoft account and check Activation settings first.

1. Check the licence

Displays licence and edition information.

cscript //nologo "%windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs" /dli

2. Install your key (if needed)

Replace the XXXXX groups with your key only in CMD. It must match the Windows edition.

cscript //nologo "%windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs" /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

3. Request activation

Attempts activation of the installed licence. Organization licences may require the authorized corporate network or VPN.

cscript //nologo "%windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs" /ato

4. Verify status

Shows whether activation is permanent or has an expiry date.

cscript //nologo "%windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs" /xpr

Activation settings

Open the Activation troubleshooter if the command fails.

start ms-settings:activation

Official Windows command reference ↗

Activate Office

Microsoft 365 and retail Office: open Word → File → Account → sign in with the licensed account. Commands below apply to volume-licensed Office installations containing OSPP.VBS, not to Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

Installation path

Choose the path that actually contains OSPP.VBS. If the file is not found, stop and check your Office edition and location.

1. Check Office

Displays licence status and the last five characters of the installed key.

cscript //nologo "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus

2. Install your volume licence key

Replace the placeholder with your authorized key inside CMD.

cscript //nologo "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

3. Activate Office

Connect to the internet or the corporate network required by your licence.

cscript //nologo "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /act

Run the status check again and look for LICENSED. If activation fails, keep the error code and contact Microsoft or your organization administrator; do not use public activation servers.

Official Office command reference ↗ · Microsoft account activation guide ↗

Download a script

Checks status, requests activation of the installed licence, then checks status again. No product keys or third-party servers are embedded. Run as administrator and read the local confirmation. Office uses the installation path selected above.

CMD: right-click the .cmd file and choose Run as administrator. PowerShell: open PowerShell as administrator and run the .ps1 file; your organization policy may prevent execution. These are Windows scripts, not Bash files.