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[Fixed] Product Key Can’t be Used on This Copy of Windows

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Updated onOctober 17, 2024

updated onOctober 17, 2024

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Key notes

If you are one of the Windows 10 users who are trying to install the operating system and you get the message:

That key can’t be used to activate this version of Windows

If that’s the case, then this is the tutorial made especially for you. For more details on the matter as well as how you can fix the Windows activation feature in the operating system you can continue reading the lines below.

The messageThat key can’t be used to activate this version of Windowsusually appears in Windows after using the Windows Recovery tool or simply when you install the operating system. So with the help of some useful registry tweaks inside the operating system as well as some additional steps you will be able to fix this issue in the shortest time possible.

However,That key can’t be used to activate this version of Windowsis not the only activation error message you can encounter, here are some more error messages that you can resolve with the same solutions:

How do I fix a Windows 10 activation key that doesn’t work?

Table of contents:

1. Restart Windows Explorer process

The first thing we’re going to try is restarting the Windows Explorer proces. According to some users, this process can sometimes block the Windows activation procedure. So, resetting it could solve the problem.

Now you just need to run a single command fromCommand Promptto finish the process:

2. Use a Digital License

If you received theThat key can’t be used to activate this version of Windowserror upon munually inserting the product key, there’s a chance a typo occured. So, it’s advisable to use the digital license tied to your Microsoft account.

If your license key is not associated to your Microsoft account, try some of the following solutions.

3. Use slui.exe

Slui.exe is Windows’ built-in command that allows you to manually activate your version of Windows. So, if you couldn’t activate Windows using previous methods, you may as well try this one:

If that doesn’t work, you can try another slui.exe command:

4. Disable your antivirus

Windows 10 and third-party antivirus programs don’t go along very well. Although third-party antiviruses usually cause problems with installing Windows updates, they can also block the activation process.

So, try disabling your third-party antivirus temporairly, and see if you’re able to activate your copy of Windows now. If you still can’t activate Windows, move on to the last solution in this article.

Looking for the best antivirus that money can buy? Check out this list.

5. Force the activation

If none of the solutions from above solved the problem for you, try forcing the activation of your Windows 10 copy:

However, if you’re unable to insert your license key in a standard way, you can use the Command Prompt to force the process even further:

This is pretty much all you need to do in order to fix the That key can’t be used to activate this version of Windows message you get while trying to activate Windows.

We also have a guide on how toget a Windows key using PowerShell, so feel free to check it out for more useful information.

If you do run into more issues along the way you can always write to us in the comments section of the page situated below and I will help you further as soon as possible.

[Fixed] Product Key Can’t be Used on This Copy of Windows#

How do I fix a Windows 10 activation key that doesn’t work?#

1. Restart Windows Explorer process#

2. Use a Digital License#

3. Use slui.exe#

4. Disable your antivirus#

5. Force the activation#