Every activation and installation guide we have, in one place. Whether you need to activate Windows, install Office, unlock Visio, Project or Visual Studio, or fix an error code — find it below. Need a key first? Browse our genuine license keys — delivered instantly on your order confirmation page.
- Just bought a key and want to install? Pick your product below, or grab the installer from software download links.
- Activation asking for a telephone call? You don’t need to call — use our free Confirmation ID tool instead.
- Got an error code? Look it up in the error code decoder.
- Don’t know which edition you need? Try the Windows Edition Finder.
Free instant tool for phone activation. Paste your 63-digit Installation ID and get the Confirmation ID back in seconds — no phone call needed.
Type any activation error code — 0xC004C060, 0xC004F074, 0x803F7001 and more — to see what it means and exactly how to fix it.
Not sure whether you need Home, Pro, Enterprise or Workstation? Answer three quick questions and get a straight answer.
Official Microsoft download links for Windows, Office, Visio, Project, Visual Studio and Server, in up to 20 languages.
Step-by-step activation for Windows 11 Pro, online or by phone, plus what to do if the key is refused.
Activate Windows 11 Home in a few minutes, with fixes for the most common errors.
Enter your key and activate Windows 10 Pro online or by telephone, with troubleshooting for each step.
The full activation walkthrough for Windows 10 Home, including phone activation.
Windows 8.1 usually needs telephone activation. This guide walks through it with our Confirmation ID tool.
Three ways to confirm your activation status — Settings, winver and the command line.
Locate the key already installed on your PC, from the registry, the BIOS or a sticker.
Swap in a new key from Command Prompt using slmgr /ipk and slmgr /ato.
slmgr Commands Reference
WindowsEvery slmgr switch explained — /ipk, /ato, /dlv, /xpr, /upk, /rearm and more — with copy-ready examples.
Move from Home to Pro by entering a Pro key — no clean install needed.
Turn Windows 10 Home into Pro with a Pro key, keeping your files in place.
Create install media, wipe the drive and set Windows 10 up from scratch.
Retail vs OEM vs Volume Keys
WindowsWhat each licence type means, whether it transfers to a new PC, and how to check which one you have.
One-click installer in 16 languages, phone activation with our Confirmation ID tool, plus fixes for common errors.
Install and activate Office 2021 Pro Plus, online or by phone, step by step.
The complete Office 2019 Pro Plus activation walkthrough, with error fixes.
Activate Office 2016 Pro Plus, including telephone activation for older installs.
macOS works differently: redeem your key against a Microsoft account first, then sign in. Covers Office 2021, 2019 and 2016 for Mac.
Remove the old key and enter a new one without reinstalling Office.
Install and activate Visio Professional 2024, online or by phone, in 17 languages.
Step-by-step activation for Visio Professional 2021.
Install and activate Visio Professional 2019 in a few minutes.
Install and activate Project Professional 2024, online or by phone, in 17 languages.
Step-by-step activation for Project Professional 2021.
Install and activate Project Professional 2019.
How to Activate Visual Studio 2026, 2022 & 2019
Visual StudioUnlock Visual Studio Professional or Enterprise with a product key via Help → Register Product — including the redesigned 2026 release, plus what to do when a key is refused.
Servers are often offline. This guide covers telephone activation for every Windows Server edition.
Convert an evaluation install into a fully licensed Windows Server with DISM.
Support ends 12 January 2027. Your upgrade paths, a migration checklist and the support date for every Server release.
Nothing matches “”. Try a shorter word, or ask us — we’ll point you to the right guide.
How activation works, in short
Every Microsoft product asks for a 25-character product key. Once you enter it, the software has two ways to confirm the licence:
- Online activation — the software contacts Microsoft directly and finishes in seconds. This is the default and works for most people.
- Phone activation — used when online activation is refused, the PC has no internet, or the key is sold as a phone-activation key. Despite the name you never call anyone: the software shows a 63-digit Installation ID, you paste it into our Confirmation ID tool, and type the code it returns back into the software.
If something goes wrong, the error code tells you what happened — look it up in our error code decoder. And whatever the problem, open a support ticket: our team is available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. UTC, and every key carries a 7-day activation warranty — if a genuine key won’t activate, we replace it.