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SQL ServerHow do I activate Windows Server 2016?
Head to the account section on our website. With the cursor over Profile (without clicking), a dropdown menu will open. Select Product Keys.
There, you will find the product key you need to activate Windows Server 2016.
If you are activating a previously installed Windows Server, make sure it's not in the evaluation period and do the following:
Note: We recommend downloading and installing all software updates before starting the activation process.
- Once you've installed all available updates for Windows Server, select the Start button and click Settings.
- Next, click Update & Security.
- Click Activation.
- Then, click Change product key.
- Enter your product key. The licence will be automatically recognised and activated. After that, click Close.
Note: If after entering your product key you receive the following message The product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or try a different one, it's likely that your system is the evaluation edition or the operating system is installed on a different activation channel than the licence belongs to. We suggest contacting one of our agents to help you identify the error and assist you in fixing it. For personalised assistance, click here.
If your system is installed as an evaluation edition, you will need to perform the following process:
Note: It's necessary for the server to have all available updates installed, or you will receive an error during activation.
- In the search box on the taskbar, type CMD. The Command Prompt will appear. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
- In the box, type the following command: dism /online /set-edition:serverstandard /productkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /accepteula. Replace the Xs with your product key and press Enter.
- After the activation process has finished, you must restart the server.
- After restarting, you will have your activated Windows Server 2016 ready for use. You can check this in the bottom right corner, where the Windows Server Standard Evaluation mark will no longer appear.
