Microsoft Volume Activation - Converting a Windows Computer to and from KMS and MAK Activation

This document shows how to convert a Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2019 computer to and from KMS activation and MAK activation, as well as help determine which activation type is currently in use. These activations are available for faculty and staff using departmental machines. Other versions of Windows are not eligible for KMS or MAK activation.

See [Windows] Volume Activation 2.0 at UW-Madison for the full details of MAK and KMS activation at UW Madison.

Contents:

Determining Windows Activation type

    1. Launch a command window with elevated privileges
      • Type cmd in the Search bar to locate the command window.
      • Right-click on cmd or Command Prompt and click Run as administrator from the context menu
      • Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt to open the command window with elevated privileges.
    2. In the command prompt window, type the following command:
      • cscript slmgr.vbs /dli
    3. Press Enter.
    4. Check your version:
      • If Windows is KMS activated, you will see "VOLUME_KMSCLIENT" in the Description field

      • Volume_KMS in cmd

      • If Windows is MAK activated, you will see "VOLUME_MAK" in the Description field
      • Volume_MAK in cmd
    5. Close the Command Prompt Window

Converting a Windows Computer From KMS to MAK Activation

  1. If you are affiliated with the University, email help@doit.wisc.edu to request the University's MAK activation key for one of the following operating systems, otherwise use the product key which came with your copy of Windows.
    • Windows 8 Enterprise
    • Windows 10 Enterprise/Education
    • Windows 11 Enterprise/Education
    • Windows Server 2012R2
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2019
    • Windows Server 2022
  2. Click Start. In the Search box, type:
    • System
    • Click on System in the search results

  3. Start menu > System

  4. Click Change product key in the Windows activation section at the bottom of the System menu.
    • Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt to open the Windows Activation Client

  5. System control panel

  6. Enter the MAK activation key from the help@doit.wisc.edu email you received into the Product Key field and click the Next button.
    Windows Enter Product Key page

    • You may be prompted to Activate Windows. Click Next

  7. Confirm Activation

  8. Click the Close button once the activation is complete

  9. Windows is activated splash screen

Converting a Windows Computer From MAK to KMS Activation

For VMWare guests in NAT network mode, you must specify the kms host - skip directly to step 4
  1. Locate the Windows product key for your version of Windows
  2. Launch a command window with elevated privileges
    • Type cmd in the Search bar to locate the command window.
    • Right-click on cmd or Command Prompt and click Run as administrator from the context menu.
    • Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt to open the command window with elevated privileges.
  3. Type the following command:
    • cscript slmgr.vbs -ipk <product key>
    • In place of <product key>, enter your product key located in Step 1
  4. Press Enter.

  5. -ipk cmd

  6. Type the following command:
    • cscript slmgr.vbs -skms ms-kms-1.services.wisc.edu
  7. Press Enter.

  8. -skms cmd

  9. Type the following command:
    • cscript slmgr.vbs -ato
  10. Press Enter.

  11. -ato cmd