What is product activation?
It’s a way of checking that software is legally licensed. We created this anti-piracy technology to protect our customers against the risks associated with counterfeit software. Activation is quick and easy, and you don’t have to submit any personal details.
Who needs to activate?
You should always activate your software if you bought it packaged in a box. Once you have, you’ll get free security and other updates from Microsoft. We don’t use your information for marketing purposes. If your software came pre-installed on a PC, you may also need to activate it. Some pre-installed software will already have been activated by the manufacturer.
How do I activate?
You can activate your software online, or you can call a customer service representative on 0870 60 10 100. Any details you need will be part of the packaging or the PC. You will need to tell us your software's product key, so we can check that it hasn’t been used on more PCs than your licence terms* allow.
We recommend that you activate immediately after installation.
If you’re a small business, not a home user, please visit this activation page.
*Your Software Licence Terms set out the “rules” for using your software. Visit our FAQ section for more about licence terms.
