Fix Error 0xC004F074 when you activate Windows 11/10

Have you recently installed a cumulative update and found your device deactivated because of that? Well, this may occur when your device finds it difficult to contact any Key Management Service (KMS). Apart from this, there are several other known issues as well that may invoke the error 0xC004F074 on Windows 11/10 PC.

In this guide, we will discuss what may cause this activation issue on your Windows PC along with the possible fixes to this problem. Let’s first discuss what may trigger error 0xC004F074 on your device.

What causes Activation Error 0xC004F074 on Windows PC?

You may get into activation problems when you or your device meet one or more of the following conditions –

• After installing a cumulative update
• Not using a genuine product key
• The product key that you are trying to use has already been used elsewhere
• Not signed in to your official Microsoft account
• Corrupted Windows 11/10 Image, system files, or folders
• Enabled Windows Security or Windows Defender Firewall

Fix Windows Activation Error 0xC004F074 

If you are encountering an error code 0xC004F074 while activating your Windows OS copy, these solutions might help to fix this problem. Just make sure to apply them in the exact order as provided below –

1] Uninstall Latest Cumulative Updates

The error code 0xC004F074 usually occurs after installing a patch update on your computer. For example, several users complained of this issue after installing out-of-band updates “KB5010195” on Windows 10 1607 and “KB5010196” on Windows 10 1809. 

When you upgrade your operating system to its next available Build version, the system finds it difficult to contact any Key Management Service (KMS). You may get the details by logging into the Event viewer and seeing the current event logs.

Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application

For example – In the above discussed non-security updates, users find an event ID 12288 without a corresponding event ID 12289. This may occur when your device meets one or more of these conditions. 

• The KMS client could not reach the KMS host.
• The KMS host did not respond.
• The client did not receive a response.

One may get rid of this problem only by uninstalling the lately installed cumulative updates on his/her computer. 

2] Troubleshoot Windows Update

This may sound strange, however, the error 0xC004F074 also appears when you are experiencing update issues on your computer. So, one should try to troubleshoot Windows Update and see if the error resolves by doing so or not. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Win + I to launch Settings.
• Select System on the left navigation, scroll down and hit Troubleshoot on the right pane.
• When this expands, click Other troubleshooters.
• Click the Run button available besides Windows Update.

• When the troubleshooter launches, hit Next and follow the on-screen instructions. 

There’s another troubleshooting that goes by the name “Windows Activation Troubleshooter” on Windows 11/10 PC. Since you are facing activation issues, we suggest running this tool as well. This troubleshooter path location is provided below –

Windows 11: Settings (Win + I) > System > Activation > Troubleshoot

Windows 10: Settings (Win + I)> Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot

When the troubleshooting window opens up, hit Next and follow the on-screen instructions. I hope this method alone fixes the 0xC004F074 error on your Windows 11/10 PC. 

3] Use Software Licensing Management Tool to re-enter Product Key

The error 0xC004F074 may persist if you are trying to activate Windows using a pre-existing product key. This means that the passkey that you are trying to use has already been used to activate another PC. It is therefore recommended to uninstall and reinstall the product key via “slmgr” on CMD. Here’s how to proceed with this solution –

• Press Win + R to launch Run.
• On the Run dialog box, type “CMD”, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys altogether.
• Doing so will launch Command Prompt as an administrator.
• On the elevated console, type the following, and press Enter –

slmgr.vbs/dlv

• To uninstall the pre-existing product key, run this command next –

slmgr.vbs /upk

• Now, copy/paste the command below and press Enter again. Make sure to replace the New_Product_Key with an actual 20-digit passkey.

slmgr.vbs /ipk <New_Product_Key>

• Once the activation completes, restart your PC. 

I hope your device is now activated with the new product key you entered before. If not, go for the next solution. 

4] Purchase a Genuine copy of Windows 11/10

If the above method fails as well, this suggests you might not be using a genuine product key. So, if you are using a pirated version of Windows or using a not-so-genuine product key, visit Microsoft’s official site, and purchase a genuine copy of Windows. 

This may also happen that you are using a purchased passkey, however, the activation fails on and on. This might be the case only when the Microsoft servers are down for now. So, it is best to re-try with your product key after a span of 1 or 2 hours.

5] Log into your Microsoft account

If you hadn’t yet logged into your Microsoft account, consider doing the same asap. We say so because there is a digital license attached with each Microsoft account (if you had ever used a valid product key with Windows). Signing in to your official account will fetch the digitally signed product key for your computer and hence activate your Windows 11/10 copy.

6] Disable Windows Security & Windows Firewall

At times, enabled Windows Security or Windows Defender Firewall may also obstruct your PC from getting activated. This may sound strange but it is possible as Firewall can prevent Windows from accessing the required licensing files over the Internet.

One may overcome this issue simply by disabling Windows Security as well as Windows Firewall. Disable both these features and see if the problem resolves. 

Note: If you are using a third-party antivirus program, try to temporarily disable that software. In case the problem persists, it is better to uninstall them. 

7] Fix Corruption with system files or Windows 11/10 Image

Any corruption with the Windows 11/10 Image or missing/damaged system files may also prevent you from activating your copy of Windows. There are two in-built tools that you may run simultaneously and see if they help to address this problem. Here’s how to run both of them together –

• Launch CMD having admin rights first.
• When the Command Prompt opens up, execute this code first –

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• This command will analyze any problems with the system image and repair them (if found any).
• Now that you have checked Windows Image for possible corruptions, run this code next –

sfc /scannow

• This command will run to find and repair any issues with the system files or folders.
• After you run both these tools successfully, restart your PC.
• From the next logon, check if the error 0xC004F074 resolves. 

8] Disable Fast Startup

By default, the fast startup is enabled on your computer. This feature helps users to slow down the boot time and thus Windows 11/10 loads pretty fast. However, there are some drawbacks of using this feature as well. As the fast startup bypass so many basic functionalities, this may bypass even BIOS/UEFI settings thus triggering activation issues.

Try disabling this feature for once and see if this fixes the issue with which you are currently dealing. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Win + X and choose the option – Run.
• On the pop-up window, type “powercfg.cpl“, and click OK.
• Doing so will launch the Power Options window.
• Here, click “Choose what the power button does” on the left navigation.

• Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable” next.

• Untick the box left of “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”, and hit Save changes.

• Restart your PC next and your device will boot up normally this time.

Check if disabling fast startup fixes the error 0xC004F074 on your computer or not. In case the problem persists, try the next solution. 

9] Contact Microsoft Support

If things don’t work out as you thought they should, it’s time to contact Microsoft Support. After you get in touch with them, make them aware of your situation and request a fix to it. They would ask for your product key, so make sure to keep that with you even before contacting them.