If you’re facing Activation Error 0x80041023 on your Windows 10 PC then this article will certainly help you to get rid of this problem. In most cases, this activation error occurs when users try to upgrade their PC from Windows 10 Home to the Pro edition. However, in certain cases, upgrading the device from an older Windows operating system to a newer one or reinstalling the platform may also be caused to occur this issue.
Whatever be the reason the problem is the same – how do I fix the Windows 10 Activation Error 0x80041023 on my PC? It includes an error message – “The product key you entered didn’t work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one”. This guide will explain some effective methods that will help you fix this error code.
Windows 10 Activation Error 0x80041023
To fix the Windows 10 Activation Error 0x80041023, use the following methods:
1. Make sure you’re using a valid Product key
Suppose you have a Windows Pro Key that you want to activate. But whenever you enter the key, Windows shows you an error code 0x80041023. This problem normally occurs if you’re not using a valid product key. So, first of all, check whether you’re using a valid product key using the following steps:
- Open the Command Prompt with Administrative Privileges.
- Type the following commands inside the elevated command prompt window:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey.
- Press Enter and it will show you the Windows product key.
- Write down the product key showing on the screen.
- Then again try to activate your Windows using the retrieved Product key.
2. Activate Windows 10 using the SLMGR command
Another likely method you can try to fix this error code is by activating the SLMGR command and seeing if it helps to some extent. Here are the steps:
- Right-click on the Start button and select the Run option.
- Type cmd in the text box and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to open the command prompt window with admin access.
- Click on the Yes button if UAC prompts on the screen.
- In the elevated command prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
slmgr /ipk <Windows Key> slmgr /ato
- Press the Enter key to replace the used license key with the right one.
Note: In the above command line, the “Windows key” is only a placeholder. Therefore, change it with your own product key.
- Once the above commands execute successfully, restart your Windows. The new Product key should become active with the next startup.
3. Upgrade from an OEM Licenses
Sometimes this error also appears when users try to upgrade their Windows 10 PC from Home to Pro edition using OEM licenses. But one thing here you must know is that these OEM licenses are only meant to be used on the new devices.
Therefore activation will not work for Windows 10 Pro on a machine that was previously installed with the Home edition. In this case, you first need to install Windows 10 Home again then upgrade to Windows Pro via the Store app. The right way to activate the license key is to get Windows 10 Pro from OEM, not from the Windows Store.
4. Contact the Support Team at Microsoft
If none of the above solutions help you fix the error 0x80041023, then try to contact the Support team at Microsoft and ask them to assist you in re-activate your operating system.
Why has my Windows suddenly stopped activating?
In most cases, this issue is related to Microsoft Activation servers and should not be considered alarming. Windows can show that it is no longer activated on your original, activated computer. If this happens, you can ignore the activation message. It is likely that the error message will disappear as soon as the Microsoft activation servers become available again, and your Windows PC will be activated automatically.
How long can you use Windows without activating it?
Microsoft Windows can be run without activation and without any restrictions on the device for one month after installation. However, after the 30-day grace period expires, the user restrictions will take effect.
