Activate Windows Server and store license – step-by-step guide

Our servers are shipped with a 180 day trial license from Microsoft by default. In order to use the server according to the EULA of Microsoft Windows, you must deposit a Windows license.

To activate Windows Server, it is necessary to have a license key. This must be either Windows Server 2019 Standard or Windows Server 2022 Standard. Depending on which operating system you have installed.

To be able to install the standard license, you have to convert the evaluation version to standard. So you can’t just enter the key in the ProductKey mask. A little command line is needed.

Convert evaluation to standard via CMD

Log in to your Windows server via RDP.

Open the console as administrator. Open the search, type cmd. Right click on the entry and you will get the option to open the console as administrator. Click on it.

Activate Windows with Key

dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /productkey:KEY /accepteula

After that, your Windows is activated. If unexpected errors occur, it is best to use an online search to find possible sources of error.