This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(259.20000000000005, 50%, 35%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ED%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We have a 2022 and 2019 kms host servers to activate windows devices. Both have the windows update that should enable them to activate windows 2025 according to the microsoft document about it. Other devices on network work fine with the following commands and activate properly.
We downloaded the 2025 iso and built a server, but when trying to activate, it fails. Tried turning off firewall, rebuilding, etc.
Here is the slmgr.vbs output.
PS C:\Users> cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /skms {kmsserver}:1688
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Key Management Service machine name set to {kmsserver}:1688 successfully.
PS C:\Users> cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Activating Windows(R), ServerStandard edition (7dc26449-db21-4e09-ba37-28f2958506a6) ...
Error: 0xC004F074 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated. No Key Management Service (KMS) could be contacted. Please see the Application Event Log for additional information.
I think i forgot to install the 2025 kms key on the kms servers. Will try that.
Yes that was the issue, after installing the kms key for windows server 2025 on the kms servers, activating and then activating on the 2025 server it worked. Sorry, i guess i forgot about doing that.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(137.6, 12%, 23%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EEJ%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Which Windows Server 2022 version do you have ? 21h2 ? What's the KB that enable Windows Server 2025 key insert into VAMT3?
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-activation-planning?tabs=server25 this link explains it. Yes my 2022 kms host is 21H2
February 13, 2024 - KB5034765 or later cumulative update is needed on a 2022 kms host server to activate 2025, and you also need to install your 2025 kms key (and activate it) on the 2022 server (that was my issue).
here is what i did, after verifying the KB update was installed, on the 2022 kms host server...
cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk {your kms 2025 key}
cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato
I've checked that link but the updates are to 22h2 and 23h2. I've downloaded the last cumulative update for 21h2 from catalog, installed but I'm not able to install 2025 client key on host key... Did you installed TVRH6-WHNXV-R9WG3-9XRFY-MY832 key ?
that is the public client kms key for a 2025 server (usually the default key on a 2025 server install).
you need to install a 2025 kms host key from your microsoft licensing site onto an existing kms host or create a new kms licensing host with this key. this key is a paid licensing key.
Great, thanks for your help.