Activating Windows Server 2025 Standard Evaluation using a KMS key

Question

Hello All,

I have a built a server (as per client request ) with Windows Server 2025 Standard Evaluation installed ( I downloaded the iso from Microsoft Evaluation Center) . Now I want to activate it with the valid license.

The customer has provided me the KMS key for the server activation. But there's no KMS server within the environment.

How it is possible to activate the server running on evaluation using a KMS license key?

Please help if any possibility is there

Thanks

Answer 1

The issue has been resolved .

Below are the steps that I followed :

1. Fetched the KMS client key for Windows Server 2025 x64 Standard Link : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-client-activation-keys?tabs=server2025%2Cwindows1110ltsc%2Cversion1803%2Cwindows81
   2. Open command prompt(or powershell) as an administrator.And run the below command.

dism.exe /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Note : The product key is to be fetched from step 1.

 3.The server will ask for a reboot. Reboot the server.

4. Last step , now here you need to enter the KMS key you or your customer has given it you for activation.

Go to Settings -> System ->Activation->Change Product Key

Answer 2

Hello,

Couple of issues that I see,

One you have to have a KMS host to activate the server.

two, it's not supported to convert Windows Server EVAL to volume license media, you need to convert it using and OEM or Retail key.

Link to instructions about converting Windows Server Eval to retail or OEM.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

Darrell