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(313.6, 82%, 40%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EEP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I get this error code no mater what I try to upgrade.
error code 0xc004f050
I tried all of the recommended solutions and they dont work.
This is a fresh machine, taken out of the box today, with no additional software installed other than chrome.
This should not be difficult. It should be a simple upgrade.
I ultimately solved the upgrade problem in an unusual but practical way:
1: Sign in to a microsoft account and go ahead and buy the upgrade in the app store.
2: Attempt the installation and let it fail. (This may not actually be necessary.. or can be performed as the LAST step.. I dont exactly know.. this is just the order I did and it worked.)
3: Download the windows 11pro install image and make an install USB stick
4: Go through the Windows 11 restart process to boot from the USB (You may need to first reboot to bios to enable USB booting, then restart under windows AGAIN into the usb stick).
5: "Install" windows 11 from the stick. You can choose to keep user files but wipe out and reinstall all the system files.
6: Upon reboot and setup, after logging in to your microsoft account again, your machine will have the valid license and full pro setup.
You can go to Settings > System > Activation > Change product key
Disconnect internet, and disable any third party antivirus, key in the generic key instead: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
That should get you to Pro. Once restarted, you can connect back to the internet, sign into your Microsoft account. See if it is activated.
That doesnt work. I get the following error; We cant activate windows on this device as the product key you entered is not valid. Go to the store to buy genuine windows (0xc004050)
But I DID go to the store and DID buy a genuine windows upgrade, which refuses to work, and thus where Im here in the first place.
I feel like Im being spun in circles.
Ive tried all the recommended solutions and hacks from googling this apparently common error, and none of them worked, including using generic license keys.
The windows store has yet to send me my legitimate key either.
We will get to it.. not the first time I dealt with this. I always want to start with the most standard method, if it doesn't work, it is not the dead end yet.
So, you said you ran into the error code indicating the key is not geniune, is that given to you after you entered the generic key in my instruction? If so, please confirm - did you disconnect the internet while you used the generic key?
