How to Turn Off Windows Activation

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Easiest ways to make the “Activate Windows” watermark go away forever

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 23, 2024

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Using Services

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Using Registry Editor

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Activating Windows

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to temporarily remove the Windows activation notifications and watermark from an unactivated version of Windows. You can do this by changing a value in the Services menu, or by editing the Windows Registry. Keep in mind that the only way to permanently remove Windows activation notifications is by activating Windows.

How do you remove the activation watermark on Windows?

Type "services" into the Start menu.
Click the "Services" option that pops up with a gear icon.
Click on the "Software Protection" option on the list.
Hit the "Properties" option.
Hit "Stop," followed by "OK."

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Services

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Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will open.
Doing so searches for the Services app, which lets you control which system processes run.

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It's a gear-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. The Services window will open.
4
Scroll down and click Software Protection. You'll find this service in the "S" section of the window.
- On some computers, this will say sppsvc instead.
It's the folder-shaped icon just below the View tab in the upper-left side of the window. A new window will open.
6
Click Stop. This option is in the middle-left side of the window. Doing so will prompt the Software Protection service to stop running.
- If this button is greyed out, you will need to use the Registry instead.
It's at the bottom of the window. Your activation will remain off until you restart or update your computer, at which point you will need to disable it again.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Registry Editor

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Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
This will search for the Registry Editor command.
It's a collection of blue blocks at the top of the Start window.
Doing so will open the Registry Editor window.
5
Expand the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder. Click
to the left of the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder in the top-left side of the Registry window.
- If you see an indented column of folders below "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", it's already expanded.
It's near the bottom of the list of folders inside of the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder.
This will result in a long list of folders appearing.
Click this folder to prompt its contents to display on the right side of the window.
It's near the bottom of the list of files that's on the right side of the window.
This option is near the top-left corner of the Registry window. A drop-down menu will appear.
It's at the top of the drop-down menu. A new window will open.
This value change will disable the activation notifications.
It's at the bottom of the window. Your activation will remain off until you restart or update your computer, at which point you will need to disable it again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Activating Windows

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Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Click the gear-shaped icon in the left-hand side of the Start window.
This circular arrow-shaped icon is at the bottom of the Settings window.
It's a tab on the left side of the window.
5
Activate your copy of Windows. You can do this in one of two ways, depending on whether you have to buy a key or already upgraded for free on a different computer:^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- Free Upgrade - Click Troubleshoot, enter your Microsoft email address and password if prompted, click Activate Windows, and click Activate when prompted.
- Purchased Key - Click Go to store, click Buy below your preferred version of Windows, and enter your payment information.
Click Start
, click Power
, and click Restart. Once your computer finishes restarting, your version of Windows should be activated.

Community Q&A

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Question

I can't do the 5th step. The troubleshoot option is not shown and I can't find it anywhere.

Community Answer

If you are in the activation settings window, it should be on the bottom of the screen.

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Tips

The paid version of Windows has significantly more options for customization than does the free trial version.

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Warnings

Avoid software that claims to disable permanently Windows activation notifications, as such programs are usually malware (and even if they aren't, they're highly illegal).

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