4/13/26 Update for partners experiencing challenges regaining access to the Hardware Dev Center
We've heard your feedback. We know that some partners whose accounts were suspended following Account Verification are experiencing challenges regaining access to the Hardware Dev Center (HDC). Protecting the security of the Windows ecosystem remains our highest priority, and we are adding a temporary process to accelerate the reinstatement experience for partners who are able to resolve outstanding compliance requirements.
Opening a support case is the fastest path towards reinstatement. Partners may request reinstatement through Hardware Program support. Please ensure your reinstatement request includes a clear business justification clarifying how you intend to use HDC access. If reinstated, all compliance issues must be resolved prior to regaining access to HDC.
Encountering issues with the support experience? Make sure you are signed in using the email address associated with your Hardware Program account in Partner Center. If you are having trouble with Copilot when submitting a ticket, continue asking Copilot to "Create a ticket" to proceed with your support request.
Still unable to submit a ticket? The only official channel to get support is by opening a ticket as described above. However, we know some partners are having challenges with that workflow, which we’re planning to address in a future update. Until then, you can reach out for support at aka.ms/HDC-Account-Verification-Support and someone from our team will reach out to assist.
Before submitting a reinstatement request, please review the information below and the Account Verification guidance in Partner Center to ensure all required verification steps are completed.
Original Post
Effective October 16, 2025, Microsoft will initiate mandatory account verification for all partners in the Windows Hardware Program who have not completed account verification since April 2024.
Required Actions for Partners:
- Review and update your Legal Info in Partner Center to ensure it is current and accurate.
- Prepare to complete the account verification process when notified.
- Monitor your verification status on the Legal Info page in Partner Center to ensure all requirements are met and your account remains in good standing.
To successfully complete Account Verification:
- The primary contact email address must be a monitored work account that can send and receive email. Generic or group email addresses are not permitted; use an individual address in the format you@yourcompany.com.
- The name on the government-issued ID must match the Partner Center Primary Contact. Acceptable forms of ID include a valid passport, driver’s license, or other national identification.
- Identity verification must be completed within 30 days of receiving the request. Failure to do so will result in rejection and suspension from the hardware program.
Blockers that will prevent successful verification include:
- Failure to complete identity verification within 30 days.
- Primary contact email address is not a monitored work account or is a group/generic address.
- Mismatch between the name on the government ID and the Partner Center Primary Contact.
- Incomplete or outdated information in the Legal Info page on Partner Center.
Partners who fail to complete Account Verification by the deadline, or who do not meet the requirements, will have their status set to Rejected and will be suspended from the program.
For more information on what is required to successfully complete verification or how to check status of your account, please review Verify Your Account Information - Partner Center | Microsoft Learn. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our support team as described on Get support for Partner Center dashboard or HLK issues - Windows drivers | Microsoft Learn.
Update: Account Verification Completed
Account verification for the Windows Hardware Program has now concluded. Accounts that did not successfully complete account verification and received a Rejected verification status have been suspended from the Windows Hardware Program, and submissions from these accounts are no longer permitted.
Partners whose accounts were suspended may request reinstatement by submitting an appeal through Hardware Program support. Appeals must include either:
- Supporting evidence that the suspension was issued in error, or
- A clear business justification explaining why access to the Windows Hardware Program is required
Appeal requests that do not include supporting evidence or a business justification are not reviewed.
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