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al_ssi's avatar
al_ssi
Copper Contributor
Dec 18, 2024

Activate Server 2025 with 2022 retail key

I have a retail key for Windows Server 2022 standard edition.

I'm rebuilding from scratch on new hardware and have installed Windows Server 2025 standard edition evaluation on the new hardware.

If I try to activate Server 2025 with my 2022 license key, I get the error 'The product key you entered didn't work. (0x80041014)'

Shouldn't this work?

Thanks

 

Windows Server

1 Reply

  • GurpreetSachdev's avatar
    GurpreetSachdev
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 20, 2024

    You cannot activate Windows server 2025 with Windows server 2022 key. 
    Here is the compatibility matrix for your reference.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-activation-planning?tabs=server22#activation-versions

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