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Michael Sovitzky-Reinders's avatar
Michael Sovitzky-Reinders
Brass Contributor
Jul 19, 2021

Windows Server 2022 - KMS Activation yet?

I noticed Friday on my company's VLSC site that there are now MAK and KMS keys for WS2022. I have confirmed that I can now activate 2022 with a MAK key, volume license.   However, I'm unable to act...
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Michael Sovitzky-Reinders's avatar
Michael Sovitzky-Reinders
Brass Contributor
Sep 23, 2021

oyoussuf 

 

There are 2 possible questions you're asking. I will assume one of them is:

If we enter the new WS2022 KMS key on our recent KMS Server, will this activate a (client) server running WS2012R2?

 

Yes, if you have a KMS Server running WS2022, it will activate other WS2022 clients, and all prior, supported versions of Windows Server/Windows 10, etc.

 

If our KMS Server is running WS2012R2, is it supported to enter a WS2022 key to activate WS2022 clients?

 

No, it doesn't look like it. It would appear your KMS Server needs to be either 2016, 2019, or 2022 to be able to activate 2022 servers.

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003478-update-to-extend-kms-support-for-windows-server-2022-ltsc-5ae389ab-7650-46a7-ad53-bc7653684dfc

 

Please let me know if this answers your question.

 

- Michael

kwester-ebbinghaus-business's avatar
kwester-ebbinghaus-business
Iron Contributor
Sep 24, 2021
oyoussuf instead of KMS please consider to use ADBA / Active Directory based activation. It is much simpler. You can optionally use VAMT 3 to create reports / manage activations or preinstall the generic keys

In Domain Joined scenarios I would not use KMS servers anymore. Some of my customers have no KMS anymore when they have only 2012R2 or newer and Office 2013 or newer.