Activation error

0x800704CF

No valid Windows licence found on this device

Windows found no valid licence for this device. Microsoft's fix is to activate with a valid 25-character product key. After a major hardware change, Microsoft points to the Activation troubleshooter.

Symptoms

The Activation page shows 0x800704CF
Windows reports that no valid licence was found for the device
Windows lost its activation after a major hardware change, such as a new motherboard

Causes

Windows did not find a valid licence for the device.
After a major hardware change, the existing licence may no longer match the device, and Windows may ask you to reactivate.

How to fix it

Have your product key ready

Your 25-character key is in your order confirmation email and in your Lizensa account under My Library.

Enter the key in Settings

Select Start > Settings > System > Activation, then Change product key, and enter the key. On Windows 10 the page is under Settings > Update & Security > Activation. Windows may ask for an administrator password.

After a hardware change: run the troubleshooter

If you replaced major hardware, open the same Activation page and select Troubleshoot. You must be signed in as an administrator. Microsoft notes that you may be asked to go through reactivation.

Where to find your key

Open My Library in your account, or search your mailbox for the order email. More help with finding it is in Where is my product key?.

Every step of the activation is described in Activate Windows 11 and Activate Windows 10.

After a hardware change

Microsoft offers a reactivation path after a hardware change: sign in with the same Microsoft account you used before the change, then run Troubleshoot on the Activation page. If the troubleshooter can't fix the problem, it shows a link to reactivate after a hardware change. If you have a valid product key, you can also enter it under Change product key. See also Moving a licence to a new PC. If Windows shows 0x803F7001 instead, follow that page.

When to contact Lizensa support

Contact our support if your key is missing from your account or activation still fails after these steps. Send your order number, the last five characters of your key and the exact error message or a screenshot. Our support is available Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 CET.

Still need help?

If error 0x800704CF keeps blocking activation after these steps, our support team can check your key and license channel directly.

Contact support

Genuine licenses

Genuine licenses that activate cleanly

Windows 10 Pro

€24.90

Windows 11 Home

€24.90

Windows 11 Pro

€29.90

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