The Problem

You’re unable to activate a copy of Windows Server 2019 or 2022 Evaluation edition with your VLSC MAK key

The Cause

Windows Server 2019 / 2022 Evaluation edition can only be activated with a retail key. This must happen before a Volume Licence Key can be used.

The Fix

We need to use DISM to change the product version/edition

Open an elevated command prompt

  1. Get a list of available version upgrade paths by typing:

    1

    DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions

  2. Then upgrade to the listed edition by typing:

    1

    DISM /Online /Set-Edition:<TargetEdition> /ProductKey:<Product Key from Below Table> /AcceptEula

    EG: DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenterCor /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    Server EditionProduct GVLK
    Windows Server 2022 DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
    Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Azure EditionNTBV8-9K7Q8-V27C6-M2BTV-KHMXV
    Windows Server 2022 StandardVDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H
    Windows Server 2019 DatacenterWMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
    Windows Server 2019 StandardN69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
    Windows Server 2019 EssentialsWVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726
    Windows Server 2019 Azure CoreFDNH6-VW9RW-BXPJ7-4XTYG-239TB
    Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809)6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D
    Windows Server 2019 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809)N2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC
    Windows Server 2019 ARM64GRFBW-QNDC4-6QBHG-CCK3B-2PR88
    Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803)PTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR
    Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803)2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG
    Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709)6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6
    Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709)DPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4
    Windows Server 2016 ARM64K9FYF-G6NCK-73M32-XMVPY-F9DRR
    Windows Server 2016 DatacenterCB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
    Windows Server 2016 StandardWC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
    Windows Server 2016 EssentialsJCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B
    Windows Server 2016 Cloud StorageQN4C6-GBJD2-FB422-GHWJK-GJG2R
    Windows Server 2016 Azure CoreVP34G-4NPPG-79JTQ-864T4-R3MQX

  3. Reboot the system and enter your MAK key either via the GUI or by running the two commands

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    slmgr.vbs /ipk <Your Product Key>
slmgr.vbs /ato