This post introduces volume licensing, Microsoft volume licensing, and teaches you how to activate Windows 10/11 with KMS. For more computer tips and tricks, you may visit MiniTool Software official website where you can also find useful tools like MiniTool Power Data Recovery, MiniTool Partition Wizard, MiniTool ShadowMaker, MiniTool MovieMaker, etc.
What Is Volume Licensing?
In software licensing, volume licensing is a license selling method that authorizes one computer program to be used on a large number of computers or by a large number of users. Generally, business companies, government or education agencies, etc. may use this type of license scheme. The price of volume licensing is different based on type, quantity, and subscription.
What Is Microsoft Volume Licensing?
Licensing software in volume makes it easier and more affordable to run software on multiple computers with a single licensing organization. Popular volume-licensing programs include Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. You can acquire software licenses through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs.
Microsoft introduced two volume licensing methods for IT professionals in charge of installing Windows in organizations. Both of them are covered by Microsoft Product Activation.
One Microsoft volume licensing method is Multiple Activation Keys (MAK) which requires product activation, another is Key Management Service (KMS). Hosts activated with a KMS need to report back to a software license version once every 180 days. This means computers in this organization need to reactivate Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office every 180 days.
Unlike the traditional Windows product key activation method, a volume licensing key (VLK) can be used on several computers. The VLK typically limits the number of installations.
The Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) is an online tool for managing Microsoft Volume Licensing agreements, downloading products, and accessing volume license keys.
Microsoft advises organizations to consider the size and type of organization, products wanted, how products will be used, etc. before deciding to buy Microsoft Volume Licensing.
How to Activate Windows 10/11 with KMS
You can install a KMS host key on a Windows 10/11 computer to convert the computer to a KMS client. This allows you to activate other computers running Windows 10/11 against this KMS host. Learn how to configure KMS in Windows 10/11 below.
- Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open elevated Command Prompt.
- Type the command slmgr.vbs /ipk <KMS Key> and press Enter to install the KMS key on the KMS host.
- Type the command slmgr.vbs /ato and press Enter to activate the KMS host online.
For more detailed information about Windows activation using Key Management Service, please visit the official guide from Microsoft: Activate using Key Management Service.
About MiniTool Software
MiniTool Software is a top software developer that aims to provide various useful computer software for users. Up to now, it has released several popular programs.
MiniTool Partition Wizard offers all disk partition management features. It lets you create, delete, extend, resize, merge, split, format, wipe partitions, convert disk/partition format, migrate OS to HD/SSD, check and fix disk errors, benchmark disk, analyze hard drive space, and more.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery helps you recover deleted or lost data from Windows PC or laptop, USB flash drive, SD/memory card, external hard drive, SSD, etc.
MiniTool ShadowMaker lets you back up files and folders, partitions, or whole disk to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc.
