[Fix Windows 10 Activation Error Code 0xC004F012
Kody Coste
Windows Activation verifies that the copy of Windows is genuine and still adheres to the Microsoft Software License Terms. However, users complain about encountering 0xc004f012 Windows activation error in the process.
The 0xc004f012 Windows activation error can appear on your computer for many reasons. First, it indicates something wrong with your product key or any other issues with the Windows activation process.
I received this laptop computer as a gift from my uncle. He purchased it at Costco in December 2018. It is a HP Laptop Model# HP 14-DF0023CL with Windows 10. I registered it when it first powered up as I was prompted to do. It worked fine for over a year. 3 days ago I noticed an Activate Windows notification in the lower right corner of my display. I attempted to activate again and received this error message:
ERROR CODE: 0xC004F012
I have not changed any component or had the laptop repaired. I still have the box it came in; it was security sealed and brand new. Why did I get this message? Is it possible my activation code or 25 character Key changed or hacked? This laptop was trouble free for 25 months and did register when I first started it. Microsoft said the only person that could change it is me and I didn't do it or even know how to do it Why would I change it? Should they have a record of my initial registration? I use this for my home business and don't want to risk losing my data. Please help.
It will open and show you the available keys it detects. Does it detect your BIOS and Windows key(s) ? Does it says Windows version ? Take a picture of the codes or write them down. Do not post them here, just keep them for yourself.
Hi, I upgraded to Windows 10 as a free upgrade. However, after a few days, I started receiving an error 0xC004F012, which claims that Windows can't be activated. So, what happened to the free upgrade? Are there any solutions for this?
Since the support completely seized for Windows 7 in January 2020,[1] it is understandable why so many people would rush to upgrade. An unsupported operating system does not only lack the new features available in Windows 10 but also does not receive the security patches it desperately needs, meaning that the device is not protected from cyberattacks and software vulnerabilities.[2]
Unfortunately, not everybody could upgrade successfully. 0xC004F012 is an error that users may receive while trying to upgrade to Windows 10 or a few days after the installation. To some, the error did not generally impair the operation of the OS, but it would show up from time to time, reminding that there is a problem with the activation.
For others, the problem was much larger, as they said they also received a black screen with cursor or a Blue Screen of Death[3] error. In any case, it is important to fix 0xC004F012 in order to ensure that everything is working as intended.
In most cases, the error occurs due to a corrupt license repositories or due to changed hardware. Error code 0xC004F012 is not the only Windows activation error that can be encountered, other popular ones include 0xc0020036, 0xC004C003, and 0xC004F074.
If you experience problems that people mentioned (black/blue screens, errors, random reboots), the problem might be related to corrupted system files or other underlying issues. Therefore, before you proceed with the 0xC004F012 error fix solutions we provide below, you should perform a full system scan with a repair tool FortectMac Washing Machine X9. Otherwise, proceed with the solutions below.
Sometimes driver discrepancy can cause activation issues. Therefore, you should update your drivers for your Windows PC. While you can attempt to do that via the Device Manager, this will not usually be enough and will not change anything.
Instead, you should either visit your computer manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers from there. However, this step can be particularly difficult, especially if you are using a PC instead of a laptop. To solve this, we recommend you employ DriverFix to download and install all the necessary, legitimate drivers for your automatically.
ugetfix.com team is trying to do its best to help users find the best solutions for eliminating their errors. If you don't want to struggle with manual repair techniques, please use the automatic software. All recommended products have been tested and approved by our professionals. Tools that you can use to fix your error are listed bellow:
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This machine was activated but after performing the upgrade, there was a watermark to activate Windows on the bottom-right corner of the screen. Clicking that watermark takes to activation page where following error displayed:
The above steps did not work for myself either, here is the odd part though, this system came installed with Windows 10 Home edition. I have made no major hardware changes to the system, have run sfc a number of times. even rolled the system back to a previous date that was working and still ended up with the watermark within a few hours. Any additional ideas, calling MS is my last resort because their support is crap most of the time.
I have tried the activation trouble shooter multiple times, including doing the two restarts after the troubleshooter completes. Within a couple of hours at most the watermark reappears in the lower right corner every time. What I have found odd though is that it still allows me to update windows and this system is listed with no conflicts on my MS account so I am very confused by this overall.
KapilArya.com is Windows troubleshooting & how-to guides blog developed to help out end users. This blog mainly focuses on Windows operating system and covers the fixes for commonly faced issues, tips & tricks, step-by-step how-to guides.
Detailed instructions to fix the Windows 10 Activation error 0xC004F012. Problem in details: On a Windows 10 based computer, the following issues may appear after a Windows update or after upgrading Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro: Windows indicates they that are "not activated", and when you try to activate, you receive the following error: "We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you do have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. Error code: 0xC004F012".
4. Now wait until the System File Checker repairs the Windows System Files.
5. When this done, restart your computer and then check if the activation problem 0xC004F012, has resolved.
I had an issue where my user profile apparently got corrupted and I needed to set up a new profile. At that point, I found the Windows activation issue, even though it was previously activated. I tried the options in this article and they didn't address my issue, but the following fixed my issue by going onto my command prompt with administrative privileges:
net localgroup administrators localservice /add
net localgroup administrators networkservice /add
When activating Windows 10 or 11, you might face different challenges making the process fail. Windows Activation Error 0xC004F012 is such a problem several users complain about. If you are getting the same error then this post will provide working solutions. Using a legitimate product key is a must condition for the process but in this case, the server can not acknowledge it and generate the code.
Some people say that this problem appears on the pre-installed PCs or Laptops purchased from an OEM or retailer. What happens that sellers use to activate the operating system with the default product key which starts displaying Windows is not activated message after a restart or when internet is connected. However, you might come across the error code 0xC004F012 on the Activation settings but this may also appear after running the troubleshooter. If you see this error the first thing you need to do is to contact the original equipment manufacturer aka OEM or retailer. You can also approach him through the shop from where you have bought the device.
Each copy of Windows 10 or 11 has a distinctive product key to activate the operating system which you receive through mail or on the sticker of the packet in which the USB is placed. On multiple occasions, Windows is so damaged that you require to install a fresh copy. If you are installing through ISO file then there is a chance of an incorrect version being installed that does not recognize the existing product key. Therefore, check the edition and in case it is wrong install the correct version.
For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key. For troubleshooting and other info about updating Windows 11, see Windows Update: FAQ or Troubleshoot problems updating Windows. For info on upgrading to Windows 11, see Upgrade to Windows: FAQ.
Confirm that your device is up to date and running Windows 11. In the search box on the taskbar, type winver, and then select Winver from the list of results. You'll see the version and build of Windows.
Not running Windows 11? Learn how to update your device at update Windows.
Make sure the error hasn't changed. Sometimes when you run the Activation troubleshooter or try to activate, the error code and message will change. If the error code has changed, look up the new code below and follow the recommended steps. (If you're getting an error code that isn't listed on this page, contact customer support.)
If you're running Windows 11, the Activation troubleshooter might help reactivate Windows if you recently made a significant hardware change (such as replacing the motherboard) or reinstalled Windows.
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