Seeing the message “Your Windows license will expire soon” on your screen can be stressful — especially if you bought your PC legally or already activated Windows. The good news? You don’t need to panic.

This common activation error appears when Windows can't verify your license. But whether you're using Windows 10 or 11, you can fix it easily using a few reliable methods like CMD, registry editor, or by manually activating it.

1. 📋 What You’ll Learn in This Guide

  • How to check if Windows is activated
  • Why this message shows up
  • Fix using CMD (Command Prompt)
  • Fix using Registry Editor
  • Enter a product key manually
  • Use the Troubleshooter
  • Best tips if nothing works

Each step includes screenshots and works for both Windows 10 and 11.

2. ❓ Why Does the “Your Windows License Will Expire Soon” Error Appear?

This warning usually pops up when something goes wrong with your activation. Here are the most common reasons:

  • You're using a volume or KMS license that’s expired

  • Windows was reinstalled or upgraded, and license info was lost

  • You made a hardware change (like replacing the motherboard)

  • Microsoft’s activation server couldn’t be reached

  • There’s a registry or activation service error

3. 🔎 Step 1: Check Your Activation Status

Before trying to fix anything, you need to check if Windows is really deactivated.

3.1 ✔️ For Windows 11

  • Press Windows + I to open Settings

  • Go to System > Activation

Windows 11 activation screen showing “No product key found” and error 0xC004F213
Figure 1: Windows 11 reports no product key found

3.2 ✔️ For Windows 10

  • Press Windows + I

  • Go to Update & Security > Activation

Windows 10 activation screen showing “No product key was found on your device” with error code 0xC004F213
Figure 2: Windows 10 reports missing product key (Error 0xC004F213)

4. ⚙️ Step 2: Use CMD to Fix “Your Windows License Will Expire Soon” Error

Sometimes, Windows just needs a little push. Using a simple command, you can reset the license timer.

4.1 🛠 Run the “slmgr -rearm” Command

  • Search for CMD in the Start menu

  • Right-click it → Run as Administrator

  • Type this command and hit Enter:

slmgr -rearm
  • Restart your PC
Command prompt showing slmgr -rearm to reset Windows license timer
Figure 3: Using CMD to extend activation grace period

📝 This works best for volume or trial licenses. It gives you extra time to activate properly.

5. 🧠 Step 3: Use Registry Editor to Stop Windows Activation Expiry Message

This is helpful if you’re still getting reminders even after rearming.

5.1 🔧 How to Edit the Registry

  1. Press Windows + R → type regedit → press Enter

  2. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

  1. Look for SkipRearm

  2. Double-click it → change Value data to 1 → Click OK

  3. Restart your PC

Registry Editor with SkipRearm set to 1
Figure 4: Registry fix to delay activation prompts

⚠️ Always back up your registry before making changes!

6. 🔑 Step 4: Enter Windows Product Key Manually to Reactivate

If you have a valid key (retail or OEM), you can activate Windows manually.

6.1 🧾 How to Enter the Key

  • Go to the Activation page as explained in Step 1

    • Windows 11: Settings > System > Activation

    • Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Activation

  • Click Change product key

  • Enter your 25-digit key and follow the steps

Windows Activation screen showing product key entry
Figure 5: Activating Windows manually using the product key

7. 🧰 Step 5: Fix License Expiry Problem with Windows Activation Troubleshooter

If you're still stuck, let Windows try to fix itself.

7.1 🚨 Use the Built-In Troubleshooter

  • Go to the Activation settings page as explained in Step 1

  • Click Troubleshoot

  • Let it scan and follow the instructions

Windows 11 activation screen with Troubleshooter option
Figure 6: Using Troubleshooter in Windows 11
Windows 10 activation troubleshooter under settings
Figure 7: Running activation troubleshooter in Windows 10

8. 💡 Extra Tips

  • Use slmgr /xpr in CMD to check your actual license expiration

  • Make sure your date & time settings are correct

  • Sign in with the Microsoft account used during activation

  • If all else fails, you can also open the Microsoft Store and search for ‘Activate Windows’ to purchase a genuine license directly from Microsoft

9. ✅ Conclusion

The “Your Windows license will expire soon” message might look scary, but it’s usually easy to fix. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11, the steps above will help you resolve the issue using CMD, registry tweaks, or by re-entering your key.

If you found this article helpful, share it with others or leave a comment. And if you want a tutorial on another Windows error — just let us know!

For official help from Microsoft, you can visit the Activate Windows – Microsoft Support page.