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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Phone activation for Windows has been discontinued.
- You'll have to use an online portal to activate Windows.
- The portal requires a Microsoft or business account.
Microsoft has typically offered a few ways to manually activate Windows for times when it won't activate automatically. One useful method had been to call Microsoft by phone, allowing a customer support rep to talk you through the process and grant the activation. That was especially handy if you couldn't get online with your PC. Alas, that method is no more.
In a recent YouTube video, a tech enthusiast named Ben Kleinberg demonstrated the loss of phone activation. After installing Windows 7 Home Premium, Kleinberg said he called the Microsoft product activation number to activate a license for the OS. Instead of getting connected to a support rep, he received a recording telling him that product activation has moved online, with no apparent way to do this by phone.
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To confirm, I called the same Microsoft number for product activation—1-888-725-1047. I received the same message telling me that activation has moved online. Upon following a link to the portal, I first had to solve a CAPTCHA puzzle. The next screen prompted me to sign in with a Microsoft account or a school or business account. From there, I was taken to a screen where I could activate Windows, Windows Server, or Microsoft Office. I then had to enter an installation ID to attempt the activation process.
The online process isn't too onerous, but that's assuming it works. Plus, the retirement of phone activation is frustrating for a few other reasons.
Portal problems
First, what if you can't get online with your Windows PC? Sure, you could always call regular Microsoft support for help, but maybe all you want to do is activate the product. Second, the portal requires some type of online account. But perhaps you use a local account in Windows and don't have a Microsoft account.
Third, what happens if you run into trouble and need support? I've had to activate copies of Windows in the past on new PCs, rebuilt machines, and virtual machines. Even though the licenses were all legitimate, the process sometimes failed. Thankfully, the support person on the activation line was able to help. Now, that friendly assistance seems to be gone.
Does all this sound familiar? It should. This is yet a further shift by Microsoft to push you to do everything online. Can't activate Windows? You'll have to go online. Try to activate it online? You'll need a Microsoft or business account. Run into any problems? Sorry, you're on your own.
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We've seen this type of tactic in the past, most notably with Microsoft blocking any workarounds that would let you use a local account in Windows 11. The intent is to force you to set up a Microsoft account, through which the company can gather data about you to send you targeted promotions.
As demoed in the YouTube video, Kleinberg even tried calling a number that promised phone activation for Microsoft Office. But here, he received the same message about activation now being online.
Of course, product activation for Windows and Office is now supposed to be much simpler than in the past. Instead of tying the installation to a specific product or ID number, such activation is tied to your Microsoft account. As long as you have a legitimate digital license linked to your account, both products should automatically be activated.
But as I said, sometimes that automatic activation doesn't work. Other times, you may need to activate an older version of Windows or Office that still relies on a product key. I've run into this a few times when I tried to activate an older OS in a virtual machine. And that's when the phone activation through a real person saved the day. I'm sorry to see it go.
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