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Fix Activation Error 0xC004C003 Product Key Blocked

Did you take advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 8.1 and 7 users? Well done! With all new Windows 10 also come errors and bugs, which Microsoft will be working hard to fix. However, one of the common errors that most new Windows 10 users are getting is Error code 0xC004C003. An activation error says the server determined the keys to be invalid or blocked.

There should not be such an error for users who directly upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1. But this activation error will be shown to those who freshly installed Windows 10. I will help you fix this activation error 0xC004C003 in Windows 10.

Error Code0xC004C003
Error TypeWindows Activation Error
Error MessageWe 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 0xc004c003
Device Type​Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7
Error Causes​Invalid product key Corrupted
Windows installation
Incompatible or outdated Windows version
Windows activation connectivity issues
Informational box

Reasons For Error Code 0xC004C003

Pop-up of Windows Activation Error code 0xC004C003
Activation Error code 0xC004C003

It is not surprising that Windows servers may be overloaded, which could be why the 0xC004C003 error. One solution is to wait, and the activation may occur automatically. If you have upgraded to Windows 10 without doing a clean install, this could cause an issue. You can use a new product key or contact Microsoft support to fix this issue.

Fixing Error code 0xC004C003

If you have freshly installed Windows 10, meaning you did not upgrade from Windows 8.1 or 7, then you might not be able to revert to your previous version of Windows from Windows 10.

Method 1: Reset your PC

Resetting your PC might help you to solve this issue. This only sometimes works, but it’s worth the try. Follow the below-mentioned steps.

  • Step 1: Click on the Start button, then go to Settings.
  • Step 2: Click on update and security.
  • Step 3: Now, you will go to recovery on the left pane.
  • Step 4: You will see reset this PC option so click on get started.

Step 5: Sit back, wait until everything is over, and see if the error 0xC004C003 is fixed.

Note: Please understand that you will lose all the files/folders from the drive where Windows 10 is installed. Make sure you take a backup for any of your important files before you perform the above steps to fix code 0xC004C003 product key is blocked in Windows 10

Method 2: Installing Windows 7/8, then upgrading

There are not many things you can do in this situation, but you can always install Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 again and use the free upgrade feature to get rid of the error 0xC004C003 product key blocked.

Once you have upgraded to windows 10, you can do a clean install without errors. Follow the below steps.

  • Step 1: Insert your Windows Installation CD/DVD of which you have a Product Key.
  • Step 2: Boot your PC through DVD by changing boot priority in BIOS.
  • Step 3: Go through all the steps required to freshly install Windows 7 or 8/8.1.
  • Step 4: Make sure whatever version of Windows you just installed is activated. Now, if you wish to upgrade to Windows 10, download all the available updates to see Windows 10 notifications in the tray.
  • Step 5: If you can’t see the notification, you might want to Download Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. 
  • Step 6: Now Run the tool and use Upgrade this PC option so that it will download Windows 10 and then ask you a few things before installing without any issues.
  • Step 7: Once the Installation completes, you must now have Windows 10, and your copy should be Activated without any activation error like 0xC004C003.

Now, you can cleanly install Windows 10 through a USB flash drive. Skip if asked for keys while clean installing Windows 10 this time. Don’t enter your Windows 7/8/8.1 keys.

Most of the time, we provide multiple ways to solve errors, but currently, we know only two ways to solve this error code 0xC004C003 activation issue. We will update this post as soon as we find more ways to get rid of it.

Feel free to let us know if you have any other ways to solve this error, particularly in Windows 10.

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