Activation Error Codes

Common 0xC004xxxx and 0x8007xxxx codes reported by the Software Protection Platform

The Software Protection Platform reports activation failures using HRESULT codes in the 0xC004xxxx range, with additional Windows error codes in the 0x8007xxxx range surfaced by the underlying networking and cryptographic APIs. The codes are documented by Microsoft Learn under the volume activation and Office activation troubleshooting topics.

Each code carries a symbolic name beginning with SL_E_ (for Software Licensing errors) and a short text description. Codes can be retrieved by running slmgr.vbs /dlvon Windows or cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus on Office; the code surfaces both the immediate failure (for example, network reachability) and the underlying cause (for example, an invalid product key).

History

The 0xC004 facility code was assigned to the Software Licensing service when it was introduced in Windows Vista. The same code space is shared by Windows and Office volume activation and has been preserved across all subsequent Windows and Office releases.

Technical details

The most general inspection command is slmgr.vbs /dlv, which prints the SKU, the partial product key, the licence status, the configured KMS host (if any), and the last activation result code. Office equivalents are cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus and cscript ospp.vbs /ddescr:<ErrorCode>, the latter of which prints the symbolic description for a given code.

Error code table

Code	Symbolic name	Meaning
`0xC004F074`	SL_E_NO_KEY_MANAGEMENT_SERVICE	The client could not reach a KMS host.
`0xC004F038`	SL_E_KMS_LICENSE_COUNT_INSUFFICIENT	The KMS count is below the activation threshold.
`0xC004F042`	SL_E_KMS_INVALID_SKUID	The KMS host does not support this client SKU.
`0xC004F015`	SL_E_PRODUCT_SKU_NOT_INSTALLED	The SKU is not present on the KMS host.
`0xC004C003`	SL_E_PRODUCT_KEY_BLOCKED	The product key has been blocked by the activation server.
`0xC004C008`	SL_E_ACTIVATION_COUNT_EXCEEDED	Activation count for this MAK has been exceeded.
`0xC004F050`	SL_E_PKEY_NOT_INSTALLED	The product key is invalid.
`0xC004F00F`	SL_E_HARDWARE_ID_BINDING_LEVEL_TOO_HIGH	The hardware ID binding is beyond the level of tolerance.
`0xC004F035`	SL_E_INVALID_USE_OF_VOLUME_KEY_TO_KMS_ACTIVATION	Volume key cannot activate a non-volume edition.
`0xC004E003`	SL_E_LICENSE_VALIDATION_FAILED	The Software Licensing service reported that the licence evaluation failed.
`0x8007007B`	—	The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect (often KMS hostname resolution).
`0x80072EE7`	—	The server name or address could not be resolved.
`0x8007232B`	—	DNS name does not exist (no `_vlmcs._tcp` SRV record).

Common diagnostic scenarios

0xC004F074 + 0x8007232B. No KMS host is published in DNS; verify with nslookup -type=srv _vlmcs._tcp.<domain>.
0xC004F038. Count below threshold; verify slmgr.vbs /dlv on the host shows a count of at least 25 for clients or 5 for servers / Office.
0xC004F042. Host key too old for the client SKU; install a newer KMS Host key published by Microsoft for that client release.
0xC004C008. MAK pool exhausted; request additional activations through the volume licensing portal.
0xC004F00F. A hardware change has invalidated a digital licence; re-link the Microsoft account and run the Activation Troubleshooter.

References

Resolve Windows activation error codes — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/activation-error-codes
Volume activation error codes (legacy) — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/deployment/volume-activation-error-codes
Troubleshoot Office activation errors — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/activation/activation-error-codes
OfficialKMSAuto — KMS tools and error code notes — https://officialkmsauto.com/downloads
Slmgr.vbs options for volume activation — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/activation-slmgr-vbs-options