Windows Licensing Reference

GVLK Keys

Generic Volume License Keys for KMS and Active Directory-Based Activation

A Generic Volume License Key (GVLK), also referred to as a KMS client setup key, is a fixed, publicly published product key installed on a client to mark it as a volume edition that should activate against a Key Management Service host or via Active Directory-Based Activation. GVLKs are not unique to an organization; the same 25-character value is used by every volume installation of a given SKU worldwide.

GVLKs carry no commercial value on their own. They identify the SKU to the Software Protection Platform and switch the activation client into KMS / AD-BA mode; activation itself is granted by the organization's KMS host or AD forest object after entitlement is verified.

See also: Key Management Service, Product Key Types, slmgr Command Reference.

History

GVLKs were introduced as part of Volume Activation 2.0 with Windows Vista. Pre-installed images of volume editions ship with the GVLK already configured, so administrators rarely need to install one explicitly. Microsoft maintains the published list on Microsoft Learn and adds entries when new SKUs are released, including Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) builds and Windows Server semi-annual and long-term channel releases.

Technical details

Installing a GVLK on a non-volume edition (for example, Windows 11 Pro purchased at retail) has no effect: the keys are recognised only by the matching volume SKU. GVLKs are installed with slmgr.vbs /ipk <GVLK> on Windows and, for volume Office, cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:<GVLK> from the Office installation directory (typically %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16).

Windows client GVLKs (selected)

EditionGVLK
Windows 11 / 10 ProW269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Windows 11 / 10 Pro NMH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9
Windows 11 / 10 Pro for WorkstationsNRG8B-VKK3Q-CXVCJ-9G2XF-6Q84J
Windows 11 / 10 EnterpriseNPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Windows 11 / 10 Enterprise NDPH2V-TTNVB-4X9Q3-TJR4H-KHJW4
Windows 11 / 10 EducationNW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2
Windows 11 / 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D

Windows Server GVLKs (selected)

EditionGVLK
Windows Server 2025 DatacenterD764K-2NDRG-47T6Q-P8T8W-YP6DF
Windows Server 2025 StandardTVRH6-WHNXV-R9WG3-9XRFY-MY832
Windows Server 2022 DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
Windows Server 2022 StandardVDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H
Windows Server 2019 DatacenterWMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2019 StandardN69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
Windows Server 2016 DatacenterCB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2016 StandardWC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY

Office GVLKs (selected)

ProductGVLK
Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024XJ2XN-FW8RK-P4HMP-DKDBV-GCVGB
Office LTSC Standard 20249FKDW-3NCKQ-J6FBF-PWMC8-Q3MC6
Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH
Office LTSC Standard 2021KDX7X-BNVR8-TXXGX-4Q09B-PYR62
Office Professional Plus 2019NMMKJ-6RK4F-KMJVX-8D9MJ-6MWKP
Office Professional Plus 2016XQNVK-8JYDB-WJ9W3-YJ8YR-WFG99
Project Professional 2021FTNWT-C6WBT-8HMGF-K9PRX-QV9H8
Visio Professional 2021KNH8D-FGHT4-T8RK3-CTDYJ-K2HT4

Common issues

  • GVLK installed on Retail or OEM SKU. Returns 0xC004F050(product key is invalid). The installation must first be edition-switched, or the correct Retail / MAK key installed.
  • Wrong N / non-N variant. N editions of Windows require the corresponding N GVLK; mismatched keys are rejected at install time.
  • Outdated GVLK after upgrade. In-place upgrades preserve the previous key; after upgrading to a new LTSC release the matching GVLK must be re-installed.
  • Office GVLK installed but activation still fails. Volume Office requires that the Office installation be a Volume Licensed build; Click-to-Run consumer builds ignore ospp.vbs entirely.

References

  1. KMS client setup keys — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-client-activation-keys
  2. Office GVLK keys — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/activation/gvlks-for-office
  3. Activate Windows Server — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/server-2022-activation
  4. Plan for volume activation — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/plan-for-volume-activation-client