By Michael | Last Updated
When you are using Windows 10 OS, you may see a message saying "Your Windows license will expire soon. You need to activate Windows in Settings" appears on the center of the desktop interface. But you don't pay too much attention to it and just close it. However, the prompt will continuously and frequently pop up in the next minutes, hours and days when you are using your PC. It is annoying. What should you do if your windows license will expire soon on Windows 10? This tutorial will teach you how to fix this issue.
When you face the issue that the message writing your Windows license will expire soon pops up constantly on your desktop, you can try to restart the Windows Explorer by running Task Manager on your computer. Here are the steps to execute this method:
Step 1: Right click the Start icon shaped with Windows logo at the bottom left on the desktop taskbar and select Task Manager from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: When you open the panel of Task Manager, go to the Processes tab, from which you can see a list of ongoing processes, look for the Windows Explorer and right click it. Then choose the option of Restart. Alternatively, you can the Restart button at the bottom right of the interface.
Step 3: Then you can close the panel to see if it helps.
If your Windows license will expire soon on Windows 10, you can attempt to solve this problem by editing Local Group Policy. Instructions as below:
Step 1: Press the Windows key+R simultaneously to bring the Run panel, enter gpedit.msc in the blank and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2: In the left pane, navigate to the following address: Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Update.
In the right pane, double click on No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.
Step 3: Select Enabled and click Apply>OK to save changes.
You might fix the issue of Windows license will expire soon on Windows 10 by disabling Windows License Manager Service and Windows Update these two services. The operation is not complex. Here is the step-by-step guidance:
Step 1: Press Windows key and R at the same time, type services.msc and click OK.
Step 2: Scroll down and find Windows License Manager Service, double click it to open its properties.
Step 3: When Windows License Manager Service Properties is opened, set the Startup type to Disabled. If the service is running, click Stop to stop it. Then click Apply>OK to save changes.
Step 4: Then go to Windows Update and double click it to open its properties. Do the same settings as Windows License Manager Service.
Step 5: After you execute this method, your Windows license will expire soon on Windows 10 issue might be fixed. However, if you found the method doesn't work or you encounter any other problem after applying this method, you should revert the change. And you should reenable the service of Windows Update after almost a month as Microsoft releases important security updates from time to time.
A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. Before implementing this method, you should make sure that you know the product key. The product key may be in an email from people who sold or distributed Windows to you such as an authorized retailer, or on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in.
You can also find your product key through Command Prompt and then enter it to activate the computer in order to fix your Windows licence will expire soon error. But pay attention to that you must be on an administrator account in order to retrieve your key in this way.
Step 1: Click Start button, type command prompt in the search blank and click to open it.
Step 2: Run the following command in Command Prompt:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey.
And then you should see the 25-character product key appear directly below the command that you entered, which is your product key. Then write it down. However, if it doesn't work, learn How to Find Windows 10 Lost Product Key by using other methods.
Step 3: Then go to Settings>Update & security.
Step 4: Click Activation on the left pane and tap Change product key on the right pane.
Step 5: Click Yes. Then enter the product key and click Next.
After that, your Windows should become reactivated and the error message will be resolved.
Sometimes you may stop this message from appearing by modifying your registry. This can help you solve your Windows license will expire soon issue.
Step 1: Press Windows+R, enter regedit and click OK>Yes to open Registry Editor.
Step 2: Click File and choose Export from the menu.
Step 3: Under Export range, select All. Enter the file name, choose a safe location and then click Save.
In case anything does wrong after the modification, you can just run the file you created and it will restore your registry to the original state.
After you export your registry, Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command: reg add "HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSoftware Protection Platform" /v NoGenTicket /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f.
If you're unable to activate Windows 10, the Activation troubleshooter could help. But the premise is that your system is running on Windows 10 Version 1607 or later and it hasn't been activated yet. Once you activate, the option disappears.
Step 1: Go to the Settings>Update & security>Activation.
Step 2: Click Troubleshoot to launch the Activation troubleshooter.
Then the troubleshooter will detect the problems automatically and fix them accordingly.
Step 3: After the troubleshooting is finished, close the troubleshooter.
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