Windows "This Edition Cannot Be Upgraded" License Activation Issue

This is quite a common issue with Windows Server installs, where when trying to change license key (generally from an evaluation copy of windows) an error message is displayed saying "This edition cannot be upgraded". Luckily this is quite an easy fix. 

Step 1: Open CMD

Step 2: Depending on the copy of Windows Server you want to use (Standard / Datacenter) run the appropriate command below. Ensuring you change the product key to your own!

Tip: If you want to see what versions you can change to, enter Dism /Online /Get-TargetEditions into the command line.

Standard Edition:

Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /AcceptEula /ProductKey:PRODUCT_KEY_HERE

Datacenter Edition:

Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /AcceptEula /ProductKey:PRODUCT_KEY_HERE

Step 3: Press enter and wait, sometimes it can get 'stuck' on 10% for up to 15 minutes, just wait.

Step 4: Once completed press 'y' to restart your server and complete the license key switch. 

  • Windows, Windows Server, This Edition Cannot Be Upgraded, Activation
  • 1 Utilisateurs l'ont trouvée utile
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