Windows 11 activation error 0xC004F074 occurs when your device can’t reach the Key Management Service (KMS) server used by volume licensing—usually due to network issues, incorrect DNS settings, misconfigured time/date, or expired service connection. This prevents your PC from activating Windows, leaving it in an unactivated state. To resolve it, start by verifying your internet connection and disabling any VPN, proxy, or third-party firewall that might block access to Microsoft’s activation server. Next, ensure your system date, time, and timezone are accurate—incorrect settings can interfere with activation. Then flush and reset your DNS and network stack by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and running:
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
After rebooting, press Win + I → System → Activation → Change product key, re-enter your valid Windows 11 product key, and click Activate, which should force a fresh connection to the activation server.
If activation still fails, open an elevated Command Prompt and run
slmgr.vbs /ipk <your‑product‑key> followed by slmgr.vbs /ato to manually install the key and trigger activation. These steps usually resolve error 0xC004F074. For a full, step‑by‑step walkthrough, refer to this detailed guide.