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KMS38 Activation

Overview

  • How to use it? Please find the instructions here.
  • This activation method activates Windows 10/11 and Windows Server (14393 and later builds), until January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC.
  • This activation method does not store any files on the system.
  • This activation method works offline.
  • Unlike HWID and Online KMS activation options, KMS38 does not match with any official activation method.

How does it work?

  • In a genuine KMS activation environment, activation lasts a maximum of up to 180 days. This is done using a valid license and server setup.
  • In the Windows major upgrade process, the system uses gatherosstate.exe to carry over the remaining KMS activation period. It does this by creating a ticket that can be used offline.
  • The trick is that we can fool the gatherosstate.exe about the remaining KMS activation period and manually put the desired period maximum up to January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC.
  • Why is it limited to the year 2038?
    It's related to the Y2K38 problem as this date (19 January 2038 03:14:07 UTC) is the maximum date we can give to gatherosstate.exe without it looping back to the year 1970.
  • How can we convince the gatherosstate.exe?
    There are two methods for it.
    1- Place a custom slc.dll file beside gatherosstate.exe:
    gatherosstate.exe uses the system's C:\Windows\System32\slc.dll file to gather the system's info. If we place a custom slc.dll file beside gatherosstate.exe which can send the rubbish data to it, then it will simply accept it and generate a valid ticket allowing activation up to January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC.
    2- Modify the gatherosstate.exe file itself so that it doesn't check the system's activation status and we can put the activation period as we wish.
  • Notes:
    • To be clear, we are not modifying/patching any on-board system file to get the ticket. Gatherosstate.exe is a part of the ISO file and not available in C drive system files. The system's slc.dll file is not touched; Instead, we use custom slc.dll only for a brief moment of ticket generation.
    • Latest MAS doesn't use any of these methods; Instead, it uses ready-to-use Universal tickets (check below for manual activation info).

Q: Can Microsoft block this kind of activation?
A: Not directly. They could only update Clipup to allow for a maximum activation period of 180 days. Not much besides that can be done on their part. The tickets are not sent to Microsoft at all, so they can't block them or take action directly.


Supported Products

Windows 10/11Generic Volume License Key
EducationNW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2
Education N2WH4N-8QGBV-H22JP-CT43Q-MDWWJ
EnterpriseNPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Enterprise NDPH2V-TTNVB-4X9Q3-TJR4H-KHJW4
Enterprise GYYVX9-NTFWV-6MDM3-9PT4T-4M68B
Enterprise G N44RPN-FTY23-9VTTB-MP9BX-T84FV
Enterprise LTSB 2016DCPHK-NFMTC-H88MJ-PFHPY-QJ4BJ
Enterprise LTSC 2019M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Enterprise LTSC 2021M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Enterprise LTSC 2024M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Enterprise N LTSB 2016QFFDN-GRT3P-VKWWX-X7T3R-8B639
Enterprise N LTSC 201992NFX-8DJQP-P6BBQ-THF9C-7CG2H
Enterprise N LTSC 202192NFX-8DJQP-P6BBQ-THF9C-7CG2H
Enterprise N LTSC 202492NFX-8DJQP-P6BBQ-THF9C-7CG2H
IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (19044.2788 and later)KBN8V-HFGQ4-MGXVD-347P6-PDQGT
IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024KBN8V-HFGQ4-MGXVD-347P6-PDQGT
HomeTX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
Home N3KHY7-WNT83-DGQKR-F7HPR-844BM
Home ChinaPVMJN-6DFY6-9CCP6-7BKTT-D3WVR
Home Single Language7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH
LeanNBTWJ-3DR69-3C4V8-C26MC-GQ9M6
ProW269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Pro NMH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9
Pro Education6TP4R-GNPTD-KYYHQ-7B7DP-J447Y
Pro Education NYVWGF-BXNMC-HTQYQ-CPQ99-66QFC
Pro for WorkstationsNRG8B-VKK3Q-CXVCJ-9G2XF-6Q84J
Pro N for Workstations9FNHH-K3HBT-3W4TD-6383H-6XYWF
SE37D7F-N49CB-WQR8W-TBJ73-FM8RX
SE N6XN7V-PCBDC-BDBRH-8DQY7-G6R44
Windows Server (LTSC)Generic Volume License Key
Windows Server 2025 StandardDPNXD-67YY9-WWFJJ-RYH99-RM832
Windows Server 2025 DatacenterCNFDQ-2BW8H-9V4WM-TKCPD-MD2QF
Windows Server 2025 Azure CoreQN7G3-4RM92-MT6QR-PR966-FVYV7
Windows Server 2025 Azure DatacenterNQ8HH-FTDTM-6VGY7-TQ3DV-XFBV2
Windows Server 2022 DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
Windows Server 2022 StandardVDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H
Windows Server 2022 Azure Core6N379-GGTMK-23C6M-XVVTC-CKFRQ
Windows Server 2022 Azure DatacenterNTBV8-9K7Q8-V27C6-M2BTV-KHMXV
Windows Server 2019 DatacenterWMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2019 StandardN69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
Windows Server 2019 EssentialsWVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726
Windows Server 2019 Azure CoreFDNH6-VW9RW-BXPJ7-4XTYG-239TB
Windows Server 2019 ARM64GRFBW-QNDC4-6QBHG-CCK3B-2PR88
Windows Server 2016 ARM64K9FYF-G6NCK-73M32-XMVPY-F9DRR
Windows Server 2016 DatacenterCB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2016 StandardWC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
Windows Server 2016 EssentialsJCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B
Windows Server 2016 Cloud StorageQN4C6-GBJD2-FB422-GHWJK-GJG2R
Windows Server 2016 Azure CoreVP34G-4NPPG-79JTQ-864T4-R3MQX
Windows Server (Annual Channel)Generic Volume License Key
23H2
Windows Server DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel)Generic Volume License Key
20H2, 2004, 1909, 1903, and 1809
Windows Server Datacenter6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D
Windows Server StandardN2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC
1803
Windows Server Datacenter2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG
Windows Server StandardPTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR
1709
Windows Server Datacenter6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6
Windows Server StandardDPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4

Notes:

  • X86-X64 and ARM64 architecture systems are supported.
  • Any Evaluation version of Windows (i.e. 'EVAL' LTSB/C) cannot be activated.
  • KMS38 only supports Windows/server version 14393 (1607) and newer versions.
  • Initial release (19044.1288) of Iot LTSC 2021 doesn't support KMS license and it was added later in update 19044.2788.
  • ServerRdsh, Server Azure Datacenter editions do not officially support activation on non-azure systems.

How to remove KMS38?

  • In MAS, go to KMS38 Activation and apply the Remove KM38 Protection option.
  • After that, In MAS, go to Troubleshoot and apply the Fix Licensing option.
  • Done.

KMS38 - Server Cor/Acor

  • Windows Server Cor/Acor (No GUI) editions don't have the clipup.exe file.
  • To KMS38 activate it, you need to download the ClipUp.exe file from this link.
    File: ClipUp.exe
    SHA-256: 0d6e9f6bbd0321eda149658d96040cb4f79e0bd93ba60061f25b28fecbf4d4ef
    This file has digital signatures that can be verified. You can also get this file from the official Windows Server 2016 x64 RTM ISO.
  • Put the ClipUp.exe file beside the KMS38 Activation script. That would be either MAS_AIO.cmd or KMS38_Activation.cmd
  • The activation script will check for ClipUp.exe in the current folder (from where the script is running) and will use it accordingly.

KMS38 Protection

  • KMS38 Activation is vulnerable to unintended replacement by a 180-Day KMS Activator.
  • From MAS 1.7, the script will enable KMS38 protection by default.
  • If you are going to use KMS_VL_ALL by abbodi1406 or MAS (Online KMS option) for Office activation, then you can choose to remove this protection.
  • Below is the explanation for how the script protect KMS38.
  • In the KMS activation method, Windows first checks the KMS IP registered as a specific KMS, and if that is not defined, then it checks the Global KMS IP. Another fact is that if Localhost (IP range 127.0.0.0/8) is defined as the KMS IP in Windows 8 and later OS, then Windows will not accept it as a valid KMS IP. This script simply utilizes the above facts to protect the KMS38 activation from being overwritten by any alternative 'normal' 180-Day KMS Activation, and at the same time, that KMS activator can be used for Office activation.
  • Script steps-
    • Set the Windows edition-specific KMS IP to Localhost (127.0.0.2)
    • Protect the below Registry from edit and delete
      HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f\XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX\
    • Done.

Command line Switches


Manual Activation

This is for those who want to perform manual activation. If you want a tool to do this for you, then check here.
We can perform the manual activation process in 2 ways.

1- From Ready-Made Ticket

  • Open Windows PowerShell as administrator, and enter the following commands in the sequence in which they are given.
  • Enter the key (Replace <key> with the key from the above list) with the following command:
    slmgr /ipk <key>
  • Download the Universal ticket from here and extract the downloaded file.
  • Find a file named KMS.xml in the extracted folder.
  • Copy that ticket file and paste it in the following folder:
    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket
  • Now run the below command in PowerShell to apply the ticket:
    clipup -v -o
  • Check the Activation Status with the following command:
    slmgr /xpr
  • Done.

2- From Scratch

In this process, we will perform activation from scratch. This is based on the Universal ticket method. Here, we will create identical tickets that are used in the MAS HWID script and activate the system with them.

  • Download the file from the official MS link and extract the .cab file.
    https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/A/E/9AE69DD5-BA93-44E0-864E-180F5E700AB4/adk/Installers/14f4df8a2a7fc82a4f415cf6a341415d.cab
  • Find the file named filf8377e82b29deadca67bc4858ed3fba9 (Size: 330 KB) and rename it as gatherosstate.exe
  • Make a folder named Files in C drive, C:\Files and copy the gatherosstate.exe file in that folder.
  • Open Windows PowerShell as administrator and enter the following commands in the sequence in which they are given.
  • Enter the key (Replace <key> with the key from the above list) with the following command:
    slmgr /ipk <key>
  • Copy the below code all at once and enter in PowerShell to modify the gatherosstate.exe file.
    This code to modify the file is based on GamersOsState.
$bytes  = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes("C:\Files\gatherosstate.exe")
$bytes[320] = 0xf8
$bytes[321] = 0xfb
$bytes[322] = 0x05
$bytes[324] = 0x03
$bytes[13672] = 0x25
$bytes[13674] = 0x73
$bytes[13676] = 0x3b
$bytes[13678] = 0x00
$bytes[13680] = 0x00
$bytes[13682] = 0x00
$bytes[13684] = 0x00
$bytes[32748] = 0xe9
$bytes[32749] = 0x9e
$bytes[32750] = 0x00
$bytes[32751] = 0x00
$bytes[32752] = 0x00
$bytes[32894] = 0x8b
$bytes[32895] = 0x44
$bytes[32897] = 0x64
$bytes[32898] = 0x85
$bytes[32899] = 0xc0
$bytes[32900] = 0x0f
$bytes[32901] = 0x85
$bytes[32902] = 0x1c
$bytes[32903] = 0x02
$bytes[32904] = 0x00
$bytes[32906] = 0xe9
$bytes[32907] = 0x3c
$bytes[32908] = 0x01
$bytes[32909] = 0x00
$bytes[32910] = 0x00
$bytes[32911] = 0x85
$bytes[32912] = 0xdb
$bytes[32913] = 0x75
$bytes[32914] = 0xeb
$bytes[32915] = 0xe9
$bytes[32916] = 0x69
$bytes[32917] = 0xff
$bytes[32918] = 0xff
$bytes[32919] = 0xff
$bytes[33094] = 0xe9
$bytes[33095] = 0x80
$bytes[33096] = 0x00
$bytes[33097] = 0x00
$bytes[33098] = 0x00
$bytes[33449] = 0x64
$bytes[33576] = 0x8d
$bytes[33577] = 0x54
$bytes[33579] = 0x24
$bytes[33580] = 0xe9
$bytes[33581] = 0x55
$bytes[33582] = 0x01
$bytes[33583] = 0x00
$bytes[33584] = 0x00
$bytes[33978] = 0xc3
$bytes[34189] = 0x59
$bytes[34190] = 0xeb
$bytes[34191] = 0x28
$bytes[34238] = 0xe9
$bytes[34239] = 0x4f
$bytes[34240] = 0x00
$bytes[34241] = 0x00
$bytes[34242] = 0x00
$bytes[34346] = 0x24
$bytes[34376] = 0xeb
$bytes[34377] = 0x63
[System.IO.File]::WriteAllBytes("C:\Files\gatherosstatemodified.exe", $bytes)
  • Now right click on the file gatherosstatemodified.exe, go to properties and set the compatibility mode to Windows XP SP3.
  • Now we need to generate the ticket, to do that, enter the below command:
C:\Files\gatherosstatemodified.exe /c GVLKExp=2038-01-19T03:14:07Z`;DownlevelGenuineState=1
  • A GenuineTicket.xml file should be created in the folder C:\Files\. Now, let's apply it:
    clipup -v -o -altto C:\Files\
  • Check Activation Status with the following command:
    slmgr /xpr
  • Done.

Notes:

  • To make the exact ticket used in MAS KMS38 script, fix the time with the below PowerShell command and then initiate the ticket generation process as per the steps mentioned above.
    Set-TimeZone -Id "UTC"; $date=[datetime]"2022/10/11 12:00";while($true){set-date $date; start-sleep -milliseconds 10}
  • In the case of Windows Server Cor/Acor (No GUI) editions, the system doesn't have the clipup.exe file.
    To KMS38 activate it, you need to download the missing ClipUp.exe file from this link.
    File: ClipUp.exe
    SHA-256: 0d6e9f6bbd0321eda149658d96040cb4f79e0bd93ba60061f25b28fecbf4d4ef
    This file has digital signatures that can be verified. You can also get this file from the official Windows Server 2016 x64 RTM ISO.
    Put the ClipUp.exe in the C:\Windows\System32 folder and then initiate the above-mentioned activation process. Once the activation is complete, you can remove the file.

Setup Preactivate

  • Check the Extract OEM option in the MAS Extras section if you want pre-activated Windows installation.
  • Further, read here.

Troubleshooting