How to fix “Your windows license will expire soon” error?

What causes How to fix “Your windows license will expire soon” error?

Windows recognizes the upgraded OS as a standalone installation
The license key embedded in the BIOS could be rejected
The system may require reactivation after the free upgrade period
Users may not have entered the product key correctly
The Windows activation process may have encountered an error

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Hello, I have a problem with Windows activation. I did upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Win 10 for free back when it was released, and I had no issues whatsoever. However, in the past couple of days, I have been getting this message that my Windows license will expire soon. Why is this happening? I thought that the license is not needed with the free upgrade? Please help me! Much appreciated.

When Windows 10 came out back in 2015, Microsoft announced that everybody who is using a licensed version of the OS could upgrade to the newest version for free.[ref en-1] All users needed is the product key, and they could download the firmware for the new OS from Windows servers or Windows store. A lot of people used that option and did not have any problems with their operating systems. However, users started complaining on forums that they are getting the "Your windows license will expire soon" error.

Because the update is free, "Your windows license will expire soon" error should not be occurring to those who ungraded using the product key of previous Windows version. However, it does happen and can be extremely annoying to users, as the computer then starts restarting every few hours, disrupting the work on the machine and potentially losing non-saved data. The error states the following:

Your windows license will expire soon

You need to activate Windows in Settings

Users are then prompted to go to Settings and enter the product key there. However, some complained the license key (which is embedded in the BIOS)[ref en-2] could be rejected.

Your windows license will expire soon fix

You see "Your windows license will expire soon" error because the system is recognizing the upgraded OS as a standalone installation of Windows 10, as you get a free three months trial after installing the fresh operating system on any device.

While you can contact your computers' manufacturer tech support that would guide you through the process, we first recommend you try to fix "Your windows license will expire soon" error using the guide provided below.
In this video you will find information about fixing this error:
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Fix 1. Restart Windows Explorer

Restarting Windows Explorer might help you fix "Your windows license will expire soon" error. To do so, please follow these steps:

Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Task Manager
Find Windows Explorer process, right-click on it and press End task
Next, press Windows key + R and type in explorer.exe and click OK
Your windows license will expire soon restart windows explorer
Open Command Prompt (admin) by typing cmd into the search box and right-clicking on the results and picking Run as administrator
Type in slmgr –rearm and hit Enter. Restart you PC
If the previous command did not help use slmgr /upk and press Enter, restarting the machine afterwards

Fix 2. Scan your system for errors

System errors can cause all kind of problems, and "Your windows license will expire soon" might be one of them. We recommend you download and install PC repair tool [d1] and scan the device immediately. The software has a built-in database which consists of more than 25,000 legitimate up-to-date Windows files that can be injected into a compromised system.

Fix 3. Disable Windows License Manager Service

A simple, yet not optimal "Your windows license will expire soon" error fix can be achieved by disabling Windows License Manager Service. Follow these steps:

Press Windows key + R and type in services.msc
Find Windows License Manager Service, right-click on it and press Properties
Once Properties window opens, under the Startup type select Disabled, press the Stop button to stop it and click OK
Your windows license will expire soon disable windows services

Fix 4. Find your product key using Command Prompt

Go to Command Prompt (admin) once again
Type in wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey and hit Enter
Write down your key
Once the error occurs again, go to settings and enter the activation key

Some users reported[ref en-3] that they cannot access the destination via the error. You can enter the code via Settings yourself:

Right Click on Start button and select Settings
Go to Update and Security > Activation
Select Change product key
Enter the code and press Next
Your windows license will expire soon enter your product key

Fix 5. Reset your computer using Media Creation Tool

Some users reported that resetting the machine using Media Creation Tool helped the to update their systems and fix "Your windows license will expire soon" error. Download the tool from the official website and run on-screen instructions

Bottom line

To fix the 'Your windows license will expire soon' error, users can try entering the product key in Settings, contacting their computer manufacturer for support, or ensuring that their system is properly activated. If none of these solutions work, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I see the 'Your Windows license will expire soon' message on Windows 10?

You can resolve this by checking your activation status in Settings, then re-entering your product key or activating Windows through the Troubleshooter option.

How can I fix the 'Your Windows license will expire soon' error on Windows 11?

Try running the Activation Troubleshooter from the Settings app under Update & Security, which can automatically detect and fix common activation issues.

Is there a way to prevent the 'Your Windows license will expire soon' warning from appearing again on Windows?

Ensure that your Windows 10 or Windows 11 is always activated by keeping your product key handy and regularly checking for updates.

Did this fix work for you?

Written & verified by

Gabriel E. Hall

Malware Removal Expert

Malware removal Ransomware recovery Browser hijackers Spyware analysis Security tools testing

Gabriel E. Hall is a malware removal expert and cybersecurity researcher with over ten years of hands-on experience analysing threats and writing removal guides. She has documented hundreds of malware families — from browser hijackers and adware to ransomware and rootkits — providing step-by-step cleanup instructions tested against real infections. Gabriel's work combines deep technical analysis with clear, actionable language that readers without a security background can follow. Her guides consistently appear among the most-referenced resources for malware removal on Windows systems.

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