How to Check Whether Your Windows Is Genuine (the Reliable Way)
Check whether Windows is genuine: view activation status, use slmgr commands, spot pirated Windows, and handle it across a business.
Published Jun 11, 2026 · 2 min read
Pirated Windows is still everywhere — many machines ship pre-activated with a crack tool the user never knew about. This guide shows you how to check whether Windows is genuine in several ways, from the UI to the command line, and what to do when a machine turns out to be running an invalid copy.
Method 1: Check activation status in Settings
- Open Settings → System → Activation.
- If it says "Windows is activated with a digital license" or is linked to your Microsoft account — it is genuine.
- If you see an activation error, "We can't activate Windows", or a prompt to enter a key — the machine is not properly licensed.
The "Activate Windows" watermark
The faint text in the bottom-right corner of the screen is the clearest sign that Windows is not activated with a valid license.
Method 2: Use slmgr (more precise)
The slmgr command reveals the license type in detail. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and run:
slmgr /xpr— shows whether the machine is permanently activated or only temporarily.slmgr /dli— license type and partial status.slmgr /dlv— full detail, including the licensing channel (Retail, OEM, Volume).
Spotting abused Volume keys
Many pirated copies use a Volume (KMS) key that re-activates every 180 days against a fake server. If slmgr /dlv shows "VOLUME_KMSCLIENT" on a standalone machine not covered by a Volume agreement, it is almost certainly an illegal activation.
Method 3: Confirm the key against Microsoft
A genuine key is recorded by Microsoft and tied to your hardware or account. Cracks usually rely on a fake KMS or a revoked key. If Windows suddenly reports it is "no longer genuine" after a while, that is a sign of a pirated key Microsoft has blocked.
Why businesses should not run pirated Windows
- Legal risk: running pirated Windows commercially can mean fines during an inspection. See legal risks of pirated software.
- Security: crack tools often carry malware, and pirated Windows is frequently blocked from security updates.
- Instability: fake activations can expire unexpectedly and disrupt work.
Check many machines at once
Running slmgr on every machine is impractical with dozens of devices. An automated software inventory tool collects the activation status of Windows and every other app across all machines, centralizes it in one dashboard, and alerts you the moment an invalid copy appears.
Check Windows licensing and all software across every machine in your organization — automatically and centrally.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
- If slmgr /xpr says "permanently activated", is it definitely genuine?
- Not necessarily. A KMS crack can also make a machine report as activated. Run slmgr /dlv to see the channel — VOLUME_KMSCLIENT on a standalone machine not under a Volume agreement is suspicious.
- Is OEM Windows that came with the machine genuine?
- Yes. An OEM key pre-installed with a new machine and tied to the motherboard is a valid license, but it only works on that machine and cannot be transferred.
- I bought a used computer — how do I know Windows is genuine?
- Run slmgr /dli and slmgr /xpr to check status. Verify in Settings → Activation whether it is linked to a Microsoft account, and ask the seller for an invoice or the COA key label.