{"id":277,"date":"2026-02-22T13:05:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T13:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/keys-locker.local\/guides\/how-to-activate-windows-server-rds-sql\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T13:05:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T13:05:39","slug":"how-to-activate-windows-server-rds-sql","status":"publish","type":"kl_guide","link":"https:\/\/keyslocker.com\/de\/guides\/how-to-activate-windows-server-rds-sql\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Activate Windows Server, RDS CALs &amp; SQL Server"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Before You Begin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your <strong>product key<\/strong> (received via email and in your account)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Administrator access<\/strong> to your server<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>stable internet connection<\/strong> (for online activation)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Activating Windows Server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Method 1: Via Server Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>Server Manager<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>&#8220;Local Server&#8221;<\/strong> in the left panel<\/li>\n<li>Find <strong>&#8220;Product ID&#8221;<\/strong> and click the link next to it (usually says &#8220;Not activated&#8221;)<\/li>\n<li>Enter your <strong>product key<\/strong> and follow the activation wizard<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Method 2: Via Command Prompt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open <strong>Command Prompt as Administrator<\/strong> and run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Install the key: <code>slmgr \/ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX<\/code><\/li>\n<li>Activate online: <code>slmgr \/ato<\/code><\/li>\n<li>Check status: <code>slmgr \/xpr<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should see a message confirming the machine is permanently activated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Method 3: Via PowerShell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open <strong>PowerShell as Administrator<\/strong> and run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><code>slmgr.vbs \/ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX<\/code><\/li>\n<li><code>slmgr.vbs \/ato<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installing RDS CALs (Remote Desktop Services)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (CALs) require the <strong>Remote Desktop Licensing<\/strong> role to be installed on your server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1 \u2014 Install the RD Licensing Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>Server Manager<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Add Roles and Features<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>&#8220;Remote Desktop Services&#8221;<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>&#8220;Remote Desktop Licensing&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Complete the wizard and restart if prompted<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2 \u2014 Activate the License Server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>Remote Desktop Licensing Manager<\/strong> (licmgr.exe)<\/li>\n<li>Right-click your server and select <strong>&#8220;Activate Server&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Follow the wizard using the <strong>&#8220;Automatic connection&#8221;<\/strong> method<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3 \u2014 Install the CAL License<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Remote Desktop Licensing Manager, right-click your server<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>&#8220;Install Licenses&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Choose your license program (usually <strong>&#8220;License Pack (Retail)&#8221;<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<li>Enter your <strong>product key<\/strong> and complete the wizard<\/li>\n<li>Your CALs (User or Device) will appear in the license manager<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installing SQL Server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download the SQL Server installer from the official Microsoft Evaluation Center<\/li>\n<li>Run the installer and select <strong>&#8220;New SQL Server stand-alone installation&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>When asked for a product key, enter your <strong>25-character key<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Select the <strong>Standard<\/strong> edition and complete the installation wizard<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upgrading an Existing Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Run the SQL Server installer and select <strong>&#8220;Edition Upgrade&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Enter your new product key<\/li>\n<li>Follow the wizard to upgrade from Evaluation\/Express to Standard<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Activation via phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If online activation fails, you can use phone activation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Run: <code>slui 4<\/code><\/li>\n<li>Select your country and call the Microsoft number provided<\/li>\n<li>Follow the automated phone system to receive a confirmation ID<\/li>\n<li>Enter the confirmation ID to activate<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Still having issues?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact our support team \u2014 we&#8217;ll help you get activated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Step-by-step guide to activate Windows Server editions, RDS CALs, and SQL Server using your product 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