- Some Windows users report their Windows 11 being deactivated following the 24H2 update.
- Try re-entering your key and running the Activation Troubleshooter.
- You can also check your disk for corruption with the Command Prompt.
- If all else fails, contact Microsoft Support directly.
You signed up for Windows 11 and had the fully enabled version installed on your PC. So why are you now getting a message that your product is deactivated following a major update? If you’re seeing this, you’re not alone. Many Windows users have reported that this issue is caused by the 24H2 update.
More importantly, though, how do you fix it? This article will explain just that.
Where’s the Key?
Product deactivation means that your PC can’t confirm your product registration after contacting the Microsoft servers. This may have to do with your Windows product key. If you see the error code “0xC004f213,” then this is the case. Let’s look at how to get things fixed.
Fixing Windows 11 Deactivated After 24H2 Update
The good news is that this bug is not your fault and can be fixed in a number of ways. We’ve listed the major ones below.
Re-Enter Your Product Key
To confirm that your product key isn’t being accepted, it’s a good idea to try re-entering it. Simply do the following:
Step 1. Open Settings (Win + I) and choose “System.”
Step 2. Scroll down to “Activation” and select it.
Step 3. Click the “Change” button next to “Change product key” and enter your product key in the dialog box that will display.
Step 4. If it’s refused, you can move on to the other fixes.
Troubleshoot
Your first possible solution should be the Activation Troubleshoot tool. Some users report needing to run this numerous times to finally get their Windows activated again. Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Open Settings (Win + I) and navigate to “System” on the sidebar.
Step 2. Navigate down to “Activation” and select it.
Step 3. Next to your “Activation state,” click the “Troubleshoot” button.
Step 4. Wait for the Troubleshooter to work and see if it resolves the problem. Repeat a few times if necessary.
Update Your Machine
An error like product deactivation would likely be addressed by Microsoft in a new patch or update. Make sure your system is fully up to date by doing the following:
Step 1. Open “Settings” and scroll down to “Windows Update” in the sidebar.
Step 2. Click the “Check for updates” button at the top of the screen.
Step 3. If any updates are recommended, install them and restart your machine.
Reload Your License Configuration File
In the update, your license may have been misplaced or lost. You can instruct Windows 11 to reload it through the Command Prompt:
Step 1. Open the Command Prompt in the Search Bar and right click to select “Run as administrator.”
Step 2. In the app, type “slmgr /rilc” and click “Enter.”
Step 3. Once the process is complete, restart your machine and check your activation status again.
Step 4. If not, click the “Troubleshoot” button one more time to be sure.
Repair System Files With Command Prompt
Command Prompt is also excellent for scanning your hard disk and checking for missing or corrupted files, which might have been altered during the update. Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 2. Type “sfc / scannow” to begin the scan of your drive.
Step 3. Following this type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth”, “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth”, and “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” one after the other, letting them run before inputting the next.
OEM:NSLP Licenses and Contacting Microsoft
If you know you’ve activated your version of Windows (or bought one), then you should have no problem contacting Microsoft Support directly. If you didn’t buy the computer yourself, you probably have an OEM:NSLP License, which is different from the OEM License. Both are valid, but the former is affected by the 24H2 update error.
Contact Microsoft and explain the error, provide your details, and they should be able to reactivate your machine.
Was this helpful?
- Corrupted Excel files, faulty add-ins, and outdated printer drivers are some of the most common causes of this issue.
- Try printing another Excel file to ensure the issue is not limited to a specific spreadsheet.
- You can try running the Microsoft Office repair tool if nothing else works.
Fix 1: Save Your Excel File in XPS Format and Try Again
If Excel can’t respond to print requests, save your file in the XPS format and try again. Several users on Microsoft Community post reported fixing the issue with this simple workaround. So, if you’re in a rush, try this method.
Step 1: Open the Excel file you wish to print and click the File menu at the top left corner.
Step 2: Navigate to the Print tab and use the drop-down menu under Printer to select Microsoft XPS Document Writer . Then, click the Print button.
Step 3: When the Save Print Output As dialog appears, save your Excel file in the XPS format. It should print without issues.
Fix 2: Open Excel in Safe Mode
You can try printing an Excel file in safe mode to see if one of the third-party add-ins is causing the problem. For that, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type excel -safe in the box and press Enter .
Check to see if Excel prints your file in safe mode. If it does, one of the third-party add-ins is to blame. You can disable all add-ins and re-enable them individually to isolate the culprit.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and go to File > Options .
Step 2: In the Excel Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab from the left column. Select COM Add-ins in the Manage drop-down menu and click the Go button.
Step 3: Uncheck all the Add-ins and click OK .
After this, restart Excel and enable your add-ins one at a time. Print a test page after enabling each add-in to identify the one causing the issue.
Fix 3: Update Printer Driver
Issues with your printer driver can affect Excel’s ability to print spreadsheets and lead to problems. To avoid this, you should ensure that your printer driver is up to date and functioning properly.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the menu that appears.
Step 2: Double-click on Print queues to expand it. Right-click on your printer and select Update driver .
Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the printer drivers. After that, try printing your file again.
Fix 4: Remove and Reinstall Your Printer
If Microsoft Excel still can’t print, try removing your printer and re-adding it on Windows. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Step 2: Select Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar and go to Printers & scanners .
Step 3: Select your printer from the list.
Step 4: Click the Remove button at the top to delete your printer.
Step 5: After that, return to the Printers & scanners menu and click on Add device . Then, follow the on-screen prompts to add your printer again.
Fix 5: Repair Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office offers a handy repair tool for any issues with Office apps. If nothing else works, consider repairing Microsoft Office by following the steps below.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Installed apps from the list.
Step 2: Scroll down to locate the Microsoft Office product on the list. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Modify .
Step 3: Select Online Repair and hit Repair .
