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What is the Error Code 0xc004f063? It is accompanied by a message that says, “The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer BIOS is missing a required license.”

Windows users have been encountering this error for over a decade. It has affected several devices, especially Dell PCs running Windows 7 build 7600.

The Error Code 0xc004f063 is an activation and validation error. It comes up when you try activating your OS with the product key. Although the error has been found to be prevalent on Windows 7, it can also appear on newer versions of the OS, including Windows 8, 8.1, and even Windows 10.

Why Does the Windows Activation Error 0xc004f063 Occur?

The 0xc004f063 system error is highly disruptive. It can happen on an OS that has been activated with a legitimate and approved license key. There are several possible reasons why this issue exists:

  1. Conflicting Third-Party Software: Although this is rare, some third-party software, including Alcohol 120%, and Daemon Tools, can clash with your OS and undermine the license key.
  2. Windows Glitches: Installed Windows updates may contain activation bugs that prevent the licensing of your OS. This usually results to the “BIOS is missing a required license on Windows – 100xc004f063” error. Licensing restriction due to Windows glitches can easily be fixed by running the automated Windows Activation troubleshooter.
  3. Corrupt System Files: System file corruption can affect the validation of your OS activation. If this is the case, you can resolve it by running the built-in tools: Windows System File Checker (SFC), and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM).
  4. BIOS Inconsistency: Resetting an already activated PC and attempting to activate a different Windows edition (such as Home, Pro, or Enterprise) while the old key is still stored in your BIOS will trigger the 0xc004f063 error. The SLMGR utility can help resolve this.
  5. Server Trouble: It could happen that your license key is not being recognized by the MS servers. Contact Microsoft support to assist you in rectifying the issue.

How to Fix Windows 10 Activation Error 0xc004f063

We will now present you with detailed steps to help you to easily apply the solutions that have been proven to resolve the activation trouble you are dealing with.

How to Repair Windows Activation Error 0xc004f063:

  1. Run the Windows 10 activation troubleshooter
  2. Run SFC and DISM Utilities
  3. Use the SLMGR tool to activate Windows
  4. Run the Windows compatibility troubleshooter
  5. Activate Windows by phone
  6. Contact Microsoft Support

You can apply these fixes in the order presented. By the time you are done, the Error 0xc004f063 will be resolved regardless of the culprit. Let’s get to it shall we?

Fix 1: Run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

This is the first fix you should try if you are using Windows 10. Many users were able to overcome the error 0xc004f063 after running the Activation troubleshooter and restarting their PC.

The activation troubleshooter is an automatic tool that is capable of implementing repair strategies that can lift the licensing restriction you are experiencing. Note that this built-in tool is not available in earlier versions of Windows.

Follow the easy steps below to use the activation troubleshooter:

  1. Go to the Start menu and type ‘Run’ in the search bar. Then click on the option from the search results to open the Run dialog box. Alternatively, you can use the Windows logo key + R keyboard combination.
  2. Now, type (or copy and paste) ‘ms-settings:activation’ into the text field of the Run dialog and hit Enter on your keyboard or click the OK button. Once you do, you will land on the Activation tab of the Windows Settings app.
  3. Click the ‘Troubleshoot’ link displayed at the bottom of the right pane.
  4. Wait for the tool to scan your PC for issues. Once the scan is complete and inconsistencies are found, you will be presented with a repair strategy. Click on ‘Apply this Fix.’
  5. Afterward, restart your computer.

If the error persists after running the Windows Activation Troubleshooter, please move on to the next fix.

 Fix 2: Run SFC and DISM Utilities

File system corruption is one of the main causes of the Windows Activation Error you are dealing with. Fortunately, there are some Windows built-in utilities – namely SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) – that are designed to automatically fix issues with system files.

While SFC replaces corrupt system files with copies stored in a local archive, DISM relies strongly on Windows Updates. DISM is better at finding corrupt sub-processes. SFC, on the other hand, is good at fixing logical errors. We suggest that you run both utilities to ensure that all corrupt instances get resolved.

Here’s how:

  1. Turn on your Internet connection.
  2. Open the Power-user menu (the WinX menu) by pressing the Windows logo + X combination on your keyboard.
  3. Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
  4. When the User Access Control (UAC) prompt comes up, click Yes to confirm that you want to grant admin access to the Windows Command Processor.
  5. Once in the CMD window, copy and paste (or type) the lines below. After entering the first line, press Enter to execute it before you enter the second line:
  • Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
  • Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Note:Do not include the bullets when entering the commands. Also, ensure that your Internet connection is strong enough since DISM relies on Windows Updates to obtain replacements for your corrupt files.

The ‘Scanhealth’ command analyzes your OS for inconsistences after which the ‘Restorehealth’ command initiates the repair procedure.

  1. Wait for the process to complete.
  2. Restart your PC.
  3. Open Command Prompt (Admin) again as shown in Steps 1 to 4. Once the window is open, enter the following line and hit Enter to run it:
  • sfc /scannow

Note:Make sure not to include the bullet when entering the command.

  1. Wait patiently for the scan to complete. Make sure that your computer is plugged in. It is important not to interrupt the SFC scan. Doing so can cause harm to your system. An interruption can result to various logical errors.
  2. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer and see if the OS activation error has been resolved.

Fix 3: Use the SLMGR Tool to Activate Windows

It could be that the activation key for the Windows edition that was previously on your machine is still stored in the BIOS. For instance, if you reset your Windows Home system to install Windows Pro, the activation process will keep trying to use the Windows Home key that is already available in your BIOS.

BIOS inconsistency or overwriting issues can easily be fixed by running a series of commands in an elevated command prompt. Here’s how to use the SLMGR utility:

  1. Press the Windows + X keyboard combination to open the Power-user menu.
  2. Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
  3. Confirm admin privileges by clicking the Yes button when presented with the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
  4. Once the CMD window opens, type or copy and paste the following lines and press Enter after each one:
  • slmgr /ipk <Windows Key>
  • slmgr /ato

Note:Do not include the bullet points when inputting the commands. Make sure to replace “Windows Key” in the first command with your license key.

  1. After running the commands in Step 4, close the CMD window and restart your computer. See if the problem has been successfully resolved.

If the activation of your Windows build is still throwing up an error, simply try the next fix shown below.

Fix 4: Run the Windows Compatibility Troubleshooter

Software incompatibility can lead to certain errors on your OS. You may have downloaded a program that precipitated the Windows activation error. So, what you have to do is to uninstall the app if you can identify it. However, we suggest running the compatibility troubleshooter to solve the problem. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Start menu (click the icon on your screen or press the Windows key on your keyboard).
  2. Head to the search bar and type “Run programs” (no quotes). Click the option in the search results that says, “Run programs made for previous versions of Windows.”
  3. Click the Next button to start scanning for compatibility issues.
  4. A list of incompatible apps will be presented to you. Select the one you installed recently and then click the Next button.
  5. Click the first option that says, ‘Try recommended settings.’ However, you can click the Troubleshoot Program option to choose the compatibility settings yourself.
  6. Click the Test the Program button and then click Next to confirm.
  7. After the troubleshooting process is complete, you can opt to save the settings for the program, use a different setting, or report the problem to Microsoft.

Repeat Steps 4 – 7 for all the apps that were shown to have compatibility issues. When you are done, see if you can now activate Windows. If the issue persists, please move on to the next fix.

Fix 5: Activate Windows by Phone

Users reported getting past the Activation Error 0xc004f063 when they applied this fix. You should give it a go:

  1. Open the Run dialog box. To do this, press the Windows + R keyboard combo.
  2. Type “Slui.exe 3” (no quotes) in the text area and hit Enter on your keyboard or click the OK button. It may take some time for the window to open.
  3. Enter the product key that is written on the sticker on your machine.
  4. Click the Next button and then click Ok.
  5. An invalid key error will be displayed to you. Don’t worry about it. Close the window and open the Run dialog again by pressing the Windows + R combo.
  6. Type “Slui.exe 4” (no quotes) in the text field and click the OK button.
  7. Choose your location and click Next.
  8. A phone number will be provided. Call the number to activate Windows by phone. When you do, an automated voice will respond to you. Request for the Live Activation Rep.

Fix 6: Contact Microsoft Support

If you’ve tried all of the solutions presented above without success, the option you have left is contacting Microsoft’s support team. They will be able to help you activate your OS. Keep in mind that they will ask you several security questions to confirm your ownership of the license key you are trying to use.

There you have it. We hope this guide has helped you. If you have any questions please feel free to drop them in the comments section below.

Pro Tip: To avoid encountering annoying issues on your computer, it is advisable to have a trusted maintenance tool that can automatically detect and resolve system-related issues. For this, we recommend Auslogics BoostSpeed.

BoostSpeed is a Microsoft approved software application that uses precise techniques to improve the health of your PC. It removes junk files, performs tweaks to improve speed, inspects your system registry for corruptions, and ultimately restores the stability and optimal function of your OS.