How to Activate Windows XP in 2021
Edited September 11th 2021: Microsoft discontinued the Virtual Assistant, as such the method using the Microsoft Virtual Assistant is moved to (obsolete). This article has been updated to show activation of Windows XP using activation link provided from “Smart Phone” call to Microsoft.
Updated September 2021
How to activate windows XP in 2021 – these steps were used to Activate Windows XP on a VirtualBox / VMWare instance of Windows XP Professional SP2 x64. The guide below only shows how to do it with Virtual Box. This also works on any virtualization platform such as VMware.
These steps worked to activate Windows XP. There is no funny business here, no registry key changes/manipulation, no re-executing trial activations, no downloads from questionable sources.
This does require that you have a genuine product key.
Having trouble with P2V of an existing Windows XP Machine? Check out the guide here.
Step 1 – Start up your Windows XP Virtual Machine
Go ahead and boot up your Windows XP machine. It will take a few minutes after powering on the Windows XP machine before the activation prompt will pop up near the toolbar. Some Windows XP versions also have an “Activate Windows” application in the start up menu.
If you can’t even get to this step and stuck outside of the desktop you are probably in the “Activation Loop”. Read the end of the post here on how to get out of it while you are trying to activate.
Once the “Activate Windows” window is opened, select the “Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows” option. This will generate your Installation ID. You will need this Installation ID later.
Step 2 – Check Product Key
If you go to “Change Product Key” and its blank or set to XJM6Q-BQ8HW-T6DFB-Y934T-YD4YT, you need to enter your genuine product key otherwise the activation will not work. If you “Change Product Key” and the Activate Windows accepts this change, this is a good sign activation will work.
Step 3 –
Get the support phone number. For me (USA region) the number was (888) 571-2048.
Step 4 – Call the number from a Smart Phone
Call the number for your region and go through the automated prompts and agree for the automated system to continue activation through sending a text message to your smart phone. Once you get the text message you can hang up.
Go to the link (either on your phone or your computer – either one will work) and continue the activation.
Select the proper number of digits (for Windows XP activation it is 7-digits).
Enter the Installation ID and click submit.
Enter in this code into your Windows XP machine and you are done – permanently activated.
Obsolete: Microsoft removed the virtual assistant sometime middle of 2021. This is here just as a reference incase the Virtual Assistant is brought back.
How to activate windows XP in 2021 – these steps were used to Activate Windows XP on a VirtualBox / VMWare instance of Windows XP Professional SP2 x64. The guide below only shows how to do it with Virtual Box. This also works on any virtualization platform such as VMware.
These steps worked to activate Windows XP. There is no funny business here, no registry key changes/manipulation, no re-executing trial activations, no downloads from questionable sources.
This does require that you have a genuine product key.
Having trouble with P2V of an existing Windows XP Machine? Check out the guide here.
Step 1 – Start up your Windows XP Virtual Machine
Go ahead and boot up your Windows XP machine. It will take a few minutes after powering on the Windows XP machine before the activation prompt will pop up near the toolbar. Some Windows XP versions also have an “Activate Windows” application in the start up menu.
If you can’t even get to this step and stuck outside of the desktop you are probably in the “Activation Loop”. Read the end of the post here on how to get out of it while you are trying to activate.
Once the “Activate Windows” window is opened, select the “Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows” option. This will generate your Installation ID. You will need this Installation ID later.
Step 2 – Check Product Key
If you go to “Change Product Key” and its blank or set to XJM6Q-BQ8HW-T6DFB-Y934T-YD4YT, you need to enter your genuine product key otherwise the activation will not work. If you “Change Product Key” and the Activate Windows accepts this change, this is a good sign activation will work.
Step 3 – Go to the Microsoft Website on a Different Computer Connected to the Internet (Such as your Host Machine)
You will need to go to this Microsoft page: https://support.microsoft.com/contactus and and select “Contact Support in the browser instead”. Windows XP will not be able to access the internet page because it is so old, but you can access this website from any other computer or even your phone.
Step 4 – Continue Activation through the Virtual Assistant
The Virtual Agent will greet you with “I’m the Microsoft Virtual Agent. I’d love to help you. Please briefly describe your issue below.”
This is where you type “Activate Windows XP”
The Virtual Agent will mention something about support ending April 8th, 2014 and then asks if you want to activate Online or by phone. SELECT ONLINE
The Virtual Agent will say something about your device being connected to the internet but it doesn’t matter – select CONTINUE
The Virtual Agent will then ask you if you installed this copy of Windows on any other PCs or devices – you can select NO.
After selecting NO the Virtual Assistant will then give you steps to find your Installation ID but these steps are not needed, ignore these steps in the Virtual Assistant.
When the Virtual Agent asks if you found the Installation ID say YES.
Enter in the Installation ID for your Windows XP machine.
The Virtual Agent will say that you need to login, after you login you will get your activation code if you had a genuine product key in the VM.
Enter in this code into your Windows XP machine and you are done – permanently activated.
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The link to access the virtual agent is not working anymore, there is no “contatc support in browser” link. But the direct link https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/virtual-agent/ gets me there, and your instructions works! Thanks!
I’ve been messing wiith registry edits that are supposed to keep windows xp activated, but it just doesn’t work, you are suddenly locked out, and I need a working windows xp virtual machine for outdated auto repair tools.
Hi NgZ glad to hear this worked for you. You are right I think if accessing this on a mobile device the prompt is a little different. I will update the guide accordingly! Appreciate the feedback – svi.
Worked like a charm. Thx to NGZ too.
Worked like a charm. THX
The following link “https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/virtual-agent/ ” doesn’t seem to work anymore either. Any recomendations?
Looks like Microsoft took down the virtual agent entirely. Did you try phone activation option? If you call Microsoft activation phone number they used to offer activating on a smartphone by texting you a link.
Edited September 11th 2021: I updated the post with the phone activation option. I just tested it and it is working.
Die telefonische Aktivierung mit dem Handy, Sprachcomputer von Microsoft ist verständlich, hat mit Win XP auf anhieb geklappt. Auswahl mit SMS aufs Handy Daten eingeben und schon war XP aktiviert. Danke für die Anweisung.
Works great, thanks. Won’t bore you with details … saved me money and eliminated frustration. Thanks again.
orig site is down and no option to activate at new link.
Any other suggestions?
Are you using the link Microsoft sends you directly to your smartphone or the one I have shown in the screenshot? The one in the article is probably expired.