Windows Activation Error 0x80070057
Unable to activate Windows 10
After trying to upgrade my clients computer from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, I received the Unable to Activate Windows error 0x80070057. Many sites online state to reboot your computer and try again (this did not work for me). I also found that even if I used a different Windows 10 Pro key, it would not work. Some technicians stated to set my region in the Microsoft Account then reboot the computer and try the key again. This still did not work.
I realized that my client was logged into the machine using a Microsoft account. I logged into their Microsoft Account and removed the computer from the Devices List. I’m not sure this step was necessary. I would skip this step first and see if you are successful by following the rest of the process. The reason is due to not being able to add the device back to the Microsoft Account afterwards.
The next thing I did was to create a local administrator account. You can do this by going to “Settings”, then select “Accounts”, then choose “Family & Other Users”. From there, click on the “+” symbol under Other users to ADD SOMEONE ELSE TO THIS PC. Then the Microsoft Account popup will show and choose “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”. Then it will go to the next screen where you select “Add a user without a Microsoft account”. Enter the name of the account you want to create, select a password, then answer 3 security questions. It will setup a user BUT make sure to change the ACCOUNT TYPE from Local User to ADMINISTRATOR.
Next you right click on the Start Menu and select Sign Out. Then login with the new Administrator Account you just created. The computer will go through the process of setting up your desktop. Log back in and go back under ABOUT PC option and select to change windows key. Enter your Windows 10 Pro key and then select ACTIVATE. The process will continue and show that your computer is now activated.
Tags: 0x80070057, Activate Windows, Windows 10 activation error