Windows activation error 0xC004C060, "The product key is no longer valid"

This code means the activation server says the product key can no longer be used to activate Windows. Microsoft groups it with the family of codes where a key cannot activate the installed edition, or where the key was revoked. It is most common with volume keys that were sold on as retail keys, and with keys bought cheaply from unauthorized sellers.

The fix, in order

  1. Check the key was typed correctly. A product key has 25 characters in five groups. Watch for lookalike characters, such as B and 8, or O and 0, and re-enter it at Settings > System > Activation > Change product key.
  2. Confirm the key matches the installed edition. A Home key will not activate Pro, and a Pro key will not activate Home. Check the installed edition at Settings > System > About.
  3. Run the Activation troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Activation and select Troubleshoot. On Windows 11 it can also be started from the Get Help app.
  4. Contact the seller or the PC maker. If you bought the key, contact the store or seller with your order details and ask for a replacement or a refund. If the key came with the PC, contact the manufacturer.
  5. Use a different valid key, or buy a digital license. Enter a replacement key through Change product key, or select Go to Microsoft Store on the Activation page to buy a digital license for the installed edition.
  6. Check the license status, then retry. In an admin Command Prompt, run slmgr.vbs /dlv to confirm the edition and the partial key on record, then slmgr.vbs /ato to try activating again after entering a new key.
Do not buy another cheap key from the same kind of seller, and never use an activator, loader, or crack. Those are the usual source of this code, and a second key from the same place is likely to fail the same way. Buy from the Microsoft Store or an authorized retailer instead.

If it still happens

If the troubleshooter and a correctly typed, edition-matched key still fail, the key itself is the problem and no local fix can revive it. Contact Microsoft Support through the Get Help app or support.microsoft.com, with your proof of purchase ready, and ask them to check the key status before you spend money on a replacement.

Common questions

What is the difference between 0xC004C060 and 0xC004C003? Both mean the activation server refused the key. 0xC004C003 means the key is blocked, and 0xC004C060 means the key is no longer valid for activation. The fix is the same in both cases: a different valid key or a digital license from the Microsoft Store.

Can Microsoft unblock my key? Microsoft Support can check the status of a key bought from Microsoft or an authorized retailer. Keys bought from unauthorized sellers usually cannot be restored, so the seller is the one to contact for a replacement or refund.

Why did a key that worked before stop working? A volume or misused key can work briefly and then be revoked once Microsoft detects the misuse. That is why a PC can activate fine at first and fail with this code weeks or months later.

Related errors

Windows activation error 0xC004C003 · Windows activation error 0x803F7001 · Windows activation error 0xC004F074 · Windows Update error 0x80070005

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