How to Remove the “Activate Windows” Watermark (Permanently and Temporarily)

Seeing the “Activate Windows” watermark on your desktop can be annoying. It serves as a persistent reminder that your Windows installation hasn’t been properly activated. While it doesn’t severely limit functionality, it can be distracting and potentially hide parts of your screen. This comprehensive guide will walk you through several methods to remove the “Activate Windows” watermark, both temporarily and permanently. We’ll cover various approaches, from simple registry edits to more robust solutions like using the command prompt and even activating Windows legally.

Understanding the “Activate Windows” Watermark

The “Activate Windows” watermark appears when your Windows operating system hasn’t been activated using a valid product key. This usually happens in the following scenarios:

* **You recently installed Windows:** After installing Windows, you have a limited time (typically 30 days) to activate it. If you don’t activate it within this period, the watermark will appear.
* **Your product key is invalid:** If you used an incorrect or invalid product key during installation, Windows won’t activate and the watermark will be displayed.
* **Hardware changes:** Significant hardware changes to your computer, such as replacing the motherboard or hard drive, can sometimes trigger the activation process again.
* **Licensing issues:** Problems with your Windows license, such as it being revoked or used on too many computers, can also cause the watermark to appear.
* **Using a Volume License Key on a Single Machine:** Volume License keys are designed for organizations and not individual consumer use. Using these keys on a single machine will cause activation issues that will eventually trigger the watermark.

Before You Begin: Important Considerations

Before attempting any of the methods below, consider these important points:

* **Legal Activation is Best:** The most legitimate and recommended way to remove the watermark is to activate Windows with a valid product key. This ensures you have a genuine license and receive all the benefits of a fully activated operating system, including updates and support.
* **Back Up Your Registry:** Before making any changes to the Windows Registry, create a backup. This allows you to restore the registry to its previous state if something goes wrong. Instructions for backing up the registry are provided below.
* **Be Careful with Registry Edits:** Incorrectly editing the registry can cause serious problems with your system. Follow the instructions carefully and double-check everything before saving.
* **Third-Party Tools:** Some websites offer tools to remove the “Activate Windows” watermark. Be extremely cautious when using such tools, as they may contain malware or other harmful software. Only download software from trusted sources.
* **Ethical Considerations:** Using methods to bypass activation without a valid license may violate the terms of service and copyright laws. Ensure you are aware of the legal implications before proceeding.

Method 1: Activate Windows with a Valid Product Key

This is the recommended and most reliable solution. If you have a valid product key, follow these steps to activate Windows:

1. **Find Your Product Key:** Locate your Windows product key. It may be on a sticker on your computer, in an email confirmation from when you purchased Windows, or in your Microsoft account if you upgraded from a previous version.
2. **Open the Activation Settings:**
* Click the **Start** button.
* Type **Activation settings** and press **Enter**.
3. **Enter Your Product Key:**
* In the Activation settings window, click **Change product key**.
* Enter your 25-character product key and click **Next**.
4. **Activate Windows:**
* Follow the on-screen instructions to activate Windows. You may need to connect to the internet.

Once Windows is activated, the “Activate Windows” watermark should disappear, and you’ll have full access to all features and updates.

Method 2: Using the Registry Editor (Temporary Solution)

This method temporarily removes the watermark by modifying the Windows Registry. It’s important to note that this is a temporary fix, and the watermark may reappear after a system restart or update. It’s crucial to **back up your registry** before proceeding.

**Step 1: Back Up Your Registry**

1. Press **Windows key + R** to open the **Run** dialog box.
2. Type **regedit** and press **Enter** to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, click **File** and then select **Export**.
4. Choose a location to save the backup file (e.g., your desktop) and give it a descriptive name (e.g., “RegistryBackup”).
5. In the “Export range” section, make sure “All” is selected.
6. Click **Save**.

Now you have a backup of your registry that you can restore if something goes wrong.

**Step 2: Modify the Registry**

1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
`HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop`
2. In the right pane, look for a value named **PaintDesktopVersion**.
* If the value exists, double-click it.
* If the value doesn’t exist, right-click in the right pane, select **New**, and then click **DWORD (32-bit) Value**. Name the new value **PaintDesktopVersion**.
3. Set the **Value data** to **0** (zero).
4. Click **OK**.
5. Close the Registry Editor.

**Step 3: Restart Your Computer**

Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. After the restart, the “Activate Windows” watermark should be gone. Remember that this is a temporary solution.

Method 3: Using the Command Prompt (Temporary Solution)

This method involves using the Command Prompt to stop and restart the Explorer process, which can temporarily remove the watermark. Like the registry edit, this is a temporary fix.

1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:**
* Click the **Start** button.
* Type **cmd** or **command prompt**.
* Right-click on **Command Prompt** in the search results and select **Run as administrator**.
2. **Stop the Explorer Process:**
* In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press **Enter**:
`taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe`
* This command forcefully closes the Explorer process, which manages the Windows desktop and taskbar. Your screen will go blank temporarily.
3. **Restart the Explorer Process:**
* In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command and press **Enter**:
`start explorer.exe`
* This command restarts the Explorer process, restoring your desktop and taskbar.

After restarting the Explorer process, the “Activate Windows” watermark should temporarily disappear. Keep in mind that this is a temporary fix, and the watermark may return after a while.

Method 4: Using the Services Application (Less Common, Temporary)

This method involves restarting the Windows Explorer service from the Services application. This is another temporary fix that may not work for everyone.

1. **Open the Services Application:**
* Press **Windows key + R** to open the **Run** dialog box.
* Type **services.msc** and press **Enter**.
2. **Locate the Windows Explorer Service:**
* In the Services window, scroll down and find the service named **Windows Explorer**.
3. **Restart the Service:**
* Right-click on **Windows Explorer** and select **Restart**.

After restarting the service, the “Activate Windows” watermark might disappear temporarily.

Method 5: Uninstalling Update KB971033 (Potentially Risky, Use with Caution)

This method involves uninstalling a specific Windows update (KB971033) that is known to be associated with activation issues. **This method is generally not recommended** because removing security updates can leave your system vulnerable to security threats. Use this method only as a last resort and at your own risk.

**Important:** Before proceeding, make sure you understand the risks involved in uninstalling updates. Consider backing up your system before attempting this method.

1. **Open Control Panel:**
* Click the **Start** button.
* Type **Control Panel** and press **Enter**.
2. **Go to Programs and Features:**
* In Control Panel, click on **Programs**.
* Under **Programs and Features**, click on **View installed updates**.
3. **Find and Uninstall KB971033:**
* In the list of installed updates, locate the update named **Update for Microsoft Windows (KB971033)**.
* Right-click on the update and select **Uninstall**.
* Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the update. You may need to restart your computer.

After uninstalling the update, the “Activate Windows” watermark might disappear. However, remember that this method is not recommended due to security risks.

Method 6: Using a Third-Party Activation Script (HIGHLY DISCOURAGED, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS)

There are numerous third-party activation scripts and tools available online that claim to permanently remove the “Activate Windows” watermark. **Using these tools is strongly discouraged** because they often contain malware, viruses, or other harmful software that can compromise your system’s security and privacy.

Furthermore, using these tools to bypass activation is often illegal and violates the terms of service of Microsoft Windows. It’s always best to activate Windows legally with a valid product key.

If you choose to use a third-party activation script despite the risks, make sure you download it from a trusted source and scan it with a reputable antivirus program before running it. However, even with these precautions, there is still a significant risk involved.

Method 7: Editing Group Policy Editor (Applicable to Certain Windows Versions)

This method is applicable to some versions of Windows, particularly Pro and Enterprise editions. It involves configuring settings in the Group Policy Editor to prevent the watermark from appearing. This method is often more persistent than simple registry tweaks but still doesn’t constitute a proper activation.

1. **Open Group Policy Editor**

* Press `Windows Key + R` to open the Run dialog box.
* Type `gpedit.msc` and press Enter.

2. **Navigate to the Licensing Settings**

* In the Group Policy Editor, navigate through the following path:
`Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Software Licensing`

3. **Edit the Settings**

* In the right pane, look for the setting: `Display Notification for Genuine Microsoft Software`. Double-click on it.
* A window will open for editing this policy. Select `Disabled`.
* Click `Apply` and then `OK`.

4. **Restart the Computer**

* Restart your computer to apply the changes. After the restart, the watermark should be gone.

**Important Notes:**

* This method does not genuinely activate Windows.
* The watermark might reappear after some time or after Windows updates.
* This method might not work on all versions of Windows.

Method 8: Extending the Trial Period (Temporary and Limited)

Windows offers a trial period during which you can use the operating system without activation. While not recommended as a permanent solution, you can sometimes extend this trial period using the command prompt, which will temporarily remove the watermark.

1. **Open an Elevated Command Prompt:**

* Search for `cmd` in the Start menu.
* Right-click on `Command Prompt` and select `Run as administrator`.

2. **Run the Command:**

* In the command prompt window, type the following command and press `Enter`:
`slmgr /rearm`

* This command extends the trial period. A message box will appear indicating that the command was successful and that you need to restart your computer.

3. **Restart Your Computer:**

* Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

**Limitations:**

* You can only run the `slmgr /rearm` command a limited number of times. The number of times varies depending on the Windows version.
* This method only extends the trial period, after which you will eventually need to activate Windows.
* The watermark will reappear once the extended trial period expires.

Method 9: Reinstalling Windows (Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, and you suspect a problem with your Windows installation, you can try reinstalling Windows. This is a drastic step, but it can sometimes resolve activation issues that are caused by corrupted system files or other underlying problems.

**Important:** Before reinstalling Windows, back up all your important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. Reinstalling Windows will erase all data on your hard drive.

1. **Download the Windows Installation Media:**

* Go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
* Run the tool and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive or DVD with the Windows installation files.

2. **Boot from the Installation Media:**

* Insert the USB drive or DVD into your computer.
* Restart your computer and boot from the installation media. You may need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings to do this. Refer to your computer’s manual for instructions on how to change the boot order.

3. **Follow the On-Screen Instructions:**

* Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows. You will be prompted to enter your product key during the installation process. If you don’t have a product key, you can skip this step and activate Windows later.

4. **Activate Windows After Installation:**

* After Windows is reinstalled, activate it using a valid product key. This will remove the “Activate Windows” watermark and ensure that you have a genuine copy of Windows.

Conclusion

Removing the “Activate Windows” watermark can be achieved through various methods, ranging from legitimate activation with a valid product key to temporary workarounds. While temporary solutions might offer immediate relief, they are not permanent and the watermark will likely reappear. The best and most recommended approach is to activate Windows with a valid product key, ensuring that you have a genuine license and receive all the benefits of a fully activated operating system.

Remember to exercise caution when using third-party tools or making changes to the Windows Registry. Always back up your system before making any major changes, and only download software from trusted sources. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to effectively remove the “Activate Windows” watermark and enjoy a clean and uninterrupted Windows experience.