Microsoft confirms it’s killing offline phone-based activation method for Windows 11 after 20+ years

In a statement to Windows Latest, Microsoft confirmed that it retired the traditional Windows “telephone-based” activation method, which truly worked offline. With a telephone-based approach, you could call Microsoft’s activation phone number, and the automated process would activate your Windows or Office license. Now, this method has been retired.

I’m told the company retired the Windows or Office phone-based activation method as part of the efforts to modernize the ‘activation experience.’ If you want to activate Windows 11 or Office today, the easiest way is to link your license to a Microsoft account, which will automatically verify the product.

You can find out how your Windows is activated from Settings > System > Activation, and then tap on ‘Activation state.’ In my case and in most cases, it’s activated using a digital license linked to a Microsoft account.”

Phone-based activation no longer works

Microsoft retired the…