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Is Microsoft phone activation permanently gone for Office and Windows products?
Critical Update: Microsoft Permanently Retires Phone Activation
A Microsoft representative has officially confirmed the permanent discontinuation of the phone activation feature for all products, including Windows and Office. This statement removes previous uncertainty regarding the stability of the service. The shutdown became effective on December 3, 2025.
I have updated the primary article, “Microsoft Disables Phone Activation (Office, Windows, etc.),” to reflect this final policy change.
Implications for System Administrators
This transition significantly impacts deployment workflows for offline infrastructure. Administrators who previously relied on the telephone system to activate air-gapped workstations or servers with limited internet connectivity must now adopt alternative verification methods. You should immediately audit your current licensing protocols to ensure compliance with digital-only activation requirements.
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