Solved: How to reset and extend Windows trial period up to one year

If you want to use Windows without activating it, you can do so for a limited time by using a trial period. However, the trial period will expire after a certain number of days, and you will need to activate Windows to continue using it. In this article, you will learn how to reset or extend the Windows trial period without activation, using some simple methods and commands.

Problem

You can download the trial copy of any full-fledged Windows OS version from the Microsoft official website. This trial copy of Windows is only valid for certain periods such as Windows has a 90-day enterprise trial and Windows Server 2019 has a 180-day free trial. You can skip the product key screen to continue installing the Windows for evaluation purposes. After the Windows installation is completed, you can use it until the trial expired. If your trial has expired, you can follow the steps in this article to reset and extend the trial period up to one year before you’ve decided whether to buy a product key.

This article will show you the steps to reset and extend the expired Windows trial period using a simple command prompt to expend trial for 90 days and a small tweak to the registry key called SkipReam to extend the trial for another 240 days. The method described below is valid for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows including Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, Windows Server 2019. 2016, 2012, 2008, and the latest.

What is Windows Trial Period?

Windows trial period is a feature that allows you to use Windows without activating it with a product key for a limited time. The trial period varies depending on the version of Windows you are using. For example, Windows 10 has a trial period of 30 days, while Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 have a trial period of 90 days.

The trial period is designed to let you test the features and performance of Windows before you decide to buy it. However, if you do not activate Windows within the trial period, you will face some limitations and restrictions. For instance, you will see a watermark on the bottom right corner of the screen, saying “Activate Windows – Go to Settings to activate Windows”. You will also receive periodic reminders to activate Windows, and you will not be able to personalize your settings, such as changing the wallpaper, theme, or colors.

How to Check Windows Trial Period Remaining?

To check how many days are left in your Windows trial period, you can use a simple command in the Command Prompt. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt, type slmgr -xpr and press Enter.
4. A pop-up window will appear, showing you the expiration date of your Windows trial period.

Alternatively, you can also use the following command to check the detailed information about your Windows activation status:

1. In the Command Prompt, type slmgr -dlv and press Enter.
2. A pop-up window will appear, showing you the activation ID, installation ID, partial product key, license status, and other details.

Solution: Reset and Extend Windows Trial Period

Step 1: Type cmd in the search field.

Step 2: Right-click the entry for Command Prompt, and select the Run as administrator option.

Step 3: Type slmgr –rearm or slmgr.vbs /rearm at the Command Prompt then press the Enter key.

Step 4: A message window will prompt to inform you that the command has been completed successfully. You will be asked to restart your Windows.

Step 5: Restart your Windows then you can use it for another 90 days for the free trial period.

Step 6: Follow the same steps 3 times on the last day trial expire to get 90 days (3 × 30 days = 90 days) usage.

Warning: You have to execute this command only on the last day of the trial period because you can’t execute that command more than three times.

Note: You can check how many days are left in trial period by running slmgr -dli or slmgr.vbs -dli in the Command Prompt. Or you can use the command slmgr -xpr or slmgr.vbs -xpr.

Step 7: After 90 days trial period expired, perform the following steps to get additional 240 days trial period.

Step 8: Press Windows key + R to open a Run box.

Step 9: Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. If the UAC (User Account Control) prompt, click Yes to grant admin access.

Step 10: Navigate to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

Step 11: In the right pane, look for a dword 32-bit registry key called SkipRearm.

Step 12: Double-click on the SkipRearm registry key and change its value to 1.

Step 13: Press the OK button.

Step 14: Restart your Windowsou and now you can reset the Windows OS trial period eight more times (8 × 30 days = 240 days).

When the first install, you get 30 days trial period, then apply command for 3 times to get 90 more days trial period, and then after you apply the registry tweak, you will be allowed to apply the command again for another 8 times to reset and extend the Windows trial period to exactly 360 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Is it legal to use Windows without activation?

Answer: According to the Microsoft Software License Terms, you are allowed to use Windows without activation for the duration of the trial period. However, after the trial period expires, you are required to activate Windows with a valid product key. If you do not activate Windows, you will be violating the license terms and you may face legal consequences.

Question: What are the disadvantages of using Windows without activation?

Answer: If you use Windows without activation, you will face some limitations and restrictions, such as:

• You will see a watermark on the bottom right corner of the screen, saying “Activate Windows – Go to Settings to activate Windows”.
• You will receive periodic reminders to activate Windows, and you will not be able to access some features and settings.
• You will not be able to receive updates and security patches from Microsoft, which may expose your system to vulnerabilities and threats.
• You will not be able to use some Microsoft services and apps, such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Skype, etc.
• You will not be able to get technical support from Microsoft or its partners.

Question: How can I activate Windows with a product key?

Answer: If you have a valid product key for your Windows edition, you can activate Windows by following these steps:

1. Press Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
2. Click on Update & Security and then click on Activation.
3. Click on Change product key and enter your product key.
4. Click on Next and follow the instructions to complete the activation process.

Alternatively, you can also activate Windows by using the following command in the Command Prompt:

1. In the Command Prompt, type slmgr -ipk <your product key> and press Enter.
2. You will see a message saying “Installed product key <your product key> successfully”.
3. Restart your computer and check the activation status using the slmgr -xpr command.

Summary

In this article, you learned how to reset or extend the Windows trial period without activation, using some simple methods and commands. You also learned how to check the Windows trial period remaining, how to activate Windows with a product key, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using Windows without activation. By using these methods, you can use Windows for a longer time without activating it, but you should be aware of the legal and technical implications of doing so.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. We do not encourage or condone the use of Windows without activation or the violation of the Microsoft Software License Terms. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following the methods and commands described in this article. Use them at your own risk.