Buzz
This article from Mytour will show you how to temporarily disable the watermark and notifications related to Windows activation. While you can change the settings in the Services menu or tweak the Windows Registry to temporarily disable them, activating Windows remains the only way to completely stop these notifications.
Steps
Using Services
Type services in the Start menu to search for the Services app, which allows you to manage system processes running on your computer.
Click on the Services. This is the gear icon located at the top of the Start window. The Services window will appear shortly.
Scroll down and click on Software Protection. This service is located under the "S" section of the window.
- On some computers, this may appear as sppsvc instead of Software Protection.
Click on the "Properties" icon. It is the folder icon located just below the View tab in the top left of the window. A new window will pop up.
Click the Stop button in the center-left of the window to stop the Software Protection service.
- If the button is greyed out, you will need to use the Registry.
Click the OK button at the bottom of the window. Windows activation will be disabled until the computer is restarted or updated, at which point you will need to disable it again.
Using the Registry Editor
Type regedit in the Start menu to search for the Registry Editor command window.
Click on regedit. This will be a collection of blue blocks at the top of the Start window.
Click Yes (Agree) when prompted to open the Registry Editor window.
Expand the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder.
- If there is an indented column directly below "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", it means the folder has already been expanded.
Expand the "SYSTEM" folder (System), which is near the end of the subfolder list under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE".
Expand the "CurrentControlSet" folder.
Expand the "Services" folder. A long list of subfolders will appear.
Scroll down and select the "sppsvc" folder. The contents of the folder will then be displayed on the right side of the window.
Select the "Start" file located near the bottom of the file list on the right side of the window.
Click on the Edit tab located near the top left corner of the Registry window. A dropdown menu will appear.
Click on Modify at the top of the dropdown menu. A new window will pop up.
Type 4 into the window. This change will disable the activation notifications.
Click OK at the bottom of the window. The activation process will be disabled until the computer is updated or restarted, at which point you will need to disable it again.
Activate your Windows system.
Click on the Update & Security (Update & Security) tab. This option is located at the bottom of the Settings window, represented by a circular icon formed by two curved arrows.
Click on the Activation tab on the left side of the window.
Activate your Windows copy. Depending on whether you need to purchase an activation key or if you've upgraded for free from another computer, choose one of the following options:
- Free Upgrade – Click Troubleshoot, enter your Microsoft email and password when prompted, then click Activate Windows followed by Activate when asked.
- Purchase Key – Click Go to store, select the Buy button under the Windows version you want, and enter your payment details.
Restart your computer.Begin
Power
RebootAdvice
- The paid version of Windows offers significantly more customization options compared to the free trial version.
Warning
- Avoid using software that claims to permanently disable Windows activation notifications: these are often harmful to your computer (and even if they're not, they're still illegal).
