"Your Windows License Will Expire Soon" — Is This Real or a Scam?
A pop-up warning that your Windows license is expiring can be either a real Windows notification or a scam. Here's how to tell the difference and what to do either way.
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Seeing a warning about your Windows license expiring is unsettling, but before you do anything, you need to establish whether it's genuine. Scammers use fake license-expiry pop-ups to trick people into calling fake support numbers or paying for unnecessary software.
How to Tell If It's Real
A legitimate Windows license expiry warning comes from one place: the Windows Settings app or a small notification in the system tray. Check your actual activation status right now:
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Activation.
If it shows Active with no expiry warning, your license is fine and the message you saw was almost certainly fake.
When Windows Licenses Actually Expire
Standard Windows 10 and 11 Home, Pro, and Education licenses that you purchased or that came with your PC do not expire. They are permanent.
Licenses that can expire include:
- Windows Insider Preview builds (preview versions expire after a set time)
- Enterprise licenses managed by a business or school IT department
- Trial or evaluation copies of Windows
- KMS-activated copies in corporate environments (require periodic renewal)
If you're on a home or personally-owned PC and you're not running a preview build, your license should be permanent.
Dealing With Fake Expiry Pop-ups
If the warning appeared as a browser pop-up or a notification from a third-party app, it is a scam. Do not call any phone number shown. Do not click any links in the message.
- Close your browser entirely (Alt + F4) or force-close it in Task Manager.
- Run a scan with Windows Defender (search for Windows Security in the Start menu, go to Virus & threat protection > Quick scan).
- Check your installed programs in Settings > Apps for anything unfamiliar and remove it.
If Your License Is Genuinely Not Activated
Go to Settings > System > Activation and use the built-in Troubleshoot button, or see our guide on fixing Windows activation errors.
Frequently asked questions
My PC is managed by my workplace and it says the license will expire in 30 days. What should I do?
This is likely a genuine KMS (corporate) license that needs renewal. Contact your IT department — this is something they manage centrally and can fix remotely in minutes. Do not try to enter your own product key on a work-managed PC, as it may be enrolled in a volume licensing agreement.
I called the number on the pop-up before I knew it was a scam. What should I do now?
If you gave them access to your PC via remote-access software (like TeamViewer or AnyDesk), change your passwords immediately from a different device — especially email, banking, and Microsoft account passwords. Run a full scan with Windows Defender and consider running Malwarebytes (the free version) as well. If you gave them payment information, contact your bank to dispute the charge and watch for fraud.
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