KMSPico activates Windows and Office and everyone knows it. But not many people know that it works even with the latest Windows 11 builds, backs up licences, can be run from a flash drive and can automatically renew activation every 180 days in silent mode.
In this review I’ll show all real features of the tool, including the ones that usually remain behind the scenes. No myths or empty talk – just facts, a safe official kms download link and a clarification of what exactly you get. This’ll be useful for both newbies and those who’re sure they already know everything about KMSPico.

This activator’s gone through a long way and proven its effectiveness over the years of use. Today, it’s not just an activation utility, but a multifunctional tool which remains in demand. Let’s explore how it appeared, what it can do now and who can benefit from it.
Operating System | Win 11/10/8/7 (64-32) |
Disk Space | ~ 80 MB |
Memory (RAM) | ~ 512 MB |
History of KMSPico
In 2007, Microsoft introduced KMS (Key Management Service) technology for mass activation of products via local servers without the need to enter a key on each PC. One of the first products with KMS support was the popular Win 7. In 2012, a team of TeamDaz enthusiasts created KMSPico which is a tool that emulates a local KMS server on an ordinary PC for Windows and Office activation.
KMSPico is written in C#, a language closely related to Windows allowing the program to work directly with system services without complex interference or hacks. Thus, it provides stability and compatibility with different OS versions.
For regular users, KMSPico has become a simple and effective solution. Without key selection or changes in system files, the utility creates a virtual KMS server which Microsoft products interact with for licence verification. Although KMSPico wasn’t the first KMS-based activator, it quickly became one of the most popular ones thanks to its user-friendly and reliable nature.
Program versions
TeamDaz doesn’t publish official changelogs for its versions of KMSPico. It means the exact information about added features or bug fixes in each version isn’t available. But having spent some time, I managed to collect some information about the versions from open sources.
Year | Version | Key changes and features |
---|---|---|
2012 | 1.0 | First release. Basic KMS emulation. Support for Win 7, Office 2010. |
2013 | 2.x | Win 8 and Office 2013 support was added. |
2014 | 5.x | The option of background activation without windows was added. |
2015 | 7.x | Win 10 support was added. Automatic renewal every 180 days. |
2016 | 8.x | Circumvention of the new WAT mechanism for licence verification. |
2017 | 9.x | Backup and restore licence functions were added. |
2018 | 10.0 | Office 2016 support. Support for portable launch from USB drive. |
2020 | 10.2 | The option to run in full ‘invisibility’ mode appeared. |
2021 | 10.3 | Office 2019 and Windows 10 21H2 support. |
2022 | 11.0 | Full compatibility with Windows 11. |
2023 | 11.1 | Automatic detection of Windows and Office versions before activation. |
2024 | 11.2 | Office 2021 and Windows 11 23H2 support. |
2025 | 11.2.1 | Windows 11 24H2 support and Office 2024 |
The latest version of activator 11.2.1 is available for download in this article. How to define which version you need? It’s all logical, download the latest version and you won’t get it wrong.
Simple Launch of KMSPico and Fast Windows Activation
How to use this Windows and Office activator? There’s a step-by-step instruction below to understand how activation via KMSPico works. All actions are described for educational purposes. It’s worth noting the activation instructions for Windows and Office are the same, so there’s no point in duplicating the information.
Check Windows or Office Compatibility Before Activation
Before activating Windows or Office with KMSPico, make sure your version is supported. Our online checker analyzes up-to-date information and shows results instantly – it only takes seconds
How to check:
- Find your Windows version (Win + R → type “winver” → Enter) or Office version (open Word/Excel → File → Account).
- Enter it in our checker and click “Check Compatibility”.
- If your system is compatible – proceed with activation. If not – use an alternative method.
This saves you time from manual searching. Just enter your details and get a clear answer! KMSPico might not work with some Windows builds or enterprise versions. If your system isn’t supported, leave us a comment – we’ll help find a solution!
Illustrated activation instructions
- Download the archive with kms activator from the mirror directly or from your verified source. A verified link to the latest version 11.2.1 is available on this page. If you have any doubt about the source where you downloaded the program, it’s not recommended to run it.
KMSpico archive in the Downloads folder with password shown in the file name - If for some reason you can’t disable antivirus, then run the KMSpico.exe file without unpacking it from the archive. A password from the archive is often written in the name of the archive or in the text file that’s in the archive. If you want to extract the tool to your desktop for example, you’d better disable Windows Defender or similar antivirus software for a while. Antiviruses may react to activators based on signatures, even if the file isn’t dangerous.
Real-time protection in Windows Defender turned off temporarily in security settings - If the previous steps went smoothly, then we move on to the main feature of the tool – Windows or Office Activation. After launching the interface is very simple! The program determines by itself which Microsoft product needs activating. You just need to click the ‘RUN ACTIVATOR’ button. After several seconds the tool will install and configure kms server on your PC and the activation ends.
Main activation button in KMS pico used to license both Windows and Office with one click - Check the result of our actions. To do this, I’ll give a simple example of how to check the operating system status through the Command Prompt. Press the keyboard shortcut ‘Win + R‘ then in the form that appears enter ‘cmd‘ and press ‘Enter‘. A Command Prompt will appear in front of you, copy the unquoted text ‘slmgr /xpr‘ and press ‘Enter’ and you’ll see your system’s activation status.
Windows successfully activated via KMS with 180-day license status confirmed in the command line
Additional Program Features
KMSPico can do more than just activation. There’re hidden features inside that many people don’t even realise! Key backup, editing of the version of Windows/Office edition, their status check and so on. Let’s explore what else this smart program can do.
Backup of Windows and Office Licences With Activator
Key backup is the process of saving a backup tokens.txt file which confirms legal activation of Windows operating system or Microsoft Office products. This data contains information about the current licence status allowing you to restore the programs’ status without re-entering keys. It’s particularly useful in case of system reinstallation, configuration changes or other unforeseen situations like loss of key code.

When do you need backup?
- Before changing Windows edition (e.g. from Pro to Enterprise), to roll back in case of errors.
- When reinstalling or restoring the system.
- To protect your Microsoft Office licence, in the event of an operating system crash or reinstallation.
- Before experimenting with different activation methods.
Backup is very simple. You need to go to the ‘Tokens’ tab and click on the ‘Backup’ button as shown on the screenshot. Then a dialogue box will appear to save the tokens.txt file. It’s your token file. Keep it safely.
Restoring the licence state is done in the same way, except that you need to click the next button and select your token file.
Changing the Microsoft Products Edition
Changing a key allows you to switch to a different Windows edition, for example, from Home to Enterprise. It’s useful if the current edition doesn’t support KMS activation. For instance, the Enterprise edition has full KMS activation, which isn’t available in the Home edition. Thus, after changing the edition you can use KMSPico for further complete activation.

In KMSpico there’s a field Install Key in the Tokens tab. It allows you to enter a new product key and apply it, which changes the Windows or Office edition.
- Tokens tab is used not only for backup/restore, but also for setting a new key.
- In the Install Key field you can insert the key of the required edition (for example, the Enterprise key).
- After the key is installed, the system changes the edition.
- You can then run the kms-activator to activate a new edition.
For KMS activation there’re special KMS-Client keys which serve only for switching editions and don’t activate the system by themselves. They’re public and can be easily found on Google by searching for example ‘key for Windows 10 Enterprise KMS Client‘.
Activation from a USB Stick in Offline Mode
One of the options KMSPico offers is to run it directly from a USB stick. This means you can activate Windows or Office even on a computer without the Internet connection. Just copy the archive with the activator to a USB stick and run it from there. For example, if you often configure PCs for friends or work with office machines without network access, then running it from a USB stick is a perfect option. Plug it in, run it, activate it, deactivate it.
How to Delete KMSPico Completely
To completely delete the activator, open the folder ‘📂C:\Program Files\KMSPico\‘ or ‘📂C:\Program Files(x86)\KMSPico\‘ and run the file Unins000.exe. Next, check the autoloader via Task Manager (‘Ctrl + Alt + Delete‘ and then the Startup tab) and delete ‘AutoPico‘ in the autoloader if it’s still there. To keep it completely clean, open the Task Scheduler (‘Win + R‘ + ‘taskschd.msc‘ + ‘Enter‘) and delete possible tasks with names like ‘AutoKMS‘ or ‘Pico‘. After that, the program will be deleted without a trace.

Alternatives to Activators and a Sensible Approach
Although KMS activators are a popular tool, it’s important to understand you can always use Windows and Office legally and for free. The non-activated operating system from Bill Gates operates with few restrictions and there’re many free Linux-based operating systems, and Microsoft offers an official free version of Office Online. There’re also full-fledged alternatives to be installed on a PC. LibreOffice, OnlyOffice and WPS Office are all free and compatible with Microsoft documents. If there’s an alternative to not resorting to free activation, you’d better choose these options without taking unnecessary risks.
Other Kms Activators
Although our tool remains the most famous activator, there are other solutions. For example, the Microsoft Toolkit is suitable for those who use older versions of Office, including Office 2010. KMS Pico does not work well with them. There is also KMSAuto Net, which has a simple interface and advanced settings for experienced users. But “KMS VL ALL” is suitable for those who prefer activation via PowerShell – it is lightweight and does not require installation. Each option has its advantages, but for beginners and most tasks KMSpico remains the simplest solution.
Conclusion
KMSPico in 2025 still remains one of the simplest and most effective activation solutions. It requires no customisation, doesn’t cause any dangerous changes to your system and works even with the latest builds of Windows 11 and Office. Having the ability to work from a USB stick, with an offline mode, licence auto-renewal and key backup, it’s no longer just an ‘activator’, but a universal assistant. The main thing is to understand how it works and download kmspico from trusted sources. Then activation will take seconds and won’t cause any problems.
I don’t understand how to run it. I downloaded kmspico, clicked on it and nothing happens. A window with some files appears, but the program itself does not open. Is it a bug or do I have something wrong? Please give me a hint.
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip, then run the .exe inside.
All is well now, it worked! Thanks for the quick help.
Thx, activated windows 10, everything works!
If I activate Windows and later upgrade major builds (like from 22H2 to 24H2), do I need to run it again or will the activation stay intact?
Activation is usually retained after major updates, but it is always a good idea to have the latest version of the activator on hand. Using the current version will help you avoid unexpected problems, especially with newer builds of Windows.
Do I need to uninstall the old version of KMSPico before installing a new one?
It is recommended to uninstall all previous installations to avoid possible conflicts or activation problems with the updated version.