8 Fixes to remove Activate Windows 10 watermark permanently

Have you ever seen the Activate Windows watermark on the bottom right corner of your desktop? Have you ever wondered if you can make it disappear without a product key for the OS? Well, if you did not know, there are ways to remove Activate Windows 10 watermark permanently without a product key. This article will help you remove this annoying addition to your desktop. 

The “Activate Windows” watermark

The “Activate Windows: Go to Settings to activate Windows” watermark on Windows 10 appears when your Operating System trial has expired or if you are not using a genuine Operating System on your computer.

This is a move by Microsoft to prevent their product, Windows, from being pirated and distributed for free. This may not be a big issue since the watermark does not stop you from doing anything on your computer.

But this watermark appears over everything you do. Even when you open an application or when you move your pointer over the watermark, you will be able to see it. 

Why do you get Activate Windows Watermark?

You see the Activate Windows: Go to settings to activate Windows watermark on Windows 10 when you have to activate Windows on your computer. If you are using a copy of the OS, it will display the Activate Windows watermark.

You will have to activate Windows to get regular OS updates and more importantly, get rid of the Activate Windows watermark on your screen. 

Purchasing the Product Key

If you have enough funds to buy the genuine OS for your computer, you can always buy it in the Microsoft Web Store or a nearby computer store. Once the purchase is done, you will receive an activation code that will upgrade your OS to genuine. Windows 10 activation will remove Activate Windows 10 watermark, permanently.  

Removing Activate Windows 10 Watermark from your desktop

There are quite a number of ways to get rid of the Activate Windows 10 watermark without a product key. Having this appear on your screen is not a good look on your desktop and is very annoying to look at. Adhering to the steps does not turn your OS into an activated Windows OS.

These are the methods you can use to remove Activate Windows watermark permanently from your desktop screen:

  1. Use the Registry Editor
  2. Use Windows Powershell
  3. Use a NotePad script
  4. Modifying settings of the Ease of Access 
  5. The Universal watermark disabler
  6. Disable Windows 10 tips, tricks, and suggestions
  7. Use Command Prompt as an administrator
  8. Kill the process

Remove “Activate Windows” watermark permanently without purchasing the Product key

1. Remove Activate Windows watermark using the Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows key and the R key on your keyboard together to launch the Run tool window. 
  2. In the Open field, type in regedit and hit Enter.
Remove Activate Windows 10 watermark permanently
  1. Follow this path in the directory:

Computer\ HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\ Desktop

  1. Locate PaintDesktopVersion and double-click to open it.
Locate PaintDesktopVersion and double-click to open it.
  1. Alter the value from 1 to 0.
Alter the value from 1 to 0
  1. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer and check if the watermark still exists.

Note: The Computer\ HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\ Desktop contains information about the accessories of the desktop and its appearance.

2. Remove Activate Windows watermark with the Windows Powershell

  1. Open the Start menu on your PC.
  2. Search for Windows Powershell. Select Run as Administrator.
Search for Windows Powershell. Select Run as Administrator
  1. Click on the Yes button, if it is prompted by UAC.
  2. Type in the following command in the Windows Powershell tool:
slmgr /renew
Type slmgr /renew in PowerShell
  1. Press the Enter key and restart your computer.

3. Write a NotePad script to remove Activate Windows 10 watermark permanently

A notepad script placed in the right spot can help remove Activate Windows watermark from your screen. 

This is what has to be done to get rid of the watermark.

  1. Open NotePad and copy-paste the following script:
@echo offtitle Activate Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 for FREE!&cls&echo =====================================&echo #Copyright: MSGuides.com&echo =====================================&echo.&echo #Supported products:&echo – Windows 7 Professional&echo – Windows 7 Professional N&echo – Windows 7 Professional E&echo – Windows 7 Enterprise&echo – Windows 7 Enterprise N&echo – Windows 7 Enterprise E&echo – Windows 8 Core&echo – Windows 8 Core Single Language&echo – Windows 8 Professional&echo – Windows 8 Professional N&echo – Windows 8 Professional WMC&echo – Windows 8 Enterprise&echo – Windows 8 Enterprise N&echo – Windows 8.1 Core&echo – Windows 8.1 Core N&echo – Windows 8.1 Core Single Language&echo – Windows 8.1 Professional&echo – Windows 8.1 Professional N&echo – Windows 8.1 Professional WMC&echo – Windows 8.1 Enterprise&echo – Windows 8.1 Enterprise N&echo – Windows 10 Home&echo – Windows 10 Home N&echo – Windows 10 Home Single Language&echo – Windows 10 Home Country Specific&echo – Windows 10 Professional&echo – Windows 10 Professional N&echo – Windows 10 Education N&echo – Windows 10 Education N&echo – Windows 10 Enterprise&echo – Windows 10 Enterprise N&echo – Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB&echo – Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB N&echo.&echo.&echo ====================================&echo Activating your Windows… & cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk FJ82H-XT6CR-J8D7P-XQJJ2-GPDD4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk MRPKT-YTG23-K7D7T-X2JMM-QY7MG >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk W82YF-2Q76Y-63HXB-FGJG9-GF7QX >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 33PXH-7Y6KF-2VJC9-XBBR8-HVTHH >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk YDRBP-3D83W-TY26F-D46B2-XCKRJ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk C29WB-22CC8-VJ326-GHFJW-H9DH4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk BN3D2-R7TKB-3YPBD-8DRP2-27GG4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 2WN2H-YGCQR-KFX6K-CD6TF-84YXQ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk NG4HW-VH26C-733KW-K6F98-J8CK4 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk XCVCF-2NXM9-723PB-MHCB7-2RYQQ >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk GNBB8-YVD74-QJHX6-27H4K-8QHDG >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 32JNW-9KQ84-P47T8-D8GGY-CWCK7 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk JMNMF-RHW7P-DMY6X-RF3DR-X2BQT >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk M9Q9P-WNJJT-6PXPY-DWX8H-6XWKK >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 7B9N3-D94CG-YTVHR-QBPX3-RJP64 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk BB6NG-PQ82V-VRDPW-8XVD2-V8P66 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk HMCNV-VVBFX-7HMBH-CTY9B-B4FXY >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 789NJ-TQK6T-6XTH8-J39CJ-J8D3P >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99 >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 3KHY7-WNT83-DGQKR-F7HPR-844BM >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk PVMJN-6DFY6-9CCP6-7BKTT-D3WVR >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX >nul&cscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9 >nulecho ————————————&echo.&echo.&set i=1:serverif %i%==1 set KMS_Sev=kms7.MSGuides.comif %i%==2 set KMS_Sev=kms8.MSGuides.comif %i%==3 set KMS_Sev=kms9.MSGuides.comif %i%==4 goto notsupportedcscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /skms %KMS_Sev% >nulcscript //nologo c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato | find /i “successfully” && (echo.& echo ====================================== & echo. & choice /n /c YN /m “Would you like to visit my blog [Y,N]?” & if errorlevel 2 exit) || (echo The connection to the server failed! Trying to connect to another one… & echo Please wait… & echo. & echo. & set /a i+=1 & goto server)explorer “https://productkey.net”&goto halt:notsupportedecho ======================================&echo.&echo Sorry! Your version is not supported.:haltpause >nul
  1. Save the file as in the name windows10.cmd, to your computer.
Save the file as in the name windows10.cmd, to your computer
  1. Right-click on the saved file and select the Run as Administrator option.
Right-click on the saved file and select the Run as Administrator option
  1. Restart your PC after the process is done. 

4. Use the Ease of Access Settings to remove the Activate Windows watermark

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel. Search for it and click on the apt result.
Open the Windows Control Panel. Search for it and click on the apt result
  1. Click on the Ease of Access center and open it.
Click on the Ease of Access center and open it
  1. Select the Make the computer easier to see option, in the Explore all settings category.
image
  1. Locate the Remove background images (where available) check box, under the Make things easier to see section and check it. 
Locate the Remove background images (where available) check box, under the Make things easier to see section and check it.

It can be found when scrolled down.

  1. Click Apply and click Ok to save changes.

5. Remove the Activate Windows watermark with the Universal Watermark Disabler

The application recommended to remove Activate Windows watermark, permanently, from your PC is the Universal Watermark Disabler. You just have to download it, launch it and do as guided by the application and it will remove Activate Windows watermark.

6. Disable the Windows tips, tricks, and suggestions to remove Activate Windows 10 watermark

  1. Right-click on your desktop screen and select Display Settings. You can also go to settings and proceed
Right-click on your desktop screen and select Display Settings. You can also go to settings and proceed
  1. Navigate to the Notifications & Actions option. 
  2. In the Notifications section, uncheck the Show me Windows Welcome experience and Get tips, tricks, and suggestions checkboxes.
In the Notifications section, uncheck the Show me Windows Welcome experience and Get tips, tricks, and suggestions checkboxes
  1. Reboot your computer and see if the Activate Windows watermark is present on the screen.

7. Remove Activate Windows watermark using Command Prompt

  1. Open Command Prompt as the administrator. Click yes, when prompted by UAC.
  2. Type in the following command:
bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING OFF
Type bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING OFF in command prompt
  1. Restart your PC after you see the “Operation completed successfully” message.

8. Killing the watermark process with a short notepad script

  1. Open Notepad and type in the following command:
@echo off
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
explorer.exe
Exit
Notepad command
  1. Save the file as remove.bat. The file will be saved as a batch file.
Save the file as remove.bat
  1. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the Activate Windows Watermark 2020?

There is more than one way to remove the Activate Windows 10 watermark, till now.

How do I get rid of Activate Windows Watermark fast and free?

All the options to remove the Activate Windows watermark in the above article are fast and free.

How do I permanently remove activate Windows Watermark?

You can use Command prompt, Powershell, batch files, and other methods to kill the process permanently.

How do I get rid of Activate Windows to activate Windows?

The only way to activate the OS is to purchase a product key. The Powershell method can give you 90 days free trial. 

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