How to Convert (Upgrade) Windows Server Evaluation to Full Version

Microsoft invites everyone to explore the features of the Windows Server platform with the StandardEvaluation or DatacenterEvaluation trial editions. You can download an ISO or VHD image with the free version of Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, or 2012 R2 from the Microsoft Evaluation Center website by completing a short form (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter). This edition of Windows Server is for evaluation, testing, or training purposes only and is not for commercial use. Once you install Windows Server Evaluation, you have 180 days to test its capabilities. Suppose you are running production tasks on the Windows Server Evaluation. In that case, there is a way to convert it to a full Windows Server edition, while keeping your data and without reinstalling the operating system.

Upgrade Windows Server Evaluation to a Full Retail Version

Microsoft allows Windows Server Evaluation to be upgraded to a full retail Standard or Datacenter edition. Here are some upgrade restrictions:

• You can upgrade to the same or higher edition of Windows Server. For example, ServerStandardEval can be upgraded to ServerStandard, ServerDatacenter, or ServerTurbine
• Converting a host with the AD domain controller role is not recommended. You must first demote DC to a member server. This requires the domain to have at least one additional DC to which you can move FSMO roles
• If NIC Teaming is configured on the server, it must be disabled before upgrading.

The first step is to ensure you have an evaluation version of Windows Server installed. Type CMD in the search box, then open CMD with Run as administrator rights

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

List the editions of Windows Server that you are eligible to upgrade your evaluation copy to:

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

This means that you can upgrade your ServerStandardEval to ServerDatacenter, ServerStandard, or ServerTurbine

To convert an evaluation Windows Server into a full version, you will need to use the public KMS client setup key (or Generic Volume License Key, GVLK) for your version of Windows Server. For a complete list of GVLK keys for all versions of Windows, visit the Microsoft website Key Management Services (KMS) client activation and product keys.  The complete list of keys for all of the supported versions of Windows Server can be found in the table below:

OS version/Edition	Standard	Datacenter
Windows Server 2025	TVRH6-WHNXV-R9WG3-9XRFY-MY832	D764K-2NDRG-47T6Q-P8T8W-YP6DF
Windows Server 2022	VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H	WX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
Windows Server 2019	N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C	WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2016	WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY	CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2012 R2	D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX	W3GGN-FT8W3-Y4M27-J84CP-Q3VJ9
Windows Server 2012	XC9B7-NBPP2-83J2H-RHMBY-92BT4	48HP8-DN98B-MYWDG-T2DCC-8W83P

In this case, we are going to upgrade the Eval edition to the full retail version of Windows Server 2025 Standard. Find and copy the GVLK key for the target version and edition of Windows Server from the table, and then run the following command:

dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /productkey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /accepteula

If you need to change the OS to the Datacenter edition, use the /set-edition:ServerDatacenter parameter and the appropriate GVLK from the table.

dism /online /set-edition:ServerDatacenter /productkey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /accepteula

Restart your computer and check that your evaluation copy of Windows Server has been converted to a full retail edition.

You will see the Activate Windows watermark in the right corner. Now, you can use your purchased Windows Server license to license Windows Server Datacenter.

Your server will now perform the necessary steps for the upgrade. The server is not activated yet. This is done using your product key. To activate, open the command prompt (CMD) again with administrator rights and press “Enter” The product key will now be installed

slmgr /ipk <product key>

If you are using a Windows Server virtual machine (VM) on a Windows Server Hyper-V host you can activate it by installing an AVMA key on your VM.

slmgr /ipk <AVMA_key>

For example, slmgr /ipk YQB4H-NKHHJ-Q6K4R-4VMY6-VCH67

Then enter the following:

slmgr /ato

The server should now display “Datacenter” and be activated!

Conclusion

We hope that our article was able to help you convert your Evaluation version of Windows Server to the full version, complete with a legal license. Enjoy your server to the fullest, without any limitations insight.