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:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. 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.

  1. Close your browser entirely (Alt + F4) or force-close it in Task Manager.
  2. Run a scan with Windows Defender (search for Windows Security in the Start menu, go to Virus & threat protection > Quick scan).
  3. 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.