Exchange server SE – activation status not updating after applying valid product key

Question

Exchange server SE – activation status not updating after applying valid product key

Adalyn Howard 40

My server doesn’t reflect the correct activation status even after applying a valid product key.

I’ve used the Set-ExchangeServer command and confirmed the key is accepted without error, but the server still shows as unlicensed in EAC and via PowerShell. I’ve tried restarting the Information Store, recycling IIS, and fully rebooting the server, but the activation state doesn’t update.

Has anyone experienced this

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Answer 1

Hi Adalyn Howard

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum

As far as I know, this behavior typically occurs because Exchange SE does not perform online license validation and relies on local service refresh to update its licensing state. Therefore, even if the key is accepted, the activation status may remain unchanged due to cached values in EAC or mismatched edition/build requirements.

That said, you can follow these steps to resolve this:

1. Run this cmdlet to verify current state:

Get-ExchangeServer <ServerName> | Format-List Name,Edition,*Trial*

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2. Re-apply the key and restart services

Set-ExchangeServer <ServerName> -ProductKey <ProductKey>

Restart the services:

Restart-Service MSExchangeIS
Restart-Service MSExchangeServiceHost

For more information: https://dori-uw-1.kuma-moon.com/en-us/exchange/plan-and-deploy/post-installation-tasks/enter-product-key#use-the-eac-to-enter-the-product-key

Hope my answer will help you, for any further concern, kindly let me know in the comment section

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Steven-N 15,800 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-12T07:31:21.9133333+00:00

Hi Adalyn Howard

Just checking in to see if the above information was helpful.

If you have any further updates on this issue, please feel free to post back. If you think my reply is helpful to you, please remember to mark it as an answer.

Warm thanks.

Answer 2

If your Exchange server is not reflecting the correct activation status after applying a valid product key, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

Verify Product Key Entry: Ensure that the product key was entered correctly without any typographical errors. You can use the command Get-ExchangeServer <ServerName> | Format-List Name,Edition,*Trial* to check the current licensing status.
Check Permissions: Make sure that you have the required permissions to change the licensing status. You can refer to the permissions needed for licensing in the Exchange infrastructure documentation.
Restart Services: After entering the product key, it is essential to restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. You can do this using the command Restart-Service MSExchangeIS in the Exchange Management Shell.
Use EAC for Verification: After applying the product key, check the Exchange Admin Center (EAC) under Servers > Servers to see if the server shows as licensed.
Reboot the Server: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, a full server reboot may help in refreshing the licensing status.
Check for Known Issues: Sometimes, there may be known issues or bugs related to licensing. It may be beneficial to check the Microsoft Exchange forums or documentation for any updates or patches that may address this issue.

If you continue to experience problems, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

References:

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Exchange server SE – activation status not updating after applying valid product key

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