How to Convert Evaluation Server 2016 or 2019 to Licensed Version.

To convert Windows Server 2019 or 2016 Evaluation to Licensed (Retail):

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and give the following command to find the installed version of Server 2016:

  • DISM /Online /Get-CurrentEdition

2. Then give the following command to convert the Server 2016 Evaluation version to Full Retail (Licensed):

  • DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerEdition /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

* Notes:
 1. In the above command, change the ServerEdition according to the installed version.

 For example…
 1. If the installed edition is the "ServerStandarEval" then the command is:

  • DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

2. If the installed edition is the "ServerDatacenterEval" then the command is:

  • DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

2. If you have a KMS host running in your deployment, then you can use a KMS Product key for activation or you can use the KMS key to convert the Evaluation version to licensed and then (after the conversion), to change the product key and activate Windows by using the slmgr.vbs /ipk command.

Convert Server 2016 Evaluation to Licensed Version

 

3. When the operation is completed, press the "Y" key to reboot the Server and apply changes.

Evaluation to Licensed Server 2016

 

That's all folks! Did it work for you? Please let us know of your experience.