From PC World: Microsoft recently published a new support page with an explanation of why it discontinued telephone activation of Windows: “Beginning December 3, 2025, the traditional telephone-based product activation automation process has been moved from telephone to online. […] The new digital workflow provides a more secure, reliable, and user‑friendly activation experience and helps prevent fraud.”
Anyone who calls the phone number used for Windows activation is now informed by a robotic voice that activation is now only possible online and that they should visit aka.ms/aoh.
In other words, while the specific PC on which you want to activate Windows doesn’t necessarily need to be connected to the internet, the license activation itself must be done online via the product activation portal using a secondary device such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC that’s connected to the internet. A Microsoft account is required, but it doesn’t need to be linked to the Windows PC.
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