How To Remove the Activate Windows Watermark: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide

Getting rid of that “Activate Windows” watermark is a common hassle, especially when you’re just trying to get things done without distraction. Usually, it pops up in the bottom-right corner when your Windows isn’t properly activated—sometimes because of a bad upgrade, trial expiration, or just some glitch. The good news? There are a couple of quick methods, and the second one’s a bit of a work-around, but both can clear the UI clutter pretty fast.

How to Get Rid of Activate Windows Watermark

Method 1: Basic Activation Fix – Using Command Prompt

This method is kind of weird but works because Windows basically thinks it’s not activated, so turning off the watermark involves resetting some licenses. It’s usually temporary but can give you a clean desktop without the nag screen for a little while. But fair warning—if your Windows isn’t genuine, this might only be a temporary patch.

Open Command Prompt as administrator. You can do this by typing cmd in the search bar, right-clicking the result, and choosing Run as administrator. On some setups, you’ll need admin rights to make it work.
Type slmgr /upk and hit Enter. This uninstalls your current product key. Don’t ask me why it works, but sometimes, when Windows is stuck with a fake or expired key, this clears the slate.
Restart your PC. It’s basic, but rebooting helps the system process the change.
Open Command Prompt again as admin.
Type slmgr /rearm and press Enter. This command resets the activation status. It’s like a soft reset for your license info. After this, restart one more time.

If everything goes smoothly, the watermark should disappear after these steps. Not every setup works perfectly first try, but on one PC it cleared after the first reboot. On another, it took a few more reboots or re-trying the command, so don’t lose hope if it’s not ‘perfect’ the first time.

Method 2: Using “ShowLicense” Tool or Registry Edits

Another one to try — sometimes, Windows just refuses to show the watermark because of display bugs or lingering overlays. There’s a registry tweak that tricks Windows into hiding it, but of course, messing with registry settings can be a bit risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Always back up before changing anything.

Open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the search or run box.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PaintDesktop.
Find the key named PaintDesktop and set its value to 0.
Close the registry editor and restart your PC. This can hide some overlay elements, including the watermark.

This method is kinda hit-or-miss, but if the normal command line stuff doesn’t do the trick, and you’re comfortable fiddling with the registry, it’s worth a shot. Just remember, Windows can be finicky about what it displays and how, especially if it thinks you’re trying to bypass activation properly.

Tips for Getting Rid of Activate Windows Watermark

Always make a quick backup before messing with system files or registry. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Check if your copy of Windows is genuine—sometimes, a legitimate license just needs reactivation, and you can do that from Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
If you’re using an older version or a cracked copy, don’t expect miracles. Buying a proper license is the best long-term fix.
Keep your Windows updated, because updates can fix bugs responsible for weird glitches like stuck “not activated” alerts.
If messing with commands or registry scares you, maybe reach out to someone who knows their way around Windows. Better safe than bricking things.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the “Activate Windows” watermark even there?

Basically, because Windows thinks it’s not legit or not activated properly. It’s a way for Microsoft to remind you to buy or activate a proper license. Sometimes, a glitch or failed upgrade leaves it hanging there even if everything’s fine.

Does removing this watermark hurt my system?

Nope. These tricks don’t seem to impact performance or functionality — they just mess with the display overlay.

Will this fix last forever?

Not really. Using commands like slmgr /rearm can buy you some time, but if you want it gone for good, buying a legit key is the way.

Is internet needed for these procedures?

Mostly no — these commands are local and don’t require an active connection.

Is it legal?

Probably not the most legitimate way, especially if your Windows isn’t genuine. The legit fix is to buy or activate with a valid key. But as long as you’re just hiding the overlay and not hacking the licensing, it’s a gray area.

Summary

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type slmgr /upk and hit enter.
Restart your PC.
Open Command Prompt again.
Type slmgr /rearm and restart once more.

Wrap-up

So, yeah, messing with these commands can quiet down that nagging watermark, and sometimes it even seems to vanish for good. Just keep in mind that if you want a permanent fix, the legit way is to activate Windows properly. But for a quick temporary escape, this does the job, at least enough to let you work without the annoying overlay. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a bit of frustration or time — it worked on a handful of our setups, so maybe it’ll do the same for you.