Solve “This Copy of Windows Is Not Genuine” – Error 0x80070005
This message can appear after a Windows update, a hardware change, or an installation-related issue. If you’re seeing “This copy of Windows is not genuine” along with error 0x80070005, it usually means Windows was unable to confirm activation status—even if everything worked correctly before.
Common reasons this happens
This situation often occurs when:
Activation components were damaged or removed during an update
The system was restored or reinstalled and activation was never completed again
A different Windows edition was installed over a previously activated one
Microsoft’s activation servers temporarily can’t verify the status
How to fix it
Restart your PC
In some cases, a restart is enough for Windows to refresh its activation check.Enter your product key again
Go to: Settings > System > Activation
Click Change product key
Enter the key you received and click Next
This often forces Windows to re-check activation and removes the warning message.
Run the Activation Troubleshooter
In the same Activation page, click Troubleshoot and follow the prompts. Windows will attempt to detect and correct activation-related issues automatically.