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Windows November 2026 Updates Break Activation, Microsoft Confirms
Are you deploying Windows workstations or servers with scripts that rely on the slmgr tool? After installing the November 2026 updates, activation may fail with error 0x80041008. Microsoft has confirmed the issue and is working on a fix. Here’s what you need to know.
The November 2026 Patch Tuesday definitely keeps making headlines. After KB5132061 failed to install on some Windows 11 PCs that received the October preview and linked SQL Server servers leaving connections open, Microsoft is acknowledging another issue. This time, Windows activation and license management are affected.
In a new advisory (WI1549486), Microsoft explains that the security updates released on November 10, 2026 can trigger error 0x80041008 in several cases:
- Windows activation
- KMS configuration
- Product key management (installing or replacing a key, for example)
The message displayed is: "Invalid parameter (SWbemObjectEx)".
Which machines and commands are affected?
Microsoft explicitly cites two SLMGR commands affected by this bug:
- Setting the KMS domain: the
slmgr.vbs /skms-domain <domaine>command tells Windows which DNS domain to search for the SRV record announcing the KMS server, meaning the company’s internal activation server. - Installing a product key: the
slmgr.vbs /ipk <clé>command installs a key, whether it is a KMS client key or a MAK key (activated directly with Microsoft).
Organizations most at risk are therefore those that automate Windows license activation during Windows deployment or in a post-installation script. As for the affected versions, here is the list provided by Microsoft:
- Workstations: Windows 10 21H2 (LTSC 2021 editions) and 22H2 (under ESU), as well as Windows 11 23H2.
- Servers: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025.
Based on the cumulative updates released this week, this appears to correspond to KB5131096 (Windows 10), KB5131087 (Windows 11 23H2), KB5131085 (Windows Server 2019), KB5131090 (Windows Server 2022), and KB5131080 (Windows Server 2025). The good news is that Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1 and 26H2 are not on the list.
Already activated machines do not lose their license
According to Microsoft, computers that have already been activated remain activated. That’s not surprising, since a KMS client generally stays activated for up to 180 days after a successful activation. No need to panic for your existing fleet. With Microsoft’s ongoing global outage, it’s probably best to avoid more trouble if possible...
However, on new machines, any script that calls slmgr.vbs /ipk is affected, regardless of the key type (MAK, GVLK, AVMA, or KMS host key), as is pointing to a specific KMS domain with /skms-domain.
For now, Microsoft is not offering a workaround. But if you need an immediate solution, Microsoft recommends contacting its business support team. The Redmond company also mentions a fix in the coming days, though no exact date has been given. It remains to be seen whether this will be an out-of-band update or something else.
Have you encountered this bug?
