Microsoft has advised organizations that still use Slmgr.vbs for Windows activation to switch to PowerShell instead. The script is being phased out along with VBScript as a whole, and Microsoft expects that process to speed up in future Windows updates, so it’s recommending businesses make the change soon.
Slmgr.vbs is a Visual Basic Script included in Windows to manage OS activation from the command line. As Microsoft’s documentation explains, it can install and change product keys, activate Windows, check current activation or licensing status, and more. The tool is designed to give enterprise organizations a flexible way to manage multiple OS activations. It is separate from KMS servers and other unofficial methods designed to achieve similar results without paying Microsoft.
VBScript, first announced for deprecation in 2023, will soon disappear from Windows after nearly 30 years in the operating system’s convoluted lineage. Modeled after Visual Basic, VBScript was designed as a powerful automation technology for programmers and users who wanted greater control over the Windows operating environment.
Microsoft’s latest VBScript deprecation timeline has three stages. VBScript is currently available as a Feature on Demand (FOD) on Windows and is enabled by default. At a later stage, the VBScript FOD will no longer be enabled by default, and users will need to manually install it if they need it. Finally, a future Windows release will completely remove VBScript. At that point, Slmgr.vbs and other automation solutions will stop working altogether.
According to Microsoft, switching away from Slmgr.vbs is a straightforward process, thanks to the OSLicense module, which replicates the automation Slmgr.vbs previously handled. Running on Windows PowerShell 5.1, the module lets administrators manage licensing details and spin up new activation instances, among other tasks.
Version compatibility is one thing organizations will need to consider before adopting OSLicense. On Windows 11, the module only becomes available after installing the August 2026 Preview update (KB5120998) or a later version. Windows Server, meanwhile, won’t get support until the next major release of the OS.
Regardless, Microsoft recommends that organizations begin reviewing their scripts, command-line tools, and group policies as soon as possible. Those still using Slmgr.vbs or other VBScript-dependent processes should carefully audit their IT automation setups, which can help minimize the disruption of moving away from decades-old conventions.
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