Install Windows 8.1 without a Product Key (Skip Key Input)

Do you have a Windows 8.1 ISO, but it’s asking for the product key before you can start the installation? That’s because Windows setup uses the product key to determine the version to install, so it’s a necessary step before proceeding with the installation. But what if you want to try out Windows 8.1 before buying it? You can actually bypass the product key check and continue with the installation. This post will show you how to install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

Meanwhile, when we download Windows 7 ISOs, we have the option to install Windows without entering a product key. The installation proceeds smoothly, and we get a 30-day trial of the operating system. However, when it comes to the official Windows 8.1 ISOs, we’re required to input the product key during installation, and there’s no way to skip this step.

Install Windows 8.1 without a Product Key (Skip Key Input)

So, here are the steps to bypass the Windows 8.1 product key screen:

Note: No need to worry, this isn’t any kind of hack or illegal activity. The configuration mentioned above is actually supported by the Windows installer and is well-documented by Microsoft. It can also be applied to some other versions of Windows.

Step 1. Create The Magic “ei.cfg” File

To make this happen, we just have to tweak a file called ei.cfg (edition configuration) found in the /sources folder of the ISO image. All we’re doing is adding the version details to this file, so that during the installation, Windows Setup won’t prompt us for a product key. Instead, it will automatically install the version that matches the provided product key.

1. Open the Notepad program.

2. Copy and paste the following:

[Edition ID]
Professional 
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

3. After that, click on the File tab > Save as.

File tab > Save as

4. Select “All Files” and type the name “ei.cfg.” Click Save.

ei.cfg

5. Now, the CFG file is ready.

Step 2. Edit the Windows 8.1 ISO File and Add CFG file

If you’ve downloaded the Windows 8.1 ISO file, then must add the CFG file to the  /sources folder of the Windows 8.1 ISO image. As you all know that you can’t edit the ISO file directly. So, for that, you’ll need AnyBurn application.

However, if you’re installing Windows 8.1 via USB drive, then simply copy CFG file to the Windows 8.1 sources folder and no need to follow the below-mentioned steps.

Go to Google page and search for AnyBurn, once found download and install it.

After that, launch the software. Select Edit image file.

Edit image file

Click on the folder icon.

Now, locate the Windows 8.1 ISO image and click Open.

Click Next.

Go to the sources folder.

Select the Add button.

Find the created ei.cfg file and click Add.

Click Next.

Finally, select Create now.

Once completed, exit AnyBurn.

Once you’ve placed ei.cfg in the “sources” folder, you can go ahead and install Windows 8.1 without needing a product key. The Windows installer won’t bother you with any prompts for it; it’ll just kick off the installation process.

Install Windows 8.1 With Ease

It does not matter if you’re installing Windows 8.1 on a virtual machine or perform a clean installation, it won’t ask product key anymore.

The installation will ask for a product key after the first automatic reboot, but there will be a handy “Skip” button.

Skip

That’s it. This was the method to install Windows 8.1 without a product key and skip the key input screen with ease.

Read more

How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 Without Product Key