![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(140.8, 92%, 23%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EPK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(291.2, 38%, 38%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EMP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
You do not need the Windows Server 2019 product key to perform an in-place upgrade to Windows Server 2025, as long as the server is already properly activated. For the upgrade, you will need a valid product key for Windows Server 2025 to enter during the upgrade process. The existing 2019 key is not required unless you're doing a reinstallation or rollback. If you're unsure whether the 2019 license is genuine or properly activated, you can check the activation status (run slmgr /xprfrom the Command Prompt).
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hth
Marcin