Error Database · Windows

0xC004E015

Quick overview: 0xC004E015

Error 0xC004E015 (SL_E_EUL_CONSUMPTION_FAILED) means the Software Licensing Service could not consume your license—often because the local tokens.dat file is corrupted. This is usually fixable without buying a new key.

Browse related codes in our Windows activation error database. This page covers fix steps for 0xC004E015 specifically.

This page documents License Consumption Failed — Tokens.dat Corrupted on Windows. Activation codes are licensing checkpoints—they rarely indicate hardware failure.

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License Consumption Failed — Tokens.dat Corrupted

Error code: 0xC004E015 Platform: Windows Updated: 2026-08-13

What This Error Means

The Software Licensing Service reported that license consumption failed (SL_E_EUL_CONSUMPTION_FAILED). Windows stores activation tokens in C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\tokens.dat. When that file is corrupted—after failed updates, disk issues, or cloning—activation can fail with 0xC004E015 even if your product key is valid.

This error is different from an invalid product key (0xC004E016) or a blocked key (0xC004C003). The fix targets the local licensing store, not the key itself.

How to Fix It

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator).
  2. Stop the Software Protection service: net stop sppsvc
  3. Navigate to the store folder: cd %windir%\system32\spp\store\2.0
  4. Rename the corrupted file: ren tokens.dat tokens.bar
  5. Restart the service: net start sppsvc
  6. Rebuild license information: cscript.exe %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /rilc
  7. Restart your PC, reinstall your product key with slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX, then run slmgr /ato.
  8. If activation still fails, ensure system date/time is correct and your network can reach Microsoft activation servers.