Error code 0x8007232B DNS name does not exist

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If you’re on your Windows 10 Enterprise client and you see Activation Error Code 0x8007232B, then it means that your computer is not able to find the KMS server. The error message includes an error description – DNS name does not exist.

Its a Volume Activation Error which happens because of two reasons. First is when the KMS host doesn’t exist on the network, and admin might need to install MAK. Second, is when the KMS client, i.e., your computer is not able to find the KMS SRV RRs in DNS.  KMS notifies everyone about its presence by automatically creating service (SRV) resource records (RRs) on the DNS server.

Here are things you could try if you face Activation error 0x8007232B:

1. Troubleshoot DNS
2. Check KMS Host Installation
3. Point KMS client to KMS Host
4. Install MAK.

1] Troubleshoot DNS

Many a time it is a simple network issue, and instead of carrying out complex tasks or asking your admin, carry out a bit of network troubleshooting on your end. Windows 10 comes with an inbuilt Network troubleshooter (Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshooting). Use the Network Troubleshooter and even try flushing DNS.

2] Check KMS Host Installation

If you are an Admin, you need to confirm that a KMS host exists on the network where the client is connected.  Since KMS servers need to mark their presence through service (SRV) resource records (RRs), make sure that DNS publishing is enabled (default).

3] Point KMS client to KMS Host

In case the computer is not able to connect with the KMS host with everything in place, you can force point the KMS client to the KMS host.

Open a command prompt with elevated privileges.

Type the following and hit Enter:

slmgr.vbs /skms 

SLMGR is a Windows Software Licensing Management Tool. This is a Visual Basic script, hence “.VBS “at the end, This tool lets admin configure licensing on any Windows server.

4] Install MAK

MAK stands for Multiple Activation Key.  If KMS keys are not working for some reason, and you need to activate Windows without any further delay, you can obtain and install a MAK; then, activate the system. MAK keys don’t need to pass through an in-house server. Windows Activation Server directly activates it, and hence it should work fine.

Do remember, that MAK keys cannot be recycled, and hence could a costly affair. If the computer goes through a reset or Windows is installed again, the count of the number of devices activated is not returned.

Related: Windows Activation Errors 0x8007232B, 0xC004F038, 0x8007007B, 0xC004F074

These tips should resolve the Volume Activation Error – DNS name does not exist, Code 0x8007232B on your Windows 10 computer.

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• [Fixed] Activation Error (DNS Name Does Not Exist) 0x8007232b

By Amy | Last Updated June 02, 2020

Windows 10 error code 0x8007232b frequently hits you during system installation process. It comes with the error message “DNS name does not exist”. What triggers this error? MiniTool will analyze the possible causes for it and offer you some fixes.

About Error Code 0x8007232b

If you attempt to activate your system after installing the Windows from the volume license media, you may receive the error 0x8007232b. This error happens mainly due to 2 reasons. The first one is that the KMS host doesn’t exist on the network. Under this circumstance, you need to install MAK (multiple activation key) that is used to activate a certain number of devices.

Another reason is that the KMS client cannot find the RMS KMS SRV in DNS. KMS can notify and create Service Resource Records (SRV) on the DNS server. The error message varies according to different situations. The following are frequently encountered error messages when you encounter the error 0x8007232b.

• Activation Error: Code 0x8007232b – DNS name does not exist
• Error: 0x8007232b – Windows could not be activated. Key management services (KMS) host could not be located in domain name system (DNS), please have your system administrator verify that a KMS is published correctly in DNS.
• Error: 0x8007232b – The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect

How to fix DNS name does not exist? You can use the methods below to resolve it.

Top recommendation: Full Guide to Fix DNS Server Unavailable in Windows 10

Solution 1: Change the Product Key from KMS to MAC

An error occurred during activation and threw you the error code 0x8007232b. This case is not rare. Instead, it is quite common. Though the KMS activation is reliable in most cases, it will out of work on some Windows versions that are installed from the volume licensed media.

Certainly, the activation will also fail because the KMS server is down or scheduled for maintenance. If the error code 0x8007232b is associated with the KMS server, you can try changing the product key from KMS to MAC to activate your Windows.

Step 1: Run Command Prompt as administrator from the search box.

Step 2: In the next window, type slmgr -ipk followed by your product key. Then, press Enter to execute the operation.

Tip: The complete product key contains 25 alphanumeric characters. You should ensure that the license is still valid and utilize dashes between every 5 characters. The whole command looks like this: slmgr -ipk xxxxx – xxxxx – xxxxx – xxxxx – xxxxx (the X stands for your product key)

Step 3: If the installation succeeds, you will see the Windows Host Script window after a while.

Solution 2: Run Your Network Troubleshooter

Alternatively, you can also run the network troubleshooter to solve error code 0x8007232b. The Troubleshooter is a Windows built-in utility that can help you fix issues like Microsoft Software Protection Platform service high CPU usage, generic audio driver fix, etc.

How to run the network troubleshooter? Here are detailed steps.

Step 1: Open the Settings window, and then navigate to the Update & Security section.

Step 2: After clicking on Troubleshoot in the left pane, move to the right side of the window and scroll down the list of Troubleshoot to find Network Adapter. Click on it and choose Run the troubleshooter to continue.

Step 3: Then, follow the on-screen instruction to finish the process.

Besides, clearing the DNS cache is also recommended.

Solution 3: Install MAK

You can also install MAK to fix the Windows 10 error code 0x8007232b. This attribute can help you activate your current operating system without utilizing any pass-through.  

Step 1: Go to the VLSC Microsoft website.

Step 2: Click on Sign in button and then move to the Downloads and Keys tab.

Step 3: Then, follow the prompt instruction to finish the installation.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Having writing articles about computer tech for a long time, I am rather experienced especially on the aspect of computer optimization, PC enhancement, as well as tech terms explanation. The habit of looking through tech forums makes me a great computer issues collector. And then, many articles related to these issues are released, which benefit plenty of users. Professional, effective, and innovative are always the pursuit of an editing worker.