Slui

Slui, short for Software Licensing User Interface, is a built-in Windows component that provides the graphical interface for Windows activation and license management. It interacts with the Windows activation system to determine whether the installed copy of Windows is properly licensed and to guide users through activation when required.

The program can be launched from the Run dialog or the Start menu by typing slui or by invoking slui.exe with optional arguments that select a specific activation method. In many Windows versions, slui 4 opens a telephone-based activation workflow, while running it without arguments presents the standard online activation dialog. The exact options and behavior can vary by Windows edition and version. Slui itself does not reveal the product key; the key is managed by the licensing service, though the activation status and license state may be displayed.

Technical details and scope: Slui is usually located at C:\Windows\System32\slui.exe and is digitally signed by Microsoft. It is part of the Software Licensing service stack, which also includes command-line tools such as slmgr.vbs for more advanced license management. Activation can use online methods or, depending on the organization’s licensing, Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Key (MAK) approaches.

See also: Windows Activation, Slmgr.vbs, KMS, MAK. Note that legitimate Slui functionality depends on the system’s licensing configuration and access to Microsoft activation servers; anomalous behavior or location may warrant security review.