Can a blocked Windows key become unblocked?

Rarely. Chargeback blocks are permanent; batch-limit blocks sometimes clear via phone activation. If online activation and phone activation both fail, treat the key as dead and get a replacement.

Did Microsoft block my key because I reinstalled Windows too many times?

No – reinstalls trigger different errors (and hardware changes trigger the reactivation troubleshooter). A retail key tolerates reinstalls on the same machine. 0xC004C060 is about the key’s status at Microsoft, not your reinstall count.

Is a blocked key a sign I’ll get in legal trouble?

No. For buyers, a blocked key means losing the key’s function – Microsoft’s remedy is deactivation, not legal action. The terms exposure sits with the reseller’s sourcing, not the purchaser.

How do I prevent buying a blocked key next time?

You cannot guarantee it at any price tier – but you can control the outcome: buy only from stores with a written money-back window, pay with buyer protection, and activate plus screenshot the same day the key arrives.

Does the activation troubleshooter fix 0xC004C060?

No – the troubleshooter re-activates digital licenses linked to your Microsoft account after hardware changes. It cannot unblock a flagged key. Phone activation is the only free lever worth pulling.

Windows Key Blocked? Fix 0xC004C060 & Deactivation