A public GitHub repository claiming to compile “universal” Windows XP product keys has surged in attention, resurfacing a familiar tension in tech culture: where “preservation” ends and license circumvention begins.

The project, hosted on GitHub as Fuwn/xp, presents itself as a comprehensive collection of Windows XP keys across multiple editions and channels, framed as a practical resource for people who still rely on the operating system for legacy workflows. But the sudden visibility of such a list also puts a spotlight on a reality the industry has tried to leave behind: Windows XP may be obsolete by official standards, yet it persists in edge cases where “just upgrade” isn’t a viable answer.

At the same time, posting activation keys in a widely accessible, searchable repository creates an obvious risk: it lowers the barrier for unlicensed installs — and invites the kind of takedown scrutiny that platforms like GitHub explicitly handle through copyright processes.

Windows XP is long out of support — and that matters more than nostalgia

Windows XP’s endurance is, in part, a testament to how deeply it embedded itself into both consumer and professional computing. But from a security standpoint, it is firmly in the past. Microsoft ended extended support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014, meaning no further security updates for most users after that date.

That end-of-support line is not a minor footnote. It’s the dividing wall between “aging but maintained” and “forever vulnerable.” In 2026, connecting an unpatched XP machine to today’s internet is not simply “risky”; it is structurally incompatible with modern threat realities. Even if an XP setup appears to “work fine,” the absence of ongoing security patches and contemporary defenses turns routine browsing, email, and file transfers into potential entry points.

This is why the most responsible legacy-XP discussions rarely start with keys — they start with containment: isolation, segmentation, virtualization, and plans to retire the dependency.

Key vs. license: the confusion at the center of the controversy

One reason key collections travel so quickly is that they exploit a widespread misconception: that a product key equals the right to use the software. In reality, a key is a technical mechanism; a license is the legal permission.

Windows XP shipped through multiple channels:

Retail copies sold to individuals
OEM licenses tied to specific manufacturers or machines
Volume licensing aimed at organizations and large deployments

The Fuwn/xp repository itself references these distinctions, including volume-licensing terminology, while describing certain images as “easiest to find on the internet.” That phrasing is revealing: it implicitly acknowledges the informal distribution ecosystem where keys and installation media often travel together — sometimes far from legitimate licensing boundaries.

This is also where the ethical framing becomes hard to ignore. A repository can be presented as documentation, but a curated list of activation keys is not neutral in effect: it can enable unlicensed installations, regardless of intent.

Windows XP Professional 32-bit Edition

SP3 VOL

M6TF9-8XQ2M-YQK9F-7TBB2-XGG88

MRX3F-47B9T-2487J-KWKMF-RPWBY

QC986-27D34-6M3TY-JJXP9-TBGMD

CM3HY-26VYW-6JRYC-X66GX-JVY2D
DP7CM-PD6MC-6BKXT-M8JJ6-RPXGJ
F4297-RCWJP-P482C-YY23Y-XH8W3
HH7VV-6P3G9-82TWK-QKJJ3-MXR96
HCQ9D-TVCWX-X9QRG-J4B2Y-GR2TT
K2CXT-C6TPX-WCXDP-RMHWT-V4TDT
QHYXK-JCJRX-XXY8Y-2KX2X-CCXGD
MFBF7-2CK8B-93MDB-8MR7T-4QRCQ
2QQ6J-HGXY3-VGH23-HYQDC-BYR2D
CM3HY-26VYW-6JRYC-X66GX-JVY2D
T72KM-6GWBP-GX7TD-CXFT2-7WT2B

SP3 VLK

TQMCY-42MBK-3R4YG-478KD-7FY3M

DG8FV-B9TKY-FRT9J-6CRCC-XPQ4G
RFYPJ-BKXH2-26FWP-WB6MT-CYH2Y
7HPVP-8VHPV-G7CQ3-BTK2R-TDRF3
DG8FV-B9TKY-FRT9J-6CRCC-XPQ4G
CXGDD-GP2B2-RKWWD-HG3HY-VDJ7J
RK7J8-2PGYQ-P47VV-V6PMB-F6XPQ
T44H2-BM3G7-J4CQR-MPDRM-BWFWM
XW6Q2-MP4HK-GXFK3-KPGG4-GM36T

SP3 VOL MSDN

MRX3F-47B9T-2487J-KWKMF-RPWBY

SP3 HP

P2BXT-D7Y8P-F6WF2-HYXY9-49TJD

SP3 OEM SONY

K7RGC-CDXYJ-FTYH2-Y3VVV-KBYC7

SP3 IBM

TW8WB-MKT89-FRD3V-H6CGJ-6JW83

ACER

KDD3G-HGVGM-M24P4-6BMMY-9XHF8

DELL

KG7G9-67KHV-4FQKV-4DYXK-BHQTJ

LENOVO

VF4HT-MPWB8-TWV6R-K6QM4-W6JCM

SP3 OEM THTF

M68XC-TX2C9-PKK8H-GP8JH-RC8XB

SP3 OEM COMPAQ

KYKVX-86GQG-2MDY9-F6J9M-K42BQ

FUJITSU OEM

C873T-F3X3M-9F6TR-J26GM-YTKKD

Pro SP3 OEM FOUNDER

F4G2M-BH2JF-GTGJW-W82HY-VMRRQ

Home SP3 OEM FOUNDER

K72PX-D96QW-RCHB9-3P96F-YQBCY

Home OEM Haier

GYFDM-KCXHW-6GFGQ-JQ9FH-B4TRY

SP2 OEM HP

P2BXT-D7Y8P-F6WF2-HYXYP-49TJD

Home OEM

JQ4T4-8VM63-6WFBK-KTT29-V8966

Home Retail

RH6M6-7PPK4-YR86H-YFFFX-PW8M8

Media Center

C4BH3-P4J7W-9MT6X-PGKC8-J4JTM
B2Y39-43MG6-MMGRG-7VKCF-VXMCM

Professional Corp

XP8BF-F8HPF-PY6BX-K24PJ-TWT6M

Professional OEM

XJM6Q-BQ8HW-T6DFB-Y934T-YD4YT
WRKF9-4FQ88-XTQYB-8KV6J-7TJR8

Professional Retail

CD87T-HFP4C-V7X7H-8VY68-W7D7M

Professional SP2 VOL

CCMWP-99T99-KCY96-FGKBW-F9WJT

Plus

DMC3M-2PD9R-9F8RY-KCKYC-JPXWM

Windows Server 2003 VOL

KJTHV-V4BVY-6R9JK-YJM7X-X7FDY

Office 2003 VOL

GWH28-DGCMP-P6RC4-6J4MT-3HFDY

SP3

V2C47-MK7JD-3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J
T7C4Q-47VGM-R7J6B-VPJ84-JPJ93
FY32F-XF3B6-277BF-YWBQF-GVRX3
XBC76-H7RCG-KQPKH-QK8PT-7D789
VQP4F-V47P8-BBDXK-R7K9Q-B42BB
TBHJK-W4DPH-9D267-H93VR-WMXQJ
JBH94-K6WKQ-YHTD6-XJFV9-WJP7Y
C626F-H4CCJ-PWR8R-2RB9K-3G3HD
HRCXT-BY6WB-VBM83-CMBXF-BVWYY
W733W-GWPGB-37X4T-BRD7P-JVT2D
VHBCM-H2YTW-TCYRR-QFTV6-XQQBG
XGVKJ-C8FB2-9GXXF-7DTG4-RYXFB
BMR29-HX9Y6-X6GTX-GKGGX-K8VV6
RHGJC-9CPJC-8M8F6-KYXCP-FRGC6
J3GMD-RMM3Q-HKC62-TV8Y8-246Q3
9HFGJ-KERJT-IOQ73-8YR78-93UT5
JKJIF-YUQEW-786DM-NBDSH-GUIRE
TQ23P-98R87-89340-83QOI-WEJF8
DFHNG-RGTFR-89T57-6983P-UROFD
SJHGL-IUWRT-89023-48HR4–U4938
WHTKJL-RDHF8-7TG64-5ES42-76RY4
23YU7-65RK0-HEVJK-SDAGI-OP265

SP2

KLSDJ-FERIO-UT843-U8JF8-43Y84
93UJF-KDSIU-YT78Y-SDKJF-IOEWJ
FIOSD-FUHY7-ERTY7-843UR-OEJFK
DSHFG-8734Y-78927-4932J-FKJSD
FVHER-UIYT7-84358-93047-48294
2307T-78436-YKJDF-SLHNV-JKSDH
JKSDH-FGSDH-FKJSD-MNF32-98784
79Y5F-I34QY-65784-30UJR-DKSDG
OUI8W-Y3458-7934R-UREJG-KPWER
UIT89-0432U-Y0UTD-JSMCF-KLASD
HIUWE-Y4I78-34U5T-98234-U782T

Unknown

JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8
Q3R8Y-MP9KD-3M6KB-383YB-7PK9Q
QB2BW-8PJ2D-9X7JK-BCCRT-D233Y
FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8
F6PGG-4YYDJ-3FF3T-R328P-3BXTG
FM9FY-TMF7Q-KCKCT-V9T29-TBBBG
RK7J8-2PGYQ-4P7VL-V6PMB-F6XPQ
KWT78-4D939-MRKK9-64W8C-CPF33
BJXGH-4TG7P-F9PRP-K6FJD-JQMPM
RBDC9-VTRC8-D7972-J97JY-PRVMG
DW3CF-D7KYR-KMR6C-3X7FX-T8CVM
MQPD6-C748R-FMRV6-8C3QK-79THJ
DTWB2-VX8WY-FG8R3-X696T-66Y46
DW87C-76RXP-LLK6C-3FJ2J-2908F

Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition

SP2 VOL

B66VY-4D94T-TPPD4-43F72-8X4FY
VCFQD-V9FX9-46WVH-K3CD4-4J3JM

WBD2T-3V7TW-GWJW6-HC6CK-R7MBJ

WPH7P-DQMY8-97MWQ-Y26V7-3C4HM

M4733-B8WX6-G999M-P3YR6-TDYVM
PFC3B-RTB4W-F3Q44-JWQQR-447BB

HH7VV-6P3G9-82TWK-QKJJ3-MXR96

F4297-RCWJP-P482C-YY23Y-XH8W3

MRX3F-47B9T-2487J-KWKMF-RPWBY

QC986-27D34-6M3TY-JJXP9-TBGMD

C4FPJ-HQCGP-QD3XC-2JF34-FT8Y6
CH6BH-G7PCX-KTM8K-WRKBD-HC7TW
M4676-2VW7F-6BCVH-9QPBF-QBRBM
DW3CF-D7KYR-KMR6C-3X7FX-T8CVM
7FMM3-W4FMP-4WRXX-BKDRT-7HG48
B2RBK-7KPT9-4JP6X-QQFWM-PJD6G
DM8R3-3VBXF-F7JRX-FJ7P4-YD3HM
FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8
TCP8W-T8PQJ-WWRRH-QH76C-99FBW
CKY24-Q8QRH-X3KMR-C6BCY-T847Y
RBDC9-VTRC8-D7972-J97JY-PRVMG
R3MGD-3H6HQ-RDRCR-KJXTM-3C8JW

R7Q3G-CHTW9-CCQV9-G7DX6-RVTDY

DRYCH-Q9RY7-YH62D-K98QM-KCGQ8

DQ3PG-2PTGJ-43FP2-RPRKB-QBYRY
DQ3PG-2PTGJ-43FP2-RPRKB-QBYRY
BXDQR-2KCR9-2VMJK-WDW94-PH2PB
HC47V-BMGVC-MWB4X-KJTTD-RMH4Y
BRC43-2CBV7-TCB9W-WHRGP-39XWM
BMHW2-GR289-D3PR9-JQF6P-YPQJM
DB8YF-HTGKP-6C948-3BHYD-PH2PB

Windows XP Home Edition x86

JT42G-DDBCX-WTDMB-8WCT2-JGGH8
V7BWD-G9YR6-9FG87-8Q2HV-YJGTG
PW6PT-TCGBR-HKTCT-GKKY6-QGK86
MT8JF-T82RK-R6C82-3YGHH-224PP
G7BR9-8QV29-3QFHP-F84WG-X9PYQ
XYRYX-XCG6K-W7PK8-2CTQQ-86DWR
VTYH4-P88R2-MW38B-Q62KT-48F7Y
MY7CJ-VQWBC-36JWH-6CJ37-TQVHC
XMCM6-DKYCQ-2BHQH-4PCHR-TBJCR
GQFP7-XCJ6K-GVQDY-BVMTK-V2JKY

Why GitHub is a battleground for takedowns

GitHub’s role in these episodes is largely procedural. The platform provides tools for hosting code and text — and it also provides a clear path for rights-holders to request removals when content is believed to be infringing.

GitHub’s DMCA takedown policy explains how copyright owners can request that allegedly infringing content be changed or removed, and how GitHub processes those notices. The company also maintains transparency around takedown requests via its public github/dmca repository, which archives notices and counter-notices (with private data redacted).

The practical implication is simple: even if something is publicly visible today, that does not guarantee it will remain available — or that using it is lawful.

The “legendary leak” problem: XP keys have a long history of going public

Long before GitHub existed, Windows XP was associated with one of the most notorious licensing episodes in consumer software history: a widely circulated volume license key that became a meme, a shorthand for piracy, and part of early-2000s internet folklore.

In late 2025, a detailed account of that episode circulated again after commentary from a veteran Microsoft developer helped explain how the leak happened and why it worked so well at the time — including the way certain volume-license media could bypass activation checks.

That story matters here because it contextualizes why key lists are not a new phenomenon. The difference is distribution power: a single GitHub repository can be forked, mirrored, indexed, and replicated across the web in hours.

Do these keys even work? Often, not as cleanly as people expect

Viral key lists tend to promise certainty and deliver friction.

Even in legitimate contexts, Windows XP activation behavior depends heavily on matching the right key to the right edition, channel, and installation media. What works for an OEM build may fail on a retail installer. What matches one service pack may not behave the same way with another. In practice, a “big list” is not a guarantee — and user reports in retro/XP communities routinely mention keys failing validation or being rejected, especially when paired with mismatched installers or unofficial images.

More importantly, “it activates” is not the end of the story. If a system is brought online, the security risks do not disappear just because the product key was accepted.

The safer conversation: how organizations keep XP alive without inviting disaster

There are legitimate scenarios where XP still exists — not because someone loves it, but because a critical tool or piece of equipment depends on it. In those cases, the playbook tends to focus on risk control, not key hunting:

1) Air-gap or strict network isolation
Keep XP off the internet. If it must connect to a network, segment it heavily and restrict inbound/outbound traffic to the bare minimum.

2) Virtualization where feasible
Running XP inside a virtual machine can make it easier to snapshot, restore, and contain. It also reduces the need to keep fragile physical hardware alive.

3) Controlled file transfer
If files must move in and out, do it via scanned, managed pathways — not ad-hoc USB swapping or open shares.

4) A long-term migration plan
Even if replacement isn’t immediate, organizations that take XP seriously treat it as technical debt with a deadline, not a permanent fixture.

This is also why the attention on key repositories can feel misplaced: the real challenge is rarely “how do we activate XP?” It’s “how do we keep a legacy dependency from becoming a security incident?”

A viral repo as a mirror of a bigger issue

The popularity of Fuwn/xp isn’t just about a 20-year-old operating system. It reflects an uncomfortable modern truth: the tech industry is excellent at building new platforms, and often less effective at offering graceful exits from old ones. When legacy software still runs critical processes, users will search for workarounds — and the internet will provide them, sometimes irresponsibly.

That does not mean the answer is to normalize public key distribution. It does mean the industry will keep seeing these flashpoints until legacy computing is treated less like a curiosity and more like an operational reality that needs safer paths forward.

FAQ

Is it legal to use Windows XP today if you have old media?
It can be, if you have a valid license (retail or OEM) and you follow its terms. A product key alone doesn’t necessarily prove you have the legal right to install and use the software.

Why is Windows XP considered unsafe even if it still “works”?
Because Microsoft ended support in 2014, so newly discovered vulnerabilities won’t be patched for typical users.

Can GitHub remove repositories that share license keys?
Yes. GitHub processes copyright complaints via its DMCA policy and publishes many notices through its DMCA transparency repository.

What’s the safest way to keep XP for a legacy app?
Isolate it from the internet, segment it if networking is required, consider virtualization, and maintain a plan to retire the dependency when possible.