Removing the Test Mode Watermark From the Windows 10 Desktop (2024)

Are you looking to remove the test mode messaging from the Windows 10 desktop on your PC?

There is a function of Windows 10 called Test Mode which allows you to install and test drivers that haven't been digitally signed by Microsoft. This mode as the name indicates helps test software or drivers that are still being developed or haven't been certified yet. If you start up your PC and a message or watermark is visible saying Test Mode or Testing Mode, that indicates that the mode has been activated and is running on your PC.

The most common reason for this is the installation of some drivers that are still in their testing phase. You will either get a message in the lower left corner or a full screen message in gray.

(Figure.1 Test Mode Messaging)

To help resolve the issue, perform the following steps.

1. Press and hold the Windows key (), and then press the X key.
2. Right-click Command Prompt or Terminal, and then select Run as administrator.

   

   (Figure.2 PowerUser Menu)

3. In the User Account Control window may appear, select Yes.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING OFF and then press Enter.

   Warning: If you see a message indicating An error has occurred setting the element data. The value is protected by Secure Boot policy and cannot be modified or delete, reboot your comptuer. Use the F2 key to access the BIOS and deactivate the option Secure Boot. After booting into Windows, repeat the command.

5. When you see the confirmation, close the Command Prompt window.
6. Save any open work and close any programs, and restart the computer. The testsigning off command should be enough to turn off the Test Mode.
7. After the reboot, if you are still seeing the Test Mode message, then open the Command Prompt/PowerShell with administrator privileges again:
   1. Type Bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions ENABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS and then press Enter.
   2. Next, type Bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING OFF and then press Enter.

      
      (Figure.3 Integrity Checks Window)

8. Reboot the computer and confirm that the Test Mode is disabled and the watermark/messaging removed from the visible desktop.

   
   (Figure.4 No Test Mode messaging seen)

   Note: These steps can also be used on Windows 7 and Windows 8.x operating systems.

You can extract the Windows product key and redo the activation. The way to extract the windows activation key is to use the following command line wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

(Figure.5 Windows 10 retrieve the product key)

After extracting the product key, simply enter the key back into the system and the system will clear the activation request.

Note: When these steps do not resolve the issue, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Activate Windows 10, to ensure your Windows 10 has been activated.

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