Generally available: New KMS DNS in Azure US Government Cloud

After 1 February, 2023, a new KMS DNS, azkms.core.usgovcloudapi.net, will be rolled out to improve Azure Windows activation experience in Azure US Government Cloud. Specifically, after 1 February, 2023, all Azure Windows VMs provisioned in Azure US Government Cloud will be activated via azkms.core.usgovcloudapi.net; and most Azure Windows VMs provisioned in Azure US Government Cloud before 1 February, 2023, remain activated via existing KMS DNS, kms.core.usgovcloudapi.net.

To most Azure US Government Cloud customers, the transition to new KMS DNS is transparent. However, Azure US Government Cloud customers who have followed trouble-shooting guides, like the ones listed below, need to include new KMS DNS, azkms.core.usgovcloudapi.net, and one new KMS IP address, 52.126.105.2:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/custom-routes-enable-kms-activation

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/troubleshoot-activation-problems

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/protect-azure-virtual-desktop

After 15 April, 2023, kms.core.usgovcloudapi.net will point to 52.126.105.2 instead of 23.97.0.13. This change will have no impact to Azure US Government Cloud customers who have followed trouble-shooting guides to include one new KMS IP address.