Microsoft Updates HLK Waiver ID System: What Hardware Partners Need to Know

Microsoft's Hardware Lab Kit (HLK) team has announced significant changes to how manual waiver IDs are tracked internally, affecting hardware partners who submit devices for Windows certification. While the submission process itself remains unchanged, partners must prepare for updated manual waiver identifiers that will take effect in mid-March 2025.

What's Changing in the HLK Waiver System

The core modification involves updating the IDs for all manual waivers. Waivers with automatic filters will retain their existing identifiers, but manual waivers will receive new IDs as part of an internal tracking system update. This change is purely administrative and won't affect how waivers are applied to submissions or how filters are downloaded and implemented in HLK projects.

Impact on Hardware Partners

Many hardware partners maintain internal tracking systems for waiver numbers to monitor status, expiration dates, and report issues to Microsoft. The ID change means these tracking systems will need updating. Microsoft has provided a conversion table that maps old manual waiver IDs to their new equivalents, which partners should download immediately to prepare for the transition.

Transition Timeline and Grace Period

To facilitate a smooth transition, Microsoft is implementing a four-month grace period starting from the mid-March effective date. During this period, submissions containing manual waivers with old IDs will still be accepted. However, after July 15, 2026, any submissions referencing legacy manual waiver IDs will be rejected.

Action Items for Partners

Hardware partners should take the following steps to prepare:

• Download the waiver ID conversion table immediately
• Update internal tracking systems and documentation
• Review existing submissions and README files that reference manual waiver IDs
• Plan to update submission documentation during the transition period

Partners should ensure their submission README files reference the new manual waiver IDs throughout the grace period to avoid disruptions after the July 2026 deadline.

Business Impact and Considerations

This change represents a behind-the-scenes administrative update that shouldn't disrupt the certification workflow. However, partners with automated systems or extensive documentation referencing waiver IDs will need to invest time in updating their processes. The four-month grace period provides adequate buffer for most organizations to make necessary adjustments without impacting their certification schedules.

Support and Resources

The HLK team has emphasized that the submission process itself remains unchanged - filters will still be downloaded and applied in the same manner, and manual waivers will continue to be applied to submissions identically. This consistency should minimize operational disruption while partners update their internal tracking systems.

For questions or issues related to waivers after the effective date, partners can contact HLK support directly. The conversion table and additional guidance are available through the Microsoft Community Hub, ensuring partners have the resources needed for a successful transition.

This update reflects Microsoft's ongoing efforts to improve internal tracking and management systems while maintaining a stable certification experience for hardware partners. By providing clear timelines, conversion tools, and support channels, Microsoft aims to make this administrative change as seamless as possible for the hardware certification community.