---
title: "How to Activate a Desk Phone in 8x8 Express"
slug: "how-to-activate-a-desk-phone-in-8x8-express"
updated: 2026-05-07T08:43:49Z
published: 2026-05-21T21:27:00Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/how-to-activate-a-desk-phone-in-8x8-express"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Activate a Desk Phone in 8x8 Express

## Objective

Activating a VoIP desk phone as an 8x8 Express user.

## Applies To

- 8x8 Express
- VoIP Phones

## Procedure

### Activating a Desk Phone Using a MAC Address

1. Log in to [8x8 Manager Express](https://express.8x8.com) as the system admin.
2. From the left menu, select Users and Phones.
3. To the right of the desired user, click **More Options** (three dots) and select **Edit**.
4. Under Deskphone, select the user's phone model.
5. Under Activate Device By, select **MAC address**.
6. Locate the MAC address on the back of the phone and enter it into the MAC address field.
7. Click **Save**. You will see a message confirming that the user's profile changes have been saved.

### Activating a Desk Phone Using an Activation Code

1. Log in to [8x8 Manager Express](https://express.8x8.com) as the system admin.
2. From the lefthand menu, click **Users and Phones**.
3. To the right of the desired user, click **More Options** (three dots), then **Edit**.
4. Under *Deskphone*, select the user's phone model.
5. Under *Activate Device By*, select **Use activation code**.
6. Click **Save**.
7. On the *Users* page, you should now see *Not Activated* and *Fix It* to the right of the updated user.
8. Click **Fix It**.
9. Connect the phone to an Ethernet connection using the provided Ethernet cable. (If your network does not feature power over Ethernet, be sure to also connect and plug in the power adaptor.)
10. The phone will automatically power up and display **Activate** on the screen.
11. Pick up the handset (or turn on the speakerphone).
12. Following the voice prompts and enter the **Activation code**.
13. The phone will reboot and then come online.

## Additional Information

Cordless Dect phones are not supported.