The Windows product key is an important 25-character code for activating the Windows operating system. However, sometimes product activation may not work and you may need to enter the product key manually. If you don’t have a Windows sticker on the back of your system that shows your product key, here are three quick ways to find your Windows 10 or Windows 11 product key.
The steps mentioned below largely depend on how you have activated your PC. If you discover that the Windows you are running is not genuine, you can purchase one from the Microsoft website. All that said, if the product key used to activate Windows is genuine, all three methods mentioned below should work for you. Let’s jump in.
1. How to Find Windows Product Key Using Command Prompt
This is one of the most direct methods to find the Windows product key. All you need to do is write a command line. You will need the Command Prompt for this step, and there are many ways to open it. Choose any and follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type Command prompt and click ‘Run as administrator.’
Select Yes in the prompt.
Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter.
wmicLicensingService path software get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Your go. You should see your Windows product key when you press Enter. Pretty simple, right? There is one more command line way to find the product key, but with Windows PowerShell.
If you are confused between the two, here is a detailed guide that explains the difference between Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell.
2. Locate the Windows product key using Windows PowerShell
Finding the Windows product key using Windows PowerShell is no different than using the Command Prompt method above. This is more your preference, but there’s nothing wrong with knowing about it. So let’s move on to the tutorial.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type Windows PowerShell and select ‘Run as Administrator.’
Select Yes in the prompt.
Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter.
powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
Your go. This method is as easy as pie. We recommend copying the above command; but if you’re typing it, make sure you’re leaving a space and adding a period, as shown above.
If Windows PowerShell starts acting strange, see different ways to fix the PowerShell pop-up error on Windows.
3. View Windows 10 or 11 product key with registry file
The Windows Registry contains everything that makes your Windows PC run perfectly. So obviously the Registry also holds your Windows product key. This method does not cause complications; however, if you have never worked with registry files before, we recommend that you have a backup copy of your registry. If something goes wrong, you can rollback.
Now, follow along.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type Registry Editorand click ‘Run as administrator.’
Select Yes in the prompt.
Step 2: Enter the address below in the address bar of the Registry.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
Step 3: In the right panel, under Name, you will find BackupProductKeyDefault; right next to it, you’ll see your Windows product key.
Note: You may find that the product key coming from the Command Prompt or PowerShell is different from the product key coming from the Registry Editor. This can happen because you have upgraded or changed your version of Windows.
Windows Product Key FAQ
1. What is a product key finder?
Product Key Finder is nothing more than a tool to display Microsoft Windows product keys and other important information. You can use the License Collector to find and back up the product key.
2. Are Windows keys stored in the BIOS?
The Windows key is stored in the BIOS and is called upon an event to restore your operating system. The BIOS key is used to activate Windows automatically as long as you use the same version of Windows.
3. Is the product ID the same as the product key?
They are not. The product ID is used to identify the level of service to which you are entitled, while the product key is used to pair your license with your PC and validate its authenticity.
4. Is Windows 10 illegal without activation?
Installation of Windows without a license is accepted. However, activating it through unsolicited means without purchasing a key is illegal.
Details at your fingertips
While there are third-party tools that allow you to find your Windows product key, they pose a risk of privacy violations. Besides, it’s worth considering that you can do it yourself without third-party tools.
Furthermore, finding the Windows 10 or Windows 11 product key using the above methods will make it easy for you to do more work. If you find it difficult to follow the steps, you can also contact Windows help.
Categories: How to
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