How To Check Windows Product Key

Microsoft uses Windows product keys — sometimes chosen Windows activation keys — to protect their software against piracy, merely this practice as well inconveniences legitimate users who forget or lose their keys.

Note that recovering your Windows product central isn't the same equally recovering your Windows password. If you lot ever lose your product cardinal, follow our recovery tips below to find your lost fundamental. Then, write downward your product key and put it somewhere prophylactic to save yourself futurity headaches.

How to find your Windows production central using Command Prompt (CMD)

Type cmd in the Windows 10 search bar.
Right-click on Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, and select Yes if Windows asks you to permit access.
Blazon or copy and paste the following command into the Command Prompt:

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Press Enter. Your 25-graphic symbol Windows 10 production cardinal should now be displayed (in 5-character sets).

That's how to find a windows x product key in cmd (Command Prompt). Y'all can observe your Windows 7 product key in Command Prompt by following the same steps. To open up Command Prompt in Windows 7, printing the Windows central + R and type cmd into the search box.

How to find your Windows Production key using PowerShell

Correct-click on the Start Menu.
Select Windows PowerShell (Admin). Click Yep if Windows asks you to allow access.
Type or re-create and paste the following lawmaking into PowerShell:

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"
Press Enter. Your 25-character Windows 10 product central should now be displayed (in five-character chunks).

How to find your Windows Product Key in the Registry Editor

Blazon regedit in the Windows x search bar. Click on the Registry Editor. Select Yes if Windows asks you to allow access.
In the folder organization that displays, navigate to:

Estimator\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

Each item betwixt backslashes above corresponds to the folders you need to click to find the folder with your Windows production key: the SoftwareProtectionPlatform folder.

Your product key is listed next to the particular named BackupProductKeyDefault.

That's how to find your Windows 10 product key using the Windows registry. The product fundamental here might be different from the production cardinal found through Command Prompt or PowerShell. That could be because you've upgraded or changed your version of Windows. Y'all can find a Windows 7 product key in the registry through the same method.

Check your Windows settings

You can as well check if you have an agile Windows license — and whether it's a digital license — through the Windows x settings.

Open up the Start Card and select Settings.
Click Updates & Security.
Select Activation.

Side by side to Activation, you'll see information most your Windows 10 activation status, and whether you have a digital license. You tin also alter your Windows 10 production key on this screen if you need to.

Check the original packaging

With physical copies of Windows, the Windows 10 or Windows seven activation central is oft subconscious backside a scratch-off inside the original box. It could also be on an official sticker located on the outside of the box.

When ownership a PC or laptop with Windows x pre-installed, the Windows 10 product cardinal is listed on a Certificate of Authenticity in the paperwork, or a sticker somewhere on the device itself (normally the side or dorsum of a PC, and the underside of a laptop). If you're wondering how to detect your Windows 10 product key, it may be as simple as finding it on your computer.

Search your emails

If you purchased Windows through a retailer, searching in your email for terms such as "product key," "Windows confirmation," or "Microsoft activation" could bring upwards your product key details. If y'all think you purchased Windows through the Microsoft Shop App, searching for "Microsoft Services Agreement" or the e-mail address "msa@communication.microsoft.com" might aid y'all detect an electronic mail correspondence with your Windows 10 or Windows vii product key.

If y'all utilise Gmail, you lot tin can search your inbox with specific parameters using Gmail's search operators. You tin can search by electronic mail sender (from:[proper noun]), recipient (to:[name]), or even terms in the subject line (subject:[microsoft activation key]), for case.

Endeavour a third-party tool

Product central finders tin can locate keys for software that'south already installed. Using 1 of the methods above to find your key is safer, since giving a company access to your computer leaves you vulnerable to bloatware or even types of malware.

Just use third-party tools you trust. If a 3rd-party tool infects your device, downloading the all-time costless antivirus software tin can remove information technology.

Some notable Windows product fundamental finders are MyKeyFinder and Belarc Advisor. These products have costless trials but may require additional data or send yous ads. 3rd-party tools can also recover deleted files on Windows and other, more specialized services.

Digital license vs. product fundamental

If you bought a physical disc or retail copy of Windows 10, you accept a product key located somewhere on or inside the original packaging. If y'all bought Windows 10 online directly from Microsoft, you have a digital license.

If y'all buy or upgrade Windows ten straight from Microsoft, you don't need a Windows x production key. Microsoft creates a digital license automatically and stores it on their servers in a process called digital entitlement. A digital license serves the same purpose as a product key, except it's stored on the operating organization itself — you don't need to re-enter it if y'all reinstall or upgrade Windows.

Why do y'all need a Windows product key?

When you reinstall Windows or software such equally Microsoft Office, you need your product key. It'south tough to locate files — such as documents storing your production keys — when you take folders all over your desktop. Our guide to speeding up and cleaning your PC can help y'all tidy up your folders and keep your calculator organized.

If you take Windows 8 and are thinking of an upgrade, check out our Windows 8 vs Windows ten comparison. If y'all desire to upgrade Windows but aren't certain if your PC tin handle it, bank check out our guide to checking your computer specs just to exist prophylactic.

Upgrading to a new version of Windows will give y'all a new production cardinal. Anyone can download and install Windows ten for free , but Microsoft will continue encouraging you to activate. You tin can't change your desktop theme, colors, or startup programs without activating an official license, and you won't get all the most important Windows 10 features and updates either.

What well-nigh Windows seven?

Anyone running Windows 7 should upgrade to Windows 10. Along with being faster and smoother, Windows ten is better at managing retentivity and disk space. If your hard bulldoze is clogged or buggy, come across how to use chkdsk in Windows to browse your drive and set it. It'southward possible that upgrading to Windows 10 tin ameliorate your hard drive'due south health likewise. Upgrading to Windows 10 can even fix the Windows black screen in some cases.

With Windows 10 yous tin can integrate Microsoft'due south OneDrive deject storage, and become increased security with Windows SmartScreen and Windows Defender.

If you're wondering how to detect a Windows 7 production cardinal, you can do so using Command Prompt or the Registry Editor, as shown in a higher place. If you always want to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11 from Windows vii, you'll need your Windows 7 product key.

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