If you are changing your device and want free access to Windows, only a product key can be a savior for you!

Imagine losing all your essential Microsoft account data just because you don’t know how to get a product key in Windows! Terrible, right?

Relax, we are not trying to scare you here, but we have got you some solid solutions to help you get your product key in Windows.

Please note that we have written this blog keeping mainly Windows 10 in mind, but it can also work for other versions and updates depending on whether you have bought a higher version or upgraded it.

In this blog, we have covered everything starting from what is a product key in Windows to how to find Windows 10 product key with command prompt, PowerShell, and Registry File, evaluating multiple situations to answer the question “how to find my Windows 10 product key”, and how to locate your product key for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

We have also covered, what to do if you lose your Window Product Key, why you may need Windows 10 Product Key, how to transfer Windows 10 Pro Pack Key to a new computer, how to get help from Microsoft on Windows 10 Activation, where to find the Windows 10 Product Key for copies you bought, and how to find your Windows 10 Product Key on the physical packaging and much more.

So, let’s get started without any further delays!

👉 What is a Product Key in Windows?

Source: productkeysfree.com

Before we dive into the details of how to find the Windows 10 product key, let’s take a moment to define what it is.

A product key in Windows is a unique 25-character code used to activate Windows and prove that you have a legitimate license. It’s typically included with the software packaging or sent via email when purchasing a Windows copy.

It is necessary for activation because it helps to prevent software piracy. Windows will not function correctly without a valid product key, and you’ll be limited in what you can do on your computer.

As you now know what is a Product Key in Windows, here are three different and definitive ways to find your Windows 10 Product Key.

👉 3 Ways to Find Your Windows 10 Product Key

➡ Command Prompt 

One way to find your Windows 10 product key is by using the Command Prompt.

Here are the steps:

Step 1:

Press the Windows key + X key, and then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the context menu.

Step 2:

Type this provided command:

“wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey” (without quotes).

Source: techrepublic.com

Step 3: 

Press Enter and your Windows 10, and you will be able to see the product key.

➡ PowerShell 

Another way to find your Windows 10 product key is by using PowerShell. Here are the steps:

Step 1:

Press the Windows key + X key, then select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context menu.

Step 2:

Type in the following command: “powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey” (without quotes).

Source: techrepublic.com

Step 3:

Press Enter, and you can see your Windows 10 product key.

➡ Registry File 

The third way to find your Windows 10 Product Key is by using the Registry Editor.

Here are the steps to find Windows 10 Product Key with the registry file.

Step 1:

Press the Windows key + R key, type in “regedit”, and then press Enter.

Step 2:

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform.

Step 3:

Find the entry labeled “BackupProductKeyDefault,” right-click it, and select “Modify.”

Source: techrepublic.com

Step 4:

Your Windows 10 product key will be displayed in the “Value data” field.  

➡ A Simple Notepad Method to Find Windows 10 Product Key: 

If nothing is working, and you are still searching for how to find Windows 10 Product Key answer, try this new method:

First, open Notepad by right-clicking on the screen, hovering over “New”, and clicking on “Text Documents.”

Source: howtogeek.com

Now, copy and paste the given code into Notepad:

Set WshShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”) MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead(“HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId”))   Function ConvertToKey(Key) Const KeyOffset = 52 i = 28 Chars = “BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789” Do Cur = 0 x = 14 Do Cur = Cur * 256 Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255 Cur = Cur Mod 24 x = x -1 Loop While x >= 0 i = i -1 KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput If (((29 – i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then i = i -1 KeyOutput = “-” & KeyOutput End If Loop While i >= 0 ConvertToKey = KeyOutput End Function

 Next, click the “File” tab and save it as “All Files.” You can select “all files” by clicking on the drop-down button while saving the file.

Source: howtogeek.com

Source: howtogeek.com

Give a name to your file with an extension of .vbs. For example, you can save your file with the title “myproductkey.vbs”

Source: howtogeek.com

Source: howtogeek.com

As a final step, now you can view your Windows 10 Product Key anytime by opening the file.

👉 Other Ways to Find Windows 10 Product Key: 

source: techrepublic.com

Other than the four ways mentioned above, there are multiple ways to get your Product Key in Windows. Here are some of the methods based on the situation. See which one suits you the most and take action accordingly:

➡ A New PC Running Windows

If you purchased a new computer with Windows pre-installed, the product key is likely embedded in your computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware. You won’t need to manually enter the product key, as Windows will automatically activate when you connect your computer to the internet.

However, if that’s not the case, you can contact an authorized seller, who will help you further.

➡ A Copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11 From An Authorized Retailer

If you purchased a physical copy of Windows 10 or 11 from an authorized retailer, it would include the product key in the packaging. The product key may be a sticker attached to the CD or DVD case or a card included with the packaging. Be sure to keep the product key in a safe place, as you’ll need it to activate Windows.

➡ A Digital Copy of Windows From An Authorized Retailer

If you have bought a digital copy of Windows 10, Windows 11 or any other version from an authorized retailer, you will get the product key via email. Be sure to check your inbox and the spam folder to make sure you received the email. If you can’t find the email, check with the retailer to have the product key reissued.

➡ A Digital Copy From a Microsoft Website

The product key would be associated with your Microsoft account if you purchased a digital copy of Windows 10 or 11 from the Microsoft Store or the Microsoft website. You can sign in to your Microsoft account to view your product key.

➡ Free Upgrade to Windows 10

Remember, when you have upgraded to Windows 10 for free from an older version of Windows, you won’t need a product key to activate Windows. Instead, the activation process will automatically start your computer when you connect to the internet.

➡ Microsoft Store App

The product key would be associated with your Microsoft account if you purchased Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store app. You can view your product key by signing in to your Microsoft account.

➡ Volume Licensing Agreement or MSDN Subscription

If you have a volume licensing agreement or an MSDN subscription, your organization or subscription service will provide the product key.

👉 How to Find Product Key for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? 

Source: velocitymicro.com

If you’re using older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 or 8.1, the process for finding your product key will be different. Here are the steps to find the Windows product key: 

➡ For Windows 7

Step 1: Click the “Start” button and right-click “Computer.”

Step 2: Select “Properties” and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Step 3: The product key will be displayed under the “Windows activation” section.

➡ For Windows 8.1

Step 1:

Right-click the “Start” button and select “Run.”

Step 2:

Type in “cmd” and press Enter.

Step 3:

Input the given command:

“wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey” (without quotes).

Step 4:

Press Enter, and you can see your 8.1 product key on the screen.

👉 How to Find Windows 10 Product Key on a New Computer?

As we mentioned, if you purchased a new computer with Windows pre-installed, you won’t need to enter the product key manually. However, if you need to reinstall Windows on the same computer, you may need to know the product key.

Here’s how to find the product key on a new computer:  

Step 1:

Open a Command Prompt as an administrator.

Source: trustedreviews.com

Step 2: 

Type in the following command: “wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey” (without quotes).

Source: trustedreviews.com

Step 3: 

Press Enter, and your Windows 10, and you can see your product key on the screen.

Source: trustedreviews.com

👉 How to Transfer Windows 10 Pro Pack Key to a New Computer?

If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 Pro using the Pro Pack key and want to transfer the key to a new computer, you’ll need to follow these steps:

Step 1:

Press the Windows key + R key and type “slmgr.vbs /ipk [your product key]” (without quotes).

Step 2:

Press Enter and your product key will be installed on your new computer.

👉 What to Do If You Lose Your Window Product Key?

Source: microsoft.com

Losing your Windows product key can be frustrating, but there are ways to recover it.

Here are a few options: 

➡ Use a Product Key Finder Tool:

Various free and paid software available can help you recover your lost Windows product key. One such tool is Belarc Advisor, a free tool that scans your system and provides you with a detailed report that includes your product key.

➡ Check Your Email:

If you have purchased a digital copy of Windows, your product key may be in your email inbox. Search for the email from Microsoft or the retailer you bought Windows from. 

➡ Check Your Microsoft Account:

If you have linked your Windows product key to your Microsoft account, you can view it by signing in to your account.

➡ Contact Microsoft Support:

If none of the above options work, you can contact Microsoft support. They may be able to help you recover your lost product key. 

👉 How to Get Help From Microsoft on Windows 10 Activation?

Source: bleepstatic.com

If you’re having trouble activating your copy of Windows 10, you can get help from Microsoft support. Here’s how:

Step 1: Click the Start button and select Settings.

Step 2: Click Update & Security, then click Activation.

Step 3: Click the “Troubleshoot” button.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the activation process.

You can contact Microsoft support for further assistance if you still have issues.

👉 Why May You Need Windows 10 Product Key?

Windows 10 product key is required to activate your copy of Windows 10. Without a product key, you won’t be able to use all the features of Windows 10, and you may see an “Activate Windows” watermark on your desktop.

In addition, if you don’t activate Windows, you won’t be able to get updates and security patches, which could leave your computer vulnerable to malware and other security threats.

👉 Where and How to Find the Windows 10 Product Key of Copies You Bought?

Source: windowsreport.com

In case you purchased a physical copy of Windows 10, your product key will be located on a label on the packaging, DVD case, or card included with the packaging. If you have purchased a digital copy of Windows 10, your product key will be sent to you via email or associated with your Microsoft account.

👉 When Do You Need to Retrieve Windows Product Key?

You may need to retrieve your Windows product key while reinstalling Windows on your computer or transfer your license to a new computer. Therefore, it’s essential to keep your product key in a safe place, as you’ll need it to activate Windows.

Also Read: How to Delete a Page in Word? Remove Page in Word

👉 How to Find Windows Product Key on the Physical Packaging?

In case you have purchased a physical copy of Windows 10, your product key will be located on a label on the packaging, DVD case, or card included with the packaging. Be sure to keep the product key in a safe place, as you’ll need it to activate Windows.

👉 Conclusion

In conclusion, there are multiple ways to find your Windows 10 product key, depending on your situation. If you have a new computer with Windows pre-installed, you won’t need to enter the product key manually, but you may need to know if you need to reinstall Windows on the same computer.

If you have bought a digital copy of Windows, your product key will be sent to you via email or associated with your Microsoft account. Finally, if you’ve lost your product key, you can use a product key finder tool, check your email or Microsoft account, or contact Microsoft support for assistance.

It’s essential to keep your product key in a safe place, as you’ll need it to activate Windows and access all the features and security updates. By following and implementing the steps outlined in this article, you can easily find your Windows 10 product key and activate your copy of Windows without any issues.

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