How to Find Your Windows 10 Product Key: The Ultimate Guide
Your Windows product key is a 25-character code that‘s used to activate Windows on your computer. This unique ID proves that you have a genuine, properly licensed copy of Windows. You‘ll need it if you ever want to reinstall Windows or transfer your license to a new PC.
In the past, the product key was printed on a sticker attached to your PC case or included with the Windows disc. But nowadays, your key is usually stored directly in your PC‘s hardware. This is more convenient, but it means you can‘t just glance at a sticker to find your key.
Don‘t worry though – there are still several ways to find your Windows 10 product key when you need it. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through the process step-by-step. Whether you have an OEM key embedded in your BIOS, a retail key, or a digital license tied to your Microsoft account, you‘ll be able to quickly retrieve it. Let‘s get started!
Locate Your Key on a Sticker
First, take a look at your computer to see if there‘s a sticker with your product key printed on it. On a desktop, check the back or side of the case. For a laptop, the sticker may be on the bottom of the laptop, inside the battery compartment, or under the removable panel where the RAM and hard drive are accessed.
The product key sticker will look something like this:
If you find the sticker, great! You can just type that 25-character key in whenever it‘s needed. However, the sticker can get damaged or wear off over time, so I recommend saving your key somewhere safe as a backup. You may also not have a sticker if Windows came preinstalled on your PC.
Find Your Key in the Registry
Windows stores your product key in the registry, a database of configuration settings. You can access it using the Registry Editor. Be cautious though, as making unintended changes in the registry could cause problems.
To open the Registry Editor, press Windows+R, type "regedit" into the Run box, and press Enter. Give permission to open Registry Editor if prompted.
Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
Look for a value named BackupProductKeyDefault in the right pane. Double-click it and you‘ll see your product key.
Use the Command Prompt
You can also find your product key using the command line. Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)".
In the Command Prompt, enter this command and press Enter:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
You should see your product key displayed. If you get an error or a blank result, it means the key isn‘t stored in the BIOS. This method only works for OEM keys that come preinstalled by the PC manufacturer.
Use PowerShell
PowerShell is a more advanced command line tool that can also retrieve your product key. Right-click the Start button and choose "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".
Enter this command and press Enter:
powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService‘).OA3xOriginalProductKey"
Like with the Command Prompt method, this will display your OEM product key pulled from the BIOS. If you get an empty result, try one of the other methods in this guide.
Use a Product Key Finder Tool
There are several third-party programs that can scan your system to find your Windows product key, like:
- Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
- ProduKey by NirSoft
- Belarc Advisor
These are helpful if the other methods didn‘t work, or if you just prefer using a dedicated tool. I recommend the free version of ProduKey. Just download the ZIP file, extract the EXE file, and run it to see your product key.
When You Can‘t Find Your Key
If none of the above methods display your product key, you may not have a key to find. This can happen in a few situations:
- You upgraded from an older version of Windows for free, in which case you have a "digital entitlement" instead of a product key
- You signed in with a Microsoft account that has a digital license for Windows, so you don‘t need to enter a key
- You have a volume license key provided by your organization
- You‘re running Windows 10 S or S mode, which don‘t have normal product keys
In these cases, you can still reinstall Windows without needing a product key. Your PC‘s unique hardware ID is used to activate Windows instead of a key. Or if you need a key to transfer your license, you can contact Microsoft support for assistance.
Transferring Your Windows License
Generally your Windows license can only be installed on one PC at a time. If you get a new computer, you may be able to transfer/reuse your existing license instead of buying a new key. However, the process differs depending on what type of license you have:
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Retail license (you bought Windows separately in a box or online): You‘re allowed to transfer a retail license to a different PC. Uninstall the product key from your old PC, then install Windows on the new PC and activate with that key.
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OEM license (Windows came preinstalled on the PC): OEM licenses are tied to the specific computer they originally shipped with. You typically can‘t transfer them to a new PC. But you can reuse the key to reinstall/reactivate Windows on that same PC as many times as needed.
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Volume license (Windows was provided by your work/school): These are also locked to the original PC. Consult your IT department for their policy on reusing keys.
Buying a Windows 10 Key
If you built your own PC or want to install Windows on a Mac, Linux, or virtual machine, you‘ll need to buy a license. Some online marketplaces sell keys for cheap, but many are unauthorized resellers or provide invalid keys. To ensure you get a legitimate Windows key, I recommend buying from the Microsoft Store or another authorized retailer like Amazon or Newegg.
You can get Windows 10 Home or Pro, and either a retail license that‘s transferable or an OEM license if you only need it for one PC. Standard Windows 10 keys are typically around $120-140, although you can find sales sometimes. Avoid any sites selling keys for under $50, as these are almost guaranteed to be unauthorized resellers.
If you‘re a student, check if your school offers free or discounted Windows 10 Education licenses before buying. And consider the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy or other tech training programs that may provide a free Windows key.
Overview & Final Tips
To recap, here‘s how to find your Windows 10 product key:
- Check for a sticker on your PC
- Look in the Windows Registry
- Use the Command Prompt
- Use PowerShell
- Try a product key finder program
Be sure to write down and save your key in a secure place once you find it. Consider a password manager or encrypting the file to store it safely.
If you can‘t find a key, you may have a digital license that‘s automatically tied to your hardware or Microsoft account. In this case you don‘t need to enter a key to reinstall Windows.
For transferring licenses, retail keys can be moved to a new PC while OEM and volume keys generally cannot. If you need to buy a new Windows 10 key, get it directly from Microsoft or an authorized retailer to avoid scams.
I hope this guide has helped you track down that elusive Windows 10 product key! Let me know if you have any other questions. And visit my blog for more Windows tips and tutorials from a fellow tech enthusiast.