Quick Links
Key Takeaways
- Find your Windows 10/11 product key using the Command Prompt by typing a specific command.
- Alternatively, you can use PowerShell to retrieve your Windows 10/11 product key.
- Third-party tools like ShowKeyPlus can also retrieve your Windows activation code.
Knowing your Windows product key is often necessary to fix Windows activation issues. Even though the OEM or retail license key is tied to your device's hardware, you can easily find your Windows 10 or 11 product key using the Command Prompt and reactivate Windows.
What Is a Windows Product Key?
A Windows product key is a 25-character code you use to activate your copy of Windows. Since Windows 11 and 10 use a digital license method for activation, you don’t need to manually enter the key each time you upgrade or clean install Windows.
However, if you significantly change your device's hardware, Windows won't be able to detect the license tied to your device. A manual activation may also be necessary if you run into a Windows 11 activation error.
To activate Windows in these cases, you'll need to enter the 25-character product key. As such, if you don't know your product key, we'll explain how to extract it from your Windows 11 or 10 system.
Note that each edition of Windows uses its own unique product key. For example, if you have a license for the Windows 11/10 Home edition, you cannot use it to activate Windows Pro or other editions.
1. How to Find Your Windows 11/10 Product Key Using the Command Prompt
You can use the ever-trustworthy Command Prompt to find the product key for your copy of Windows. Here’s how to do it:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey Once your copy of Windows is activated, it's a good idea to link your Windows product key to a Microsoft account. Doing so will ease the activation process if you need to do it again.
2. How to Recover a Windows 11/10 Product Key Using PowerShell
You also use PowerShell and the WMI cmdlet to find and display your Windows 11 or 10 product key. Here’s how to do this:
(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey 3. Use a Third-Party Tool to Find Your Windows 11/10 Product Key
If you would rather avoid the hassle of typing commands or running scripts, third-party tools like ShowKeyPlus can help you find the Windows activation code with a few clicks. You can download this app from the Microsoft Store to retrieve Windows product key information. Here’s how:
Also, you can use ShowKeyPlus to check your specific Windows edition using the product key and retrieve a key from a backup.
4. Check Your Purchase Receipt or Email
If you bought a Windows license key from an online retailer like Amazon, you likely received the info via email. Use keywords like "Windows license", "Windows product", and "Windows activation" to search for the confirmation mail that you received. Or check the Orders section of your account with that online retailer to find information on how to retrieve the key, or how the key was initially delivered.
As another option, look for physical stickers on your computer with information related to your computer hardware and software configuration. These may also include the Windows product key or other necessary details to help you locate it.
5. Contact Microsoft Support
If all else fails, try contacting Microsoft support for assistance. You can ask for a callback using the Get Help app on your computer:
In Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft has streamlined the license activation process. Irrespective of how you got your license, once activated, the product key is tied to your system hardware. Whether you upgrade to the next version or clean install the OS, Windows should automatically detect and verify the ownership.
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