Need to locate your Windows product key and don’t know where to start? Geek peace of mind: there are several reliable ways to view it without installing anything, perfect if you’re going to reinstall the system or migrate it to another PC. The key is that 25-character code that confirms to Microsoft that your copy is genuine; and although many recent devices no longer have the sticker on the case, it’s still accessible with the right tools.
Before you dive in, keep one key point in mind: if your computer came with Windows preinstalled, it’s usually already activated and you don’t need to type anything. Still, you may want to save the key for safekeeping. It’s also possible to find it in the materials that came with the device or on the Certificate of Authenticity if it was included.
Where the key is depending on how you acquired Windows
The location of the key depends on how you obtained Windows. If you bought a physical copy of Windows 10 or 11 from an authorized retailer, the code usually comes inside the box, typically printed on a card or label. If you acquired it digitally—either a new purchase or an upgrade—through the Microsoft Store or another official channel, you should have the key in the purchase confirmation email.
Do you manage volume licenses or have an MSDN subscription? In that case, keys are viewed in the web portal of the corresponding program, where they are assigned to your products. On the other hand, if the PC came with Windows preinstalled, activation is taken care of at the factory, and often the key is stored in the firmware (BIOS/UEFI) of the device; it’s not uncommon for it no longer to appear on a sticker, but it may be listed in the documentation included with the box.
An important note to avoid trouble: using someone else’s key to activate your Windows violates Microsoft’s terms of use. Better to keep it legal and without surprises, like when you verify a commit on GitHub with the correct signature.
View your key from Windows: CMD and PowerShell
If you prefer native solutions, Windows offers two quick routes: the Command Prompt and PowerShell. In both cases it’s advisable to run as administrator and have an account with elevated permissions. The procedure is very straightforward and, in fact, isn’t much different from running a command in a Linux terminal.
To view it with the Command Prompt, open the Start menu, search for “Command Prompt”, right-click and choose “Run as administrator.” Then enter this command and press Enter: wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey. If your device exposes the key through the licensing service, you will see the 25-character code on screen. Take a screenshot or write it down carefully to store it safely.
If you’re more comfortable with PowerShell, the route is similar: right-click the Start button and select “Windows PowerShell (Administrator)”. Then run: powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey". The result appears just below the command; if you don’t see it the first time, repeat it and confirm that PowerShell is running with administrator privileges. The format, again, will be the classic alphanumeric string in five blocks.
Don’t want to install anything extra and looking for a “plug and play” method? These two routes are the most direct way to extract the information Windows already manages internally.
Find it in the Registry (with care) and alternatives
You can also check the key through the Windows Registry, although you should be very careful here so as not to modify anything accidentally. Open Run with the Windows+R combination, type regedit and confirm. Navigate the folders on the left following this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SOFTWARE → Microsoft → Windows NT → CurrentVersion → SoftwareProtectionPlatform. In the right-hand pane, look for the entry BackupProductKeyDefault; opening it will show the data value containing the 25-character key. Copy or capture the information and close the Registry Editor without touching other entries.
If you prefer a one-click solution, there are specialized utilities that read the key embedded in the system or firmware, such as Magical Jelly Bean, ProduKey, or ShowKeyPlus. They’re especially useful on devices where the key is stored in the BIOS/UEFI and you want to recover it without digging through menus. That said, download them from their official sites to avoid surprises, just as you would check the checksum of an ISO before installing it on your laptop or your shiny miniPC with Raspberry Pi.
To wrap up, remember: store your key in a safe place, don’t share it and don’t reuse someone else’s. With these routes—CMD, PowerShell, Registry and dedicated tools—you have everything you need to locate it and keep your Windows activated without scares.
FAQS
How can I recover the Windows key if I’ve lost it?
You can do it directly from your own PC. The quickest methods are using CMD or PowerShell with the appropriate commands, checking the Windows Registry, or using free programs like ProduKey or ShowKeyPlus. If your device came with Windows preinstalled, the key is often stored in the BIOS/UEFI, so you can extract it with these tools without issue.
Can I use someone else’s key?
No. Each Windows product key is tied to a unique license and using it on another device violates Microsoft’s terms. It can also cause activation errors or even leave your system unsupported. The recommendation is always to use a legal key, whether it came with your PC, was part of your digital purchase, or by acquiring a new one through an official channel.
Where is the key if I bought Windows digitally?
If you bought Windows from the Microsoft Store, the key appears in the purchase confirmation email or in your order history on your Microsoft account. If you purchased it from another authorized online retailer, check the confirmation email or your user account on the store where you bought it.
How can I tell if Windows is already activated without a key?
Very simple: open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation. There you’ll see a message indicating whether Windows is activated. In recent versions, activation is often tied to your Microsoft account or the device hardware, so it’s not necessary to enter the key manually after a reinstall.
