Find your Windows product key

A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this:

PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Locate your product key for Windows 10

Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you’ll need either a 25-character product key or a digital license to activate it. A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn’t require you to enter a product key. Without one of these, you won’t be able to activate your device.

Where to find your product key depends on how you got your copy of Windows.

Select any of the following to see more information:

The product key is preinstalled on your PC, included with the packaging the PC came in, or included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer, and for pictures of authentic product keys and COA labels, see How to tell your hardware is genuine.

The product key is on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. For more info, contact the retailer that sold you Windows 10. How to tell your software is genuine.

Find your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website.

The product key is in the confirmation email you received after buying your digital copy of Windows. Microsoft only keeps a record of product keys if you purchased from the Microsoft online store. You can find out if you purchased from Microsoft in your Microsoft account Order history.

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you should have a digital license instead of a product key.

If you bought Windows 10 Home, Professional, or Upgrade to Pro in the Windows 10 Store app, you’ll receive a digital license instead of a product key. You can use the digital license for activation.

If your product key is scratched, blurred, or otherwise unusable, contact the retailer who sold you the product. If you aren’t able to get help from your retailer or have already tried and couldn’t get a working key, call Microsoft Support.

For more information about digital licenses and product keys in Windows 10, see the “Methods of Activation” section in Activate Windows 10.

Locate your product key for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

A product key is usually required when uninstalling or reinstalling Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device. If you’ve lost or can’t find the product key, contact the manufacturer. To ensure your product key is genuine, see How to tell your software is genuine and How to tell your hardware is genuine.

Related links

For info about how to tell if your copy of Windows is genuine Microsoft software, see the How to tell page.

For more Windows 10 download info, see Download Windows 10.

If you need installation media to install or reinstall Windows, see Create installation media for Windows to learn how to create your own installation media using either a USB flash drive or a DVD.

If you need more help with activation, see Activate Windows 10.

If you’re getting an activation error, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

If you’re reinstalling Windows 10, you might not need a Windows product key. See Activation in Windows 10 for more info.

If you’re reinstalling Windows 10 due to a motherboard problem or some other hardware issue, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

If you’re looking for product keys for Office, apps, games, and more, see Find your Microsoft downloads and product keys

Find your Windows product key

A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this:

PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Locate your product key for Windows 10

Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you’ll need either a 25-character product key or a digital license to activate it. A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn’t require you to enter a product key. Without one of these, you won’t be able to activate your device.

Where to find your product key depends on how you got your copy of Windows.

Select any of the following to see more information:

The product key is preinstalled on your PC, included with the packaging the PC came in, or included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer, and for pictures of authentic product keys and COA labels, see How to tell your hardware is genuine.

The product key is on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. For more info, contact the retailer that sold you Windows 10. How to tell your software is genuine.

Find your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website.

The product key is in the confirmation email you received after buying your digital copy of Windows. Microsoft only keeps a record of product keys if you purchased from the Microsoft online store. You can find out if you purchased from Microsoft in your Microsoft account Order history.

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you should have a digital license instead of a product key.

If you bought Windows 10 Home, Professional, or Upgrade to Pro in the Windows 10 Store app, you’ll receive a digital license instead of a product key. You can use the digital license for activation.

If your product key is scratched, blurred, or otherwise unusable, contact the retailer who sold you the product. If you aren’t able to get help from your retailer or have already tried and couldn’t get a working key, call Microsoft Support.

For more information about digital licenses and product keys in Windows 10, see the “Methods of Activation” section in Activate Windows 10.

Locate your product key for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

A product key is usually required when uninstalling or reinstalling Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device. If you’ve lost or can’t find the product key, contact the manufacturer. To ensure your product key is genuine, see How to tell your software is genuine and How to tell your hardware is genuine.

Related links

For info about how to tell if your copy of Windows is genuine Microsoft software, see the How to tell page.

For more Windows 10 download info, see Download Windows 10.

If you need installation media to install or reinstall Windows, see Create installation media for Windows to learn how to create your own installation media using either a USB flash drive or a DVD.

If you need more help with activation, see Activate Windows 10.

If you’re getting an activation error, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

If you’re reinstalling Windows 10, you might not need a Windows product key. See Activation in Windows 10 for more info.

If you’re reinstalling Windows 10 due to a motherboard problem or some other hardware issue, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

If you’re looking for product keys for Office, apps, games, and more, see Find your Microsoft downloads and product keys

Забыли ключ активации Windows? Как его узнать?

У каждого пользователя может появиться необходимость сделать переустановку лицензионной Windows. В данном случае специфика установки операционной системы требует ввести ключ активации. В противном случае без него система будет действовать ограниченно. Как быть, когда ключ активации потерян или стерта наклейка на ноутбуке ?

Для того чтобы активировать Windows, применяют 25-значный код (ключ) , который имеет формат (XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX).

Вам нужно установить, какой ключ ранее применяли для того, чтобы активировать систему? Или у вас появилась надобность переустановить систему, когда ключ на наклейке стерся? В любом случае нужны воспользоваться этим VBS скриптом .

Как определить ключ, используя VBScript

Создаем в любом месте, которое удобнее всего для вас, текстовый файл. Это может быть, скажем, рабочий стол. Переименуйте файл в WindowsKey

Открываем его в текстовом редакторе (по умолчанию – в блокноте). Выделяем следующий код . Копируем его. Вставляем в текстовый документ:

Set WshShell = CreateObject(«WScript.Shell»)

regKey = «HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\»

DigitalProductId = WshShell.RegRead(regKey & «DigitalProductId»)

Win8ProductName = «Windows Product Name: » & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & «ProductName») & vbNewLine

Win8ProductID = «Windows Product ID: » & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & «ProductID») & vbNewLine

strProductKey =»Windows 8 Key: » & Win8ProductKey

Win8ProductID = Win8ProductName & Win8ProductID & strProductKey

Const KeyOffset = 52

isWin8 = (regKey(66) \ 6) And 1

regKey(66) = (regKey(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin8 And 2) * 4)

Cur = regKey(y + KeyOffset) + Cur

regKey(y + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24)

Cur = Cur Mod 24

Loop While y >= 0

winKeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & winKeyOutput

Loop While j >= 0

If (isWin8 = 1) Then

keypart1 = Mid(winKeyOutput, 2, Last)

winKeyOutput = Replace(winKeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0)

If Last = 0 Then winKeyOutput = insert & winKeyOutput

a = Mid(winKeyOutput, 1, 5)

b = Mid(winKeyOutput, 6, 5)

c = Mid(winKeyOutput, 11, 5)

d = Mid(winKeyOutput, 16, 5)

e = Mid(winKeyOutput, 21, 5)

ConvertToKey = a & «-» & b & «-» & c & «-» & d & «-» & e

Как только скрипт вставлен в текстовый документ, его необходимо сохранить с расширением VBS . Значит, нажимаем на пункт «Файл» и в перечне, который выпадает, выбираем «Сохранить как».

Окно откроется. И в поле Тип файла нужно выбрать «Все файлы (*.*)» и написать любое имя для файла. Можно, в частности, написать windowssss.vbs. Затем давим на кнопку «Сохранить». И тогда появится соответствующий файл.

Открываем этот файл . Там можно будет увидеть долгожданный ключ, которым следует активировать свою систему Windows. Если нажмешь на крестик или кнопку «OK», то для тебя будет открыто дополнительное окно с информацией о Windows, коде продукта и, конечно, ключе активации.

Именно так без проблем можно узнать, какой у тебя на компьютере ключ активации.

Команды для того, чтобы проверить активацию

Данные команды выполняются в командной строке . Ее открывают от имени администратора.

— Для того чтобы отображались сведения о лицензии, нужно выполнить команду slmgr /dli . И тогда окно сведений о лицензии откроется.

— Для того чтобы отображались подробные сведения о лицензии, нужно выполнить команду slmgr /dlv . И окно подробных сведений о лицензии будет для вас открыто.

— Для того чтобы отображались даты окончания активации, нужно выполнить команду slmgr /xpr . И окно отображения даты окончания активации откроется перед вами.

Как узнать ключ активации Windows с утилитой KeyFinderInstaller

Есть еще один более простой метод. Он предусматривает применение утилиты KeyFinderInstaller.

С любого соответствующего ресурса в глобальной сети нужно скачать KeyFinderInstaller и произвести ее установку. Как только утилита установлена, кликаем по ярлыку на рабочем столе и обнаруживаем необходимую информацию в окне, которое открылось.

Возможно, что на вашем компьютере дополнительно установлены какие-то другие продукты от компании Microsoft. Это может быть, в частности, Microsoft office. В таком случае у вас также есть возможность узнать ключ активации этих продуктов . В окне нужно выбрать продукт и посмотреть информацию.

How to recover your Windows product key

Technical Level : Basic

If you are planning to reinstall Windows but you can’t find your product key, this article will show you where and how you can find your product key.

The key could be:

• Printed on a Certificate of Authenticity sticker
• Stored in the Windows Registry
• Embedded in the PC’s UEFI firmware

Note that if you are currently running Windows 10 and wish to reinstall the operating system, you don’t need your product key. After the reinstall, Windows 10 will detect that it has been reinstalled on a previously activated system and will automatically reactivate.

Printed on a Certificate of Authenticity Sticker

If your PC came with Windows 7 or earlier, then your product key will be printed on a COA sticker. This sticker verifies that the computer came with a genuine copy of Windows. You will need to examine your computer to find the sticker. On laptops, it’s usually on the bottom side. On desktops, it could be on the back, sides, or top. It looks something like this:

Embedded in the PC’s UEFI firmware

If you have a newer PC that came with Windows 8 or Windows 10, then your product key likely won’t be on a sticker. Instead, computer manufacturers now embed the key right into the computer’s UEFI firmware. Unlike the COA sticker, the embedded key can’t be smudged off, stolen or erased (easily).

If you want to extract the UEFI key, the process is simple. Open the Start menu, type powershell and then run the program.

Next type the following command in the PowerShell window and hit Enter.

You will be presented with the key in the window.

Stored in the Windows Registry

If your product key isn’t embedded in the firmware or you’re missing your COA sticker, you’re not out of luck as long as you haven’t formatted your computer. You can still recover the key because Windows stores it in the registry. Here is how:

1. Open a new Notepad window

2. Copy and paste the following text into the window

3. Click File > Save As and save the file to your desktop as productkey.vbs. It’s important to include the .vbs extension because this is a Windows Scripting Host file.

4. Close Notepad and double-click the file. Wait a few seconds, and then you will be presented with a popup displaying your product key:

Best Windows 10 product key finder of 2021: find all your Microsoft serial numbers

By Cat Ellis 04 February 2021

Find the serial numbers for Windows and other software

The best Windows 10 product key finders make it easy to find all your Microsoft serial numbers.

Click the links below to go to the provider’s website:

Product keys are one of the ways software developers protect their products against piracy. Unfortunately, they’re easy to lose, which can be a real problem if you need to reinstall Windows or any other software from scratch

If you’ve bought a desktop PC or laptop with Windows 10 already installed, you’ll probably find its product key on a Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the the case or in the included paperwork, but not if you’ve built your own PC and installed the operating system yourself.

Many other applications also require product keys if you reinstall them – including Microsoft Office – and if you’ve lost the email you received when you first installed them, you could be in real trouble later on.

Product key finders only work for software that’s already installed, so download one and make a note of all your keys now, so you’re prepared in advance.

1. Belarc Advisor

A wealth of information about your hardware and software

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Belarc Advisor is primarily a tool for gathering information about your Windows system, including hardware, security updates and product keys.

Whenever you run Belarc Advisor, it automatically checks its database for software definitions – essential for finding keys for new programs. After that, it scans your system and presents the findings in an HTML page in your default web browser. Scroll down to ‘Software licenses’ to find serial numbers and product keys for Windows, Office and many other applications.

Belarc Advisor offers a wealth of other information, including details of your antivirus software, connected hardware, and other devices on the same network. It also offers a security benchmark score, though sadly this is only available for Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP Pro.

Belarc Advisor’s scans are fast and offer so much more information than just serial numbers, it’s our favorite free product key finder.

2. Abelssoft MyKeyFinder

Displays your Microsoft product keys in a clear, searchable list

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

There are two versions of Abelssoft MyKeyFinder: free and paid-for. Both will find Windows and Microsoft Office product keys but the Plus edition will also scan external hard drives and find Wi-Fi passwords.

After MyKeyFinder has scanned scan your PC’s registry the results are presented in a clear list, ready to be copied to the clipboard with a single click. Unlike many product key finders, MyKeyFinder won’t throw up duplicate keys and the results can be searched and filtered.

You can also add programs and keys not detected by MyKeyFinder as standard, then export the full list as a PDF so they’re all in one convenient location.

3. LicenseCrawler

Find the keys for Windows and a wealth of other software

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

LicenseCrawler will find the license key for pretty much any application that has one, and it’s free for home use. Its scan of the Windows registry takes a long time to complete – even if you select the ‘high speed’ option – but you can limit its scope using the blacklist and whitelist filters.

LicenseCrawler is distributed as a portable app, meaning you don’t have to install it on the Windows system you’re scanning – just download the zip file, extract its contents and run LicenseCrawler.exe. This is particularly handy if you have several PCs; just download it to a USB stick and you can just plug it in and run it on any of them.

The only downside of LicenseCrawler is the occasional pop-up ad, but finding product keys isn’t a task you’ll be performing every day, so they’re only a minor inconvenience.