Image: ImageFlow/Shutterstock

For most users, particularly with Microsoft Windows 10, the final operating system you will ever demand, in that location has been no need for product keys because there has been no "new" version of Windows. When this article was first published in August 2021, Windows 11 was a pending release – now that it'due south available, we have tips on how to find your product key in Windows eleven. However, some users may even so need to know their Windows x production key.

See: Checklist: Securing Windows 10 systems (TechRepublic Premium)

Your Windows 10 product primal should be listed on a sticker located on your estimator hardware somewhere—typically in the virtually inaccessible spot possible. Simply earlier yous go crawling behind your desk looking for a 25-digit alphanumeric code printed in fine print on the backside of your PC, in that location are less strenuous ways to runway down your Windows 10 product key.

This how-to tutorial shows you how to observe your Windows 10 production central using the power of the operating system itself.

How to detect your Windows x product fundamental

Before nosotros begin, note that the success of whatsoever of these methods is largely dependent on how your PC was activated. If you activated Windows 10 past upgrading from a valid Windows 7 or 8 installation or with the figurer's recent purchase, yous are likely to observe the product key with most of these methods. Withal, if your PC was activated as role of an organization'south licensing agreement, finding a product cardinal may be more problematic.

SEE: 83 Excel tips every user should master (TechRepublic)

1. Command prompt

The most straight method for finding your Windows 10 production key is from the command line. Type "cmd" into the Windows 10 desktop search box and then right-click the command line effect and select "run as ambassador" from the context menu. Blazon this command at the prompt:

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Equally you tin see in Figure A, the control will brandish your electric current Windows 10 product key.

Figure A

2. PowerShell

If you are using Windows 10 PowerShell, the process is similar. Correct-click the Start Menu button and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context menu. Type this command at the prompt to reveal the product key every bit shown in Figure B.

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"

Figure B

3. Registry File

Every bit you might imagine, the product key is stored in the Windows 10 Registry File, and so information technology is possible to find the code there if y'all know the right key. Type "regedit" into the Windows 10 desktop search and select the appropriate detail in the results. Navigate to this key:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSoftwareProtectionPlatform

As you can run into in Figure C, the BackupProductKeyDefault key will reveal a valid Windows 10 product fundamental.

Figure C

Note: In my case, the Windows ten production key displayed by both the command prompt and PowerShell methods are the same. In the registry example, however, the product keys is different. The all-time explanation I can suggest is that because I upgraded from Home to Pro on the case PC, the production key displayed is for the upgrade to Pro (or vice versa). If you have a better solution, please let united states know in the discussion.

There are third-party vendors offering applications that tin locate and brandish your Windows 10 product key likewise, just they substantially practice the same affair we did here without involving someone else's programming and potential security issues. Also, keep in mind that if you bought Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, your account gild history would have product key information available.