If you are looking to upgrade or reinstall your Windows 10 operating system, you will need an activation code to activate it. The product key is a unique 25-character code that verifies your copy of Windows is genuine. But what if you misplaced or lost your serial key? Fortunately, there are several ways to retrieve it. In this article, we will show you how to find product key on Windows 10.
How to Find Product Key on Windows 10
When you install Windows 10 on a new computer or device, you typically need to enter a product key to activate windows 10. The key is a unique code that verifies you have a genuine copy of Windows. If you have lost your key, or need to reinstall Windows 10 and can’t find your key, there are several ways to retrieve it.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common ways to find your Windows 10 key, including checking the packaging, using third-party tools, and looking in the Windows registry.
Check the Product Key Sticker
When you purchased your Windows 10, the serial key was most likely included in the packaging. Look for the sticker on the back of the CD or DVD case, or on a card that came with your device. This is also one of the benefits of activating Windows 10 with a license key.
Use Command Prompt
Command Prompt is a powerful tool built into Windows 10. You can use it to find your key by following these steps:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type “wmic path software licensing service get OA3xOriginalProductKey” (without quotes) and press Enter.
Your key will be displayed on the screen.
Use PowerShell
PowerShell is another tool that you can use to retrieve your activation key. Here’s how:
- Open PowerShell as an administrator.
- Type “powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalserialKey” ” (without quotes) and press Enter.
- Your key will be displayed on the screen.
Use Registry Editor
Registry Editor is a database where Windows stores configuration settings for software and hardware. You can use it to find your product key by following these steps:
- Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit” (without quotes) and press Enter.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId.
Your serial key will be displayed on the right-hand side of the window.
Use Key Finder Software
If the above methods don’t work, you can use third-party software to find your activation key. There are many key-finder tools available on the internet, such as Belarc Advisor, ProduKey, and Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder. These tools scan your computer and retrieve the serial key for you.
Note that if your windows 10 OS is activated through OEM key, You can not use that key in another computer. If you’ve valid retail key, then you can do so. Therefore it is important to know the Difference Between OEM And Retail Windows Key.
Contact Microsoft Support
If you still can’t find your key, you can contact Microsoft Support for assistance. They will ask for proof of purchase, such as the date of purchase and the email address used to purchase the product.
Conclusion
Losing your Windows 10 product key can be a frustrating experience. However, with the above methods, you can quickly retrieve your key and activate your operating system. Remember to keep your product key in a safe place to avoid future inconvenience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A serial key is a 25-character code that verifies your copy of Windows is genuine.
You can find your Windows 10 product key on the product key sticker, Command Prompt, PowerShell, Registry Editor, or by using product key finder software.
If you lost your activation key, you can retrieve it using the above methods or contact Microsoft Support for assistance.
Using the third-party product key finder software is legal, as long as you use it for personal purposes only.
No, you cannot use the same key on multiple devices. Each device requires a unique key.
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