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For almost users, especially with Microsoft Windows ten, the last operating system you will always need, there has been no need for product keys considering in that location has been no "new" version of Windows. When this article was first published in Baronial 2021, Windows 11 was a awaiting release – now that it'due south available, we have tips on how to find your product central in Windows 11. Nevertheless, some users may still need to know their Windows x product key.

Come across: Checklist: Securing Windows 10 systems (TechRepublic Premium)

Your Windows x production key should be listed on a sticker located on your computer hardware somewhere—typically in the most inaccessible spot possible. But before y'all go crawling backside your desk-bound looking for a 25-digit alphanumeric code printed in fine print on the backside of your PC, there are less strenuous means to track down your Windows 10 product fundamental.

This how-to tutorial shows you how to find your Windows ten product key using the power of the operating organisation itself.

How to find your Windows ten production key

Earlier we begin, note that the success of whatever of these methods is largely dependent on how your PC was activated. If yous activated Windows ten past upgrading from a valid Windows vii or 8 installation or with the figurer's recent purchase, you lot are likely to discover the product key with most of these methods. However, if your PC was activated as role of an organization'due south licensing agreement, finding a product fundamental may be more problematic.

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

1. Command prompt

The nigh direct method for finding your Windows 10 product key is from the control line. Blazon "cmd" into the Windows 10 desktop search box and so right-click the command line result and select "run as administrator" from the context card. Blazon this command at the prompt:

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

As you tin can see in Effigy A, the command will display your current Windows 10 product fundamental.

Figure A

2. PowerShell

If yous are using Windows 10 PowerShell, the process is like. Correct-click the First Bill of fare button and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context carte. Type this control at the prompt to reveal the product key every bit shown in Figure B.

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

Figure B

three. Registry File

Every bit you might imagine, the product central is stored in the Windows 10 Registry File, so it is possible to observe the lawmaking there if you know the right key. Blazon "regedit" into the Windows ten desktop search and select the appropriate detail in the results. Navigate to this key:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSoftwareProtectionPlatform

As you can see in Effigy C, the BackupProductKeyDefault cardinal will reveal a valid Windows 10 product cardinal.

Effigy C

Notation: In my example, the Windows 10 product key displayed by both the command prompt and PowerShell methods are the aforementioned. In the registry case, however, the product keys is different. The all-time caption I can suggest is that because I upgraded from Home to Pro on the example PC, the product cardinal displayed is for the upgrade to Pro (or vice versa). If you lot have a better solution, please let u.s.a. know in the discussion.

At that place are third-party vendors offering applications that can locate and display your Windows 10 product key too, only they substantially do the same affair we did hither without involving someone else'due south programming and potential security issues. Likewise, go along in mind that if you bought Windows 10 from the Microsoft Shop, your account guild history would have product fundamental information available.