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For most users, especially with Microsoft Windows 10, the last operating arrangement you will ever demand, in that location has been no demand for production keys because at that place has been no "new" version of Windows. When this article was get-go published in August 2021, Windows 11 was a pending release – at present that information technology's available, we have tips on how to find your product primal in Windows 11. Nevertheless, some users may still need to know their Windows 10 product key.

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

Your Windows 10 product key should be listed on a sticker located on your reckoner hardware somewhere—typically in the most inaccessible spot possible. Merely before you get itch behind your desk looking for a 25-digit alphanumeric code printed in fine print on the backside of your PC, there are less strenuous ways to track down your Windows 10 product key.

This how-to tutorial shows you lot how to find your Windows 10 production key using the power of the operating system itself.

How to notice your Windows x production key

Before nosotros begin, annotation that the success of any of these methods is largely dependent on how your PC was activated. If y'all activated Windows 10 past upgrading from a valid Windows 7 or 8 installation or with the computer's recent purchase, you are likely to find the product primal with most of these methods. However, if your PC was activated as part of an organization's licensing agreement, finding a product key may be more than problematic.

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1. Control prompt

The most direct method for finding your Windows 10 product key is from the command line. Type "cmd" into the Windows 10 desktop search box and and so right-click the command line outcome and select "run every bit ambassador" from the context bill of fare. Blazon this command at the prompt:

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

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

Figure A

2. PowerShell

If you lot are using Windows 10 PowerShell, the process is similar. Right-click the Showtime Card button and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context menu. Type this command at the prompt to reveal the product fundamental as shown in Effigy B.

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

Effigy B

3. Registry File

As you might imagine, the product key is stored in the Windows 10 Registry File, so information technology is possible to find the code at that place if you 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 yous tin can see in Figure C, the BackupProductKeyDefault key volition reveal a valid Windows ten product key.

Figure C

Note: In my example, the Windows 10 product key displayed by both the command prompt and PowerShell methods are the same. In the registry case, all the same, the production keys is dissimilar. The all-time explanation I tin can suggest is that because I upgraded from Abode to Pro on the example PC, the product fundamental displayed is for the upgrade to Pro (or vice versa). If you have a better solution, delight let u.s.a. know in the discussion.

There are third-party vendors offering applications that can locate and display your Windows 10 product cardinal besides, just they essentially do the same thing we did hither without involving someone else'southward programming and potential security issues. Also, keep in mind that if you bought Windows ten from the Microsoft Store, your account order history would accept product key information available.