Although a Windows product key usually comes on a sticker with the purchase of your device, there may be a few reasons that may lead to you losing or not having the product key in the first place.
In this guide, we’ll show your how to find a product key Windows 11 product key in a few different ways.
These methods can assist you in finding your Windows 11 product key whether you purchased a retail copy, obtained it online, or it is linked to your Microsoft account.
This Article Covers:
How To Find a Windows 11 Product Key
There are a couple of different ways you can use to get a Windows 11 product key, and in this article, we’ll show you all the ways, including:
- Checking your receipt
- Using the command prompt
- Using Powershell
- Using the Registry
- Use a third-party key finder tool
- Contacting Microsoft Support
What Is a Windows Product Key?
A Windows product key is a one-of-a-kind alphanumeric code that acts as a digital license for a particular edition of the Windows operating system. It usually contains 25 characters.
It is needed to activate and authenticate your copy of Windows in order to access all of its features and receive Microsoft updates and support.
When you buy a licensed copy of Windows, it will always come with a product key, either as a physical sticker on the package or as a digital code through email or a digital distribution network. With this code, you can validate your Windows installation and prevent illegal use.
During the Windows installation process, you’ll get a prompt to enter the product key to activate your copy of Windows.
Once activated, the product key is associated with your hardware configuration and stored on Microsoft’s servers. This allows you to reinstall Windows on the same device without needing to re-enter the product key.
It’s important to keep your Windows product key in a safe place as it is crucial for reinstallation, system upgrades, or transferring your Windows license to a different computer. This is pretty similar to the Microsoft Office product key.
NOTE: If you haven’t purchased Windows 11 already, you can get it for a steal on StackSocial. Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for 84% off here.
Confirm that Windows 11 is Activated
If you’re not sure whether the problem lies with the lack of a Windows 11 product key, then you can find out if your Windows 11 is activated to confirm this. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Clock on Update & Security.
Step 3: Click on Activation.
Your device should say, “ Windows is activated using your organization’s activation service” Otherwise, you may need to enter the product key.
In case it doesn’t, then you’ll need to activate it with the product key. We’ll show you just how to find the product key below.
Related: The Best Free Spreadsheet Software
What to Do if Windows is Not Activated
If you’ve bought a second hand computer and Windows is not activated, unfortunately, you may have to buy a new licence for Windows. You can get one as a digital download from Amazon.
Method 1: Check Your Purchase Receipt or Email
First things first, before you get into scripts and command prompts, you can check for your product key from your purchase. Here’s where to find Windows 11 product key:
- If you purchase a physical retail copy of Windows 11, the product key is often included as a sticker or printed on a card inside the packaging. Look for a label that contains the alphanumeric code.
- On the other hand, if you buy a digital copy of Windows 11 online, the product key may be provided in the purchase confirmation email you receive from the retailer or Microsoft. Make sure to check your inbox or spam folder for any relevant emails.
- You might also be able to find it in your account in the digital store you bought it in.
If you’re unable to find it in any of these places, then you can proceed to our methods below to find the product key in your device.
Method 2: Using the Command Prompt
Here’s how to find the product key using the command prompt:
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key and typing “Command Prompt,”
Step 2: Select the Command Prompt app from the search results. And choose Run as administrator.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Win + R and type “cmd” to run the Command prompt.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
The Command Prompt will display the product key associated with your Windows installation. Take note of the code with the numbers and letters.
Method 3: Using Powershell
Similarly, you can also use Powershell to find your Windows product key. Powershell is pretty similar to the Command prompt, except it can also automate tasks. Here’s how to find a Windows 11 product key using Powershell:
Step 1: Press the Windows key, and type “PowerShell,”
Step 2: Select the PowerShell app from the search results. It’s always advised to Run as Administrators.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Win + X and choose “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the menu.
Step 3: In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:
powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"
The PowerShell will display the product key associated with your Windows installation. Take note of the alphanumeric code.
Method 4: Using the Registry
The Registry contains all the information about your Windows operating system, including the product key. Here’s how to find the product key for Windows 11 using the registry:
Step 1: Press the Windows key and type “Registry Editor,”
Step 2: Select the Registry Editor app from the search results.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Win + R, type “regedit,” and press Enter.
Step 3: To go to the Product Key Location in the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSoftwareProtectionPlatform
You can copy the text above and paste it into the text box below the toolbar. This will take you directly to the file SoftwareProtectionPlatform.
Step 4: Look for a registry entry named “BackupProductKeyDefault” on the right-hand side panel. This entry should contain the product key.
You can copy it or note it down somewhere.
Method 5: Use a Third-Party Key Finder Tool
If none of these methods work for you and you’re still having trouble finding your Windows 11 product key, then you can use a product key finder.
You can find a tool for this with a quick search on Google. Some good examples include ProduKey, Lazesoft Windows Key Finder, and LicenseCrawler. Some of them might require a subscription, but plenty of them are for free.
In this article, we’ll be using the Winkeyfinder tool to find the Windows 11 product key Follow the step-by-step guide below to find your Windows 11 product key:
Step 1: Go to the Winkeyfinder website.
Step 2: Download the Winkeyfinder software. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to find the download button.
Step 3: Go to the file location and run the application file by double-clicking on it.
The Winkeyfinder window will open, showing details about your device, including the product key. You can click on copy and paste the product key where you need to in order to activate Windows 11.
The Winkeyfinder tool is a pretty simple software to use, and it’s completely free.
Method 6: Contact Microsoft Support
If none of these methods work, or if the product key you find doesn’t activate your Windows, then you may need to contact your manufacturer or Microsoft support.
Here’s how to get the contact support number for activation support:
Step 1: Go to Start > Settings
Step 2: Select Update & Recovery > Activation.
Step 3: In the section for “Activate Windows Now”, select Activate by Phone.
You will get the option to activate your device over the phone. First, try to activate using this method, and if the activation fails, you will be connected to Microsoft support for your region and country. They should be able to assist you in finding your correct product key for Windows 11.
You can also get online Support on the Microsoft website by submitting a help request. However, you may need to wait for a response.
Related: Best Microsoft Office Alternatives bb
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Find Windows 11 Product Key
You can usually find your Windows 11 product key on a sticker or printed on a card inside the packaging, or you can find it in the confirmation email for your purchase.
You can also find it in the registry editor, as we’ve shown you in our guide.
Wrapping Up
It‘s possible and pretty common to lose your Windows 11 product key. Luckily there are a couple of different ways to find your Windows 11 product key.
We’ve gone through how to find a Windows 11 product key in all the possible ways, and we hope you were successful. If you found this article helpful, check out some of our related content below.
Related:
- Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for under $40
- How to Rotate a Screen in Windows
- How to Open a HEIC File on Windows
- How to Screenshot on Windows 11
- 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10 FIXED
- How to Get iMessage on Windows PC
- How to Make Chrome the Default Browser [Mac, Windows, iOS, Android]
- Windows 7 Factory Reset: 4 Easy Ways to Reset
