This article explains how to trace your computer's Windows product key using the PowerShell app or a third-party app called ProduKey.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use the PowerShell App
Step 1. Launch the PowerShell app
Press the key combination "Windows + S."to open the Windows search window, then type in the keyword" PowerShell "and select the corresponding app icon from the list of results that will appear.
Step 2. Type the following code into the "PowerShell" window
(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService'). OA3xOriginalProductKey
and press the button Enter.
Step 3. Make a note of the product key
This is a 25-character alphanumeric code that will appear just below the command prompt.
- Take a screenshot of the screen or make a note of the code on a sheet of paper so you have it on hand when you need it.
- If the command indicated does not work, try using the ProduKey program to trace the product key of your copy of Windows.
Method 2 of 2: Using the ProduKey Program
Step 1. Log in to the ProduKey website
Visit the URL https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html using the internet browser of a working computer.
Step 2. Scroll down the page and click on the Download ProduKey link (In Zip file)
It is displayed at the bottom of the page. The installation file will be downloaded to your computer.
Step 3. Access the ProduKey program folder
Double-click the ProduKey ZIP file you just downloaded to your computer (the default folder for internet downloads should be the "Downloads" folder).
Step 4. Click the Extract All button
It is located on the Compressed Folders Tools tab. A pop-up folder will appear.
Step 5. Click the Extract button after selecting the folder to extract the data to
If you wish, you can click on the button Browse to select the directory where to save the files. Normally the default folder is the same where the original ZIP file is located. The button Extract is located at the bottom of the window. At the end of the data decompression process, the ProduKey folder will be opened automatically.
Step 6. Double-click the ProduKey program file
It features an icon depicting a key. The ProduKey program window will appear. The 25-character alphanumeric product key for your copy of Windows should be visible to the right of your computer's hard drive name.
Take a screenshot of the screen or make a note of the code on a sheet of paper so you have it on hand when you need it
Advice
- The Windows product key is most likely also listed on the installation CD / DVD, on the computer packaging, or on an adhesive label stuck on the underside of the device or inside the battery compartment.
- If you purchased a copy of Windows 10 directly from the Microsoft Store, you will find your product key by looking at your purchase history.
- On some computers, installing and starting the ProduKey program will display a warning message regarding the possible presence of a virus. This happens because ProduKey is able to access the product key of the system and not because it is really a malicious program. If you downloaded the ProduKey installation file directly from the official website, you can ignore the warning message and continue.
