Your Windows product key is a 25-character code which is used to activate your system, in the form of 27QYD-YQFQG-4P9GY-DRVR3-RCFDV (5 groups of 5 characters separated by dashes).
You can find it with a simple command PowerShell. Depending on your type of Windows license, You won't always need it to reinstall the system, but it's best to keep it handy.
This video shows you, step by step, how to retrieve your Windows key and its Product ID :
Explanatory video in French by Alucare, ideal complement to the page. View video (you can use YouTube's automatic translation)
How do I find my Windows product key?
The fastest method is to Windows PowerShell. Just one command is all it takes to display the characters in your product key engraved on the BIOS. The steps below work on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Find Your Windows Product Key Using PowerShell
- Open the Start menu, then type PowerShell in the search bar.
- Right-click on it, then select Run as administrator. This step is required; otherwise, the command will not return anything.
- In the PowerShell window, paste this ordered then press Entrance :
(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey
- Your product key is displayed in the format XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. Copy it and keep it in a safe place.
If the first command returns an empty line, try this more modern version:
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey.
Since the’command prompt (CMD) run as an administrator, the command:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
does the same job.
Type it in, press Enter, and your Windows product key is displayed directly in the window.
Find the Windows Product ID
L'Product ID is not the activation key, but it is used to identify your installation to support Microsoft. To find it:
- Open To start up then Settings ;
- Go to System, then System Information, then “About.”.
- L'Product ID appears in the right-hand column, in the specifications section of Windows.
What if the command doesn't return any keys?
About some digital licenses, PowerShell returns an empty result. This is completely normal. A digital license (also known as digital rights) is related to your Microsoft account and to your equipment, without any readable key on your device.
There are several ways to recover your Windows product key Depending on your situation:
- PC with Windows pre-installed : the key OEM is stored in the BIOS, so the command almost always finds it; ;
- License purchased from a reseller : Your product key is located in the’confirmation e-mail received at the time of purchase; ;
- Physical copy Windows: check out the’label or the card inside the box; ;
- Free upgrade to Windows 10 or 11: your digital license is saved on your Microsoft account, so you don't need a key to reactivate or Reinstall Windows. Just log in to your account after installation: the’Windows Activation is done automatically, without having to enter a key.
The Different Types of Windows Licenses
Understanding Your Type of Windows license saves you from a lot of surprises during a reinstallation or a change of computer.
- OEM License : tied to the original hardware. It cannot be transferred to another PC. The product key is programmed into the BIOS by the manufacturer.
- Retail License (boxed or download version): transferable from one PC to another. The Windows product key is included in the confirmation email or on the card in the box.
- Digital License : no visible key. The’Windows Activation is done through your Microsoft account automatically, as soon as you log in after a reinstallation.
To check your type of Windows license, open a command prompt as an administrator and enter: slmgr /dli. A window then displays the status of the’activation and the license type associated with your installation.
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