This article will show you how to check your Windows product key on your computer. To do this, you can use the command line or the free "ProduKey" program. Also, with the help of "ProduKey" you can find out the product key of the system of a non-working computer. If you upgraded to Windows 10 while using the trial version, you don't have a product key, but you have a digital license that can be accessed by signing into your Microsoft account on a new computer.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using the command line
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. In the Start menu search bar, enter Command Prompt
The search process for the "Command Line" program will start.
Step 3. Click on the command line icon
It looks like a black rectangle and sits at the top of the Start menu. A command prompt window will open.
To use this method, log in as an administrator
Step 4. Enter the command that will display the product key
At the command prompt, enter
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
, and then press ↵ Enter.
Step 5. Find your product key on the screen
The 25-character product key appears directly below the command entered.
- Take a screenshot or write down the key so that you have it at your fingertips.
- If this command did not work, use the method described in the next section.
Part 2 of 3: Using ProduKey
Step 1. Open the ProduKey website
Go to http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html on your computer.
Step 2. Scroll down and click Download ProduKey (In Zip file)
It's near the bottom of the page. The program archive will be downloaded to your computer.
Step 3. Unpack the program
Double-click the zip file in your downloads folder (for example, your Downloads folder or your desktop).
Step 4. Click Check Out
It's near the top of the window. The toolbar will open.
Step 5. Click Extract All
It's on the right side of the toolbar. A window will open.
Step 6. Click Check Out when prompted
It's near the bottom of the window. The archive with the program will be unpacked.
Step 7. Double click on the ProduKey program icon
It looks like a key. The program window will open; there you will see a 25-character product key (to the right of the hard drive name).
Take a screenshot or write down the key so that you have it at your fingertips
Part 3 of 3: Finding the System Product Key of a Non-Working Computer
Step 1. Connect the hard drive of the non-working computer to the working computer
Remove the hard drive from the non-working computer, connect the drive to the adapter, and then connect the adapter to the working Windows computer.
Depending on your hard drive, you will need a SATA adapter or an IDE adapter. The IDE connector is a few centimeters wide, while the SATA connector is narrower
Step 2. Open the “ProduKey” program
This program must already be installed on your computer; otherwise, install it now.
Step 3. Click on File
It's in the upper-left corner of the window. A dropdown menu will open.
Step 4. Click Select Source
It's near the top of the drop-down menu. A new window will open.
Step 5. Check the box next to “Load the product keys from external Windows directory”
It's near the top of the window.
Step 6. Click Browse
This option is located to the right of the text box.
Step 7. Select the connected hard drive
Find and click on the connected hard drive in the list.
You may need to expand the Computer section at the top of the list first
Step 8. Click on OK
This button is at the bottom of the window; it will close.
Step 9. Click on OK
It's at the bottom of the Source window.
Step 10. Find your product key
To the right of the hard drive name, you will find a 25-character product key (this is the non-working computer system product key).
Take a screenshot or write down the key so that you have it at your fingertips
Advice
- The Windows product key can most likely be found on the installation disc, on the computer box, on the bottom of the chassis, or inside the battery compartment.
- Downloading and launching the ProduKey program may cause the antivirus to work. This is because the program can access the product key and not the malicious code inside the program. If you downloaded the program from the official site, ignore the messages of your antivirus.
Warnings
- If you use someone else's product key to activate your Windows system, you are violating Microsoft's terms of use.
- Be very careful when removing the hard drive from a non-working computer. Better if an experienced user does it.