Forum Discussion
How do I find Windows 10 product key without cmd?
I recently needed to find Windows 10 product key, but I don't want to use the command prompt (cmd) method. I wonder if there are other simpler ways, such as directly checking in the system settings, or using third-party software? I didn't record the key before, and now I want to reinstall the system, so I'm a little anxious. Has anyone encountered a similar situation and can recommend some practical methods? Thank you!
- For some OEM pre-installed Windows products, the key will be saved directly in the BIOS. You can check whether the product key is displayed in the "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Activation" page, but usually only the activation status is displayed.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Type the following command and press Enter:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKeyYour product key should be displayed on the screen. This is the easiest way to help you find Windows 10 product key. However, you should know how to use CMD on a Windows 10 PC.
- I have tried this command line method before, but the result was that the product key was not displayed. I don't know why. It may be that the key of my system is stored in the BIOS, and the command line can't read it at all. I was quite depressed at the time, thinking that I could use the simplest CMD method to solve it, but it didn't work. Later, I could only rely on other tools to find Windows 10 product key. Have you encountered this situation?
- How to find Windows 10 product key? If you bought a PC that came with Windows 10 pre-installed, often the product key is stuck on a sticker somewhere on the device. Check the bottom of your laptop or inside the battery compartment. For desktop PCs, it could be on the side or back of the case. If you purchased Windows 10 online, you probably got an email with your product key in there. Search your inbox for any emails from Microsoft or the retailer you bought it from.
A Windows 10 product key is a 25-character code used to activate the Windows operating system. It is formatted like this: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. The product key serves as proof that you have a legitimate copy of Windows 10, and it is required to activate and validate your OS. This is why it is so important to find Windows 10 product key before reinstall or upgrade!
When you install or reinstall Windows 10, you are usually prompted to enter the product key. If your Windows 10 was pre-installed on your device, the product key is likely embedded in the device’s firmware (UEFI/BIOS) or provided on a sticker somewhere on your computer. If you purchased Windows 10 separately, the product key might have been provided in the packaging or sent to you via email.
AdamRomero wrote:A Windows 10 product key is a 25-character code used to activate the Windows operating system. It is formatted like this: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. The product key serves as proof that you have a legitimate copy of Windows 10, and it is required to activate and validate your OS. This is why it is so important to find Windows 10 product key before reinstall or upgrade!
When you install or reinstall Windows 10, you are usually prompted to enter the product key. If your Windows 10 was pre-installed on your device, the product key is likely embedded in the device’s firmware (UEFI/BIOS) or provided on a sticker somewhere on your computer. If you purchased Windows 10 separately, the product key might have been provided in the packaging or sent to you via email.
You are right, the Windows 10 product key is indeed the key to activating the system. However, my own experience is that even with the product key, when reinstalling the system, Windows sometimes automatically reads the key from the BIOS, so it does not necessarily need to be entered manually every time. I reinstalled it once before, and it skipped the key input step and the system activated itself. If it is a pre-installed Windows system, the key is usually hidden in the BIOS, so you don’t have to worry about not finding it. But if you bought Windows separately, you have to look for the key in the mail or in the box. Have you encountered this situation? Or do you have other ways to find Windows 10 product key without cmd?
If you purchased or upgraded to Windows 10 through the Microsoft Store, your product key is likely linked to your Microsoft account. This digital license makes it easier to reactivate Windows if you ever need to reinstall the operating system. Here’s how you can retrieve windows 10 product key directly from your Microsoft account.
Visit the Microsoft account page and sign in with the same account you used to purchase or activate Windows 10. Once logged in, go to the Devices section, where all your registered devices with Microsoft are listed.
Find and select the device on which Windows 10 is installed. Click on the device name to view more details. In the device details, look for any information related to Windows 10 activation or product key. While the full product key may not always be displayed, it might show the digital license status.
- If you linked your Windows 10 activation to your Microsoft account, you might not even need a product key. Just log into your Microsoft account and check under the "Devices" section. It'll show you which devices are linked and activated. If all else fails, you can always hit up Microsoft Support. They might be able to help you out if you provide some proof of purchase.
Always make a note of your product key after you find product key and store it somewhere safe, so you're not scrambling next time! You never know when you might need it again, especially if you decide to reinstall Windows. Sharing a way to retrieve windows 10 product key, just check the system settings:
- Go to Settings (you can do this by clicking the Start menu and then the gear icon).
- Click on Update & Security.
- From there, select Activation. If Windows is activated, you might see a message like "Windows is activated with a digital license." Unfortunately, it won't show the actual product key here, but if it's linked to your Microsoft account, you can reinstall Windows without needing the key.
- There are several user-friendly tools that can help you recover windows 10 product key easily:
Belerc Advisor: This is a free tool that gives you a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including your product key. Just download, install, and run it.
ProdvKey: Another lightweight program designed to extract and display your product keys for various Microsoft products. Just download it, run the program, and you should see your key.
ShwoKeyPlus: This tool can also retrieve and display your Windows keys. It's simple to use; download and run it, and you'll have your product key in no time. - If you purchased Windows 10 online, Microsoft usually includes a product key in the confirmation email. You may find it by searching for related emails in your mailbox. This is how I found my Windows 10 product key before.
I feel that this is a method that is easy to overlook. Many people may forget that they received an email. So if you have also purchased online, you may find it by searching your mailbox! If your Windows is pre-installed, the product key will often be attached to the bottom of the computer or on the box, especially on desktops and laptops. Check carefully to see if there is one. There are many ways to find Windows 11 product key without cmd, google it!
If you purchased a physical copy of Windows 10, the product key is typically printed on a sticker. This sticker might be affixed to your PC, especially if Windows came pre-installed, or it could be found inside the packaging of the Windows 10 box.
On the other hand, if you purchased Windows 10 online, your product key would usually be included in the email receipt sent to you at the time of purchase or stored in your Microsoft account, which is accessible whenever you need to reinstall or activate Windows.
These are very simple ways to recover windows 10 product key if you could not find it anymore!
