Forum Discussion

Awenam's avatar
Awenam
Copper Contributor
Oct 18, 2024
Solved

How to find product key for Microsoft Office already installed

Hi,

 

I have an urgent issue to be fixed and really need help from community. I have Office installed and activated with a product key on my Windows 10 PC. Yesterday, I reinstalled Windows 10 as it was infected with malware. 

 

I have to reinstall all the apps from scratch, including Microsoft Office. The problem is that I am unable to find the product key after reinstall.  Not sure where stores the key any more! My question is how can I find product key for Microsoft Office on my computer?

 

Appreciated for your help!

 

21 Replies

  • Floraow's avatar
    Floraow
    Copper Contributor

    If you’re trying to find your Microsoft Office product key this way and it doesn’t pan out, don’t sweat it! Check your email for the original purchase confirmation or if you’ve got a physical copy, that key is usually on the box or inside. Also, don’t forget that Microsoft 365 relies on your account, so sometimes, logging into your Microsoft account can give you access without needing a product key at all!

  • vitkamattea's avatar
    vitkamattea
    Copper Contributor
    Let’s be real, not everyone is comfortable using the Command Prompt. If you’re not tech-savvy, it can feel like a foreign language. And if you mess up the command or don’t enter it right, you might think there's an issue when there isn’t. Executing commands in CMD carries some risk. If you're not careful with what you type or try other commands, you could unintentionally mess something up in your system. I've seen people accidentally enter wrong commands and cause more issues, which is never a fun time!
  • Grielloppen's avatar
    Grielloppen
    Copper Contributor
    Using the Command Prompt (CMD) to find Microsoft Office product key? This method only works for certain versions of Office, like older ones or those that came pre-installed on your PC (OEM versions). If you’ve got a newer version or an individual retail key, you're outta luck. Trust me, it’s frustrating trying to retrieve a key that just isn’t stored in your system. Sometimes, the product key isn’t even stored in the BIOS or isn’t retrievable through CMD. If you bought Office directly from Microsoft, your key might not be in the deeper settings of your machine. So, you might end up doing a lot of typing and get nada!
  • clsnessar's avatar
    clsnessar
    Copper Contributor

    If you’re trying to find the product key for Microsoft Office using methods like checking the registry or using PowerShell's Get-WmiObject, there are some real downsides to consider. The PowerShell angle. While it's pretty powerful, not everyone is comfortable with commands. If you’re not familiar with it, trying to fish out that key can feel like trying to read an alien language. Plus, sometimes organizations set things up so that info is obscured for security reasons. So, you might just end up hitting a wall.

    And let’s not forget privacy and security concerns. Accessing registry keys or running PowerShell commands might expose more than just your Office key. You could potentially reveal other sensitive system info, and that’s something you'd want to avoid.

  • Chloe1895's avatar
    Chloe1895
    Copper Contributor

    Awenam An Office product key is a 25-character alphanumeric code used to activate Microsoft Office software. It verifies that the copy of Office you're using is genuine and properly licensed. This key is provided when you purchase Office and is necessary to unlock full features of the software.

     

    If Microsoft Office is installed on your computer and activated, you can retrieve the product key using the Command Prompt. Note that this method only works for some versions of Office, particularly if the key is stored in the system's registry (usually with older versions or volume licenses).

     

    How to Find Office Product Key via CMD:

     

    1. Press Windows + S and type cmd.

    2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

    3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

    wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

    4. If the product key is stored in the system's BIOS/UEFI (for OEM pre-installed Office), it will be displayed.

    • vinifts's avatar
      vinifts
      Copper Contributor

      Chloe1895I am pretty sure this command will retrieve your Windows license key, not the Office one.

    • lawtky's avatar
      lawtky
      Copper Contributor

      Does this step finds the product key for Windows product key or Microsoft office product key?
      wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

      • vinifts's avatar
        vinifts
        Copper Contributor

        This command OA3xOriginalProductKey refers to a property within the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) class Software Licensing Service that contains the original OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) embedded license key. It's essentially a 25-character code used to activate Windows, typically found pre-installed on new computers. This key is tied to the specific hardware vendor and is usually not transferable.

  • Hammadanspo's avatar
    Hammadanspo
    Copper Contributor

    If you’re using a version of Office that’s part of a volume license agreement (such as from your organization), you might be able to retrieve the Office product key by checking the registry or using the Get-WmiObject command in PowerShell:

     

    (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey

     

    • jeffre's avatar
      jeffre
      Copper Contributor

      This is a solution, thank you so much

    • vinifts's avatar
      vinifts
      Copper Contributor

      This command OA3xOriginalProductKey refers to a property within the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) class Software Licensing Service that contains the original OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) embedded license key. It's essentially a 25-character code used to activate Windows, typically found pre-installed on new computers. This key is tied to the specific hardware vendor and is usually not transferable.

    • JunKing's avatar
      JunKing
      Copper Contributor

      Follow these instructions exactly and it will work no matter when, where, how or why you installed MS Office on your machine. After a couple of BS "free" key finder wastes of time I tried this and it worked just fine. Gave me a key I purchased from timbucktu. Thanks Hammadanspo

  • sulorikauaa's avatar
    sulorikauaa
    Copper Contributor

    To find product key for Microsoft Office. If you see someone offering a product key on social media, be skeptical. Legitimate companies don’t just throw out keys on Twitter or Facebook. These are usually scams looking to reel you into providing personal info. Sometimes, you might find a deal that includes both Office and other software. Make sure to check if the key is legitimate. Sometimes these bundles have counterfeit keys or they’re tied to specific hardware. Check the terms!

    Each version of Microsoft Office has its own licensing terms. If you buy a key meant for business use, it might not work for personal use and vice versa. So, make sure you know what version you're getting it for! Before hunting for a new key, check if you already have a subscription or a key lying around somewhere. You might have bought it ages ago and forgotten about it. Plus, Microsoft 365 offers cloud storage and other perks that might be included in your existing deal.

    • JustSomeOtherDude's avatar
      JustSomeOtherDude
      Copper Contributor

      I searched for potential issues with Dr.Key and got the following:

      While Dr. Key can be used to find your product keys, it is generally not considered a safe or reliable method due to concerns about potential malware and privacy risks associated with third-party key finders; it's often recommended to access your product key through official Microsoft methods instead. 


      Why you should be cautious with Dr. Key:
      Potential for Malware:
      -- Some users have reported finding malware bundled with Dr. Key downloads, which could harm your system. 
      Privacy Concerns:
      -- By scanning your system for product keys, Dr. Key could potentially access sensitive information about your software licenses, which could be misused. 
      Unnecessary Tool:
      -- Most operating systems offer built-in methods to access your product key, making third-party tools like Dr. Key potentially redundant. 
      Safer Alternatives to Find Your Product Key:
      -- Command Prompt:
      ---- On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator and type "wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey" to retrieve your product key. 
      -- Microsoft Account:
      ---- If you purchased your Windows license through a Microsoft account, you can access your product key from your account details online. 
      -- System Information:
      ---- Check the label on your computer or the packaging it came with for your product key. 

  • John_WilsonJ's avatar
    John_WilsonJ
    Copper Contributor

    If you purchased Microsoft Office as a physical product or via email, the product key is usually included on the packaging or in the confirmation email from Microsoft or the retailer. This is the easiest way to find product key for Microsoft Office already installed on a PC.

Resources