That said, there are instances where knowing the license code for your Windows copy can help. Fortunately, finding your Windows 11 product key is easy, and here we show you how.
What Is a Windows Product Key?
A Windows product key is a 25-character code that you can use to activate your copy of Windows. Since Windows 11 uses a digital license method for the activation, you don’t need to manually enter the key each time you upgrade or clean install the Windows OS.
However, if you run into an activation error, you may be asked to enter the 25-character product key to successfully activate your copy of Windows. As such, if you don’t know your product key, here is how to extract it from your Windows 11 system.
Note that each edition of Windows uses its own unique product key. So, if you have a license for the Windows Home edition, you cannot use it to activate Windows 10 Pro or other editions.
1. How to Find the Windows 11 Product Key Using Command Prompt
You can use the ever-trustworthy Command Prompt to find the product key for your copy of Windows. Needless to say, you must have a Windows-activated computer to retrieve the code. Here’s how to do it.
Press Win + S on your keyboard to open Windows search. Type cmd and then click on Run as administrator from the search result. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit enter to execute: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey Your original product key will be displayed on the screen. Copy and save the key in a safe location such as your Dropbox or Google Drive account for future use.
2. How to Recover the Windows 11 Product Key Using PowerShell
If you prefer PowerShell over Command Prompt, or if the first method did not work, you can use this task automation tool to recover your Windows 11 product key. Here’s how to do it.
Press Win and type powershell. Right-click on PowerShell and select Run as administrator. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and hit enter: powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’). OA3xOriginalProductKey” The command may take a few seconds to execute. Upon successful execution, it will display the product key for your copy of Windows.
Note that this also requires that you have an activated Windows version.
3. Use a Third-party Tool to Find Your Windows 11 Product Key
If you would rather avoid the hassle of typing commands or running scripts, third-party tools like ShowKeyPlus can help you find Window activation code with a few clicks.
ShowKeyPlus is a third-party app and is available in Microsoft Store. All you have to do is download and run the app to retrieve Windows product information. Here’s how to do it.
Visit the Microsoft Store page for ShowKeyPlus and install the app. Launch ShowKeyPlus, and it will show information related to the Windows license installed on your PC. Click the Save button to save the product details in a text file.
Additionally, you can use this tool to check Windows edition using the product key and also retrieve a key from a backup.
4. Run a VBS Script to Find the Windows 11 Product Key
Another way to find your Windows 11 product key is to run a VBS script. While it may look complicated, running a VBS script takes no more than a few steps, and here’s how to do it.
Open the Notepad app on your PC. Copy the following code and paste it into the Notepad file. Set WshShell = CreateObject(“WScript. Shell”)MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell. RegRead(“HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId”))Function ConvertToKey(Key)Const KeyOffset = 52i = 28Chars = “BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"DoCur = 0x = 14DoCur = Cur * 256Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + CurKey(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255Cur = Cur Mod 24x = x -1Loop While x >= 0i = i -1KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutputIf (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Theni = i -1KeyOutput = “-” & KeyOutputEnd IfLoop While i >= 0ConvertToKey = KeyOutputEnd Function Once done, press Ctrl + S. Rename the file as Productkey. vbs. Next, click the drop-down for Save as type and select All Files. Click the Save button. Double-click on the productkey. vbs file to run the script. Your product key will appear in a pop-up. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C to copy the code and save it in a safe location.
5. Check Your Purchase Receipt or Email
Also, check the order section of your online retailer to find information on how to retrieve the key or how the key was initially delivered.
Additionally, look for the physical stickers on your computer with the information related to your computer hardware and software configuration. It may also include the Windows product key or other necessary details that can help you locate it.
6. Contact Microsoft Support
If all else fails, try contacting Microsoft support for assistance. You can ask for a call back using the Get Help app on your computer. Here’s how to use it.
Press Win + I to open Settings. In the right pane, click on Activation. Next, click Get Help. Select your reason and click on Contact Support. Next, select your product and click Confirm. Click on the Provide your phone number and the support agent will call you option and follow on-screen instructions.
The Many Ways to Retrieve Windows 11 Product Key
Since Windows 10, Microsoft has changed the way Windows license works. Irrespective of how you got your license, once activated, the product key is tied to your system hardware. Whether you upgrade to the next version or clean install the OS, the licensing code component will automatically detect and verify the ownership.
It is when you make major hardware changes, such as replacing the motherboard, you will require to reactivate the Windows with the product key. Follow the steps in the article and you should be able to retrieve your product key in no time. However, if you still cannot recover the key, try contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.
