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Serial number and product key. How to check a Windows license in several ways

Good afternoon friends! Lately, I have increasingly begun to receive messages asking for help to activate the system. It so happened that a lot of users who previously used a licensed seven or eight received an unactivated Windows 10 after the update. And in order to return everything to its place, you just had to find the key indicated on the sticker and re-specify it in the activation window and thus completely legalize your system. But how do you find out your Windows product key?

This is where some users are confused. In general, the sticker with the key can be located either on a disk or pasted on the laptop. Usually in these places everyone looks for keys, but those Those who bought a laptop with Windows 8 pre-installed did not receive such a sticker, since the required code was sewn into the BIOS. Thus, after the next one, the computer was automatically activated using the key that was previously stored in the BIOS.

In principle, installing Windows 10 is a simple update, after which the keys should be saved, but unfortunately, some users encountered a situation where after the update process was completed, the system was not automatically activated. This had to be done manually by re-entering your license code, although most owners of laptops with eight preinstalled had no idea how to find out their Windows product key.

It is because of these troubles, new questions began to appear, such as: how to find out the Windows 8 key or how to find out the OEM product license key for Windows 7 and 8.1. You can view your key using a third-party program, this is exactly how I answered the question posed to me. But, another question immediately begged itself, which utility is best suited for this, and in general, how to find out this Windows product license key using the utility.

Therefore, rather than describe to everyone step by step in the comments how and what to press, I decided to prepare for you this small, but very useful guide on how to find out the product key of Windows 10, 7 and 8.1.

How to find out the product license key of an installed Windows product using the RWEverything utility

So, in order to find out the OEM license key that is built into the BIOS, we will have to use one convenient, and most importantly free program that shows all the hardware information of the computer, and of course, directly, everything about the installed BIOS, in which the required key is stored.


This way you will find out the OEM product key of Windows 10 or any other operating system. Now, copy your license key onto a piece of paper and enter it into the activation form, which will allow you to get your licensed Windows back.

The use of licensed software often guarantees stable operation, software support and a warranty in case of breakdown. That's why it's so important to know the activation key for Windows. The Windows key is a 25 character code. In this article we will look at how to find out the product key for Windows installed on your personal computer.

For example, you can find out license keys for Windows:

  • Without using the system
  • Using a script
  • Through third party software

You can find out the Windows license key without using the system and without turning on the computer at all. If you still have a license sticker on your system unit or the case of your laptop, you can look at the key on it. Here's what they look like:

The license key for activating Windows consists of 25 characters. If you have a sticker like this, it means you have a license key for your version of Windows.

An experienced Windows installer always has the ProduKey program available in his arsenal. With its help, you can not only find out the key for Windows, but also the office suite.

How to find out your Windows product key:

  1. Download the program from the website to find out the Windows activation key
  2. Unpack and run the Producey.exe file

After launching the program, you will see a window where the keys of all installed Microsoft products are displayed.

The program is very easy to use, even beginners should not have any questions. Another very useful feature of the program is that you can view the key not only of the local computer, but also of a remote computer on the network. How to find out your Windows license key:

  1. Click "File" - "Select Source" or press F9
  2. Specify the name of the computer on which you want to view the key

Now you know how to find out the key for Windows through third-party software.

Please note that this method does not work on the Windows 10 operating system. The script will help you find out the Windows product key on a laptop or desktop PC. The essence of the method is that you need to create a regular text document (in Notepad, Word) and insert a script into it.

How to find out the Windows product key using a script (an example of how to find a Windows product key through a script is performed on Windows 8):

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") regKey = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\" DigitalProductId = WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "DigitalProductId") Win8ProductName = "Windows Product Name: " & WshShell.RegRead (regKey & "ProductName") & vbNewLine Win8ProductID = "Windows Product ID: " & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "ProductID") & vbNewLine Win8ProductKey = ConvertToKey(DigitalProductId) strProductKey ="Windows 8 Key: " & Win8ProductKey Win8ProductID = Win8ProductName & Win8ProductID & strProductKey MsgBox(Win8ProductKey) MsgBox(Win8ProductID) Function ConvertToKey(regKey) Const KeyOffset = 52 isWin8 = (regKey(66) \ 6) And 1 regKey(66) = (regKey(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin8 And 2) * 4) j = 24 Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789" Do Cur = 0 y = 14 Do Cur = Cur * 256 Cur = regKey(y + KeyOffset) + Cur regKey(y + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) Cur = Cur Mod 24 y = y -1 Loop While y >= 0 j = j -1 winKeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & winKeyOutput Last = Cur Loop While j >= 0 If (isWin8 = 1) Then keypart1 = Mid(winKeyOutput, 2, Last) insert = "N" winKeyOutput = Replace(winKeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0) If Last = 0 Then winKeyOutput = insert & winKeyOutput End If a = Mid(winKeyOutput, 1, 5) b = Mid(winKeyOutput, 6, 5) c = Mid(winKeyOutput, 11, 5) d = Mid(winKeyOutput, 16, 5) e = Mid(winKeyOutput, 21, 5) ConvertToKey = a & "- " & b & "-" & c & "-" & d & "-" & e End Function

After pasting the script code, you need to save this document with the vbs extension.


After that, just run the created file. If you did everything correctly, you will see a message with the necessary information.

Each licensed copy of the Windows 10 operating system has a unique key, which indicates the activation of the installed version. The key consists of 25 characters, including English letters and numbers. Without this code and entering it into the system, your OS will be available within 30 days from the date of installation. After this, the computer will remind you of the need to activate, and after a while it will stop booting altogether. Below you can read about how to find out the Windows 10 product key, what types of keys there are and what they are needed for.

There are two types of operating system serial numbers:

  • OEM key is “hardwired” into the motherboard memory by default, since the OS was installed by the manufacturer;
  • Product Key. This key applies to the installed digital version of the product.

Due to the differences between the two types of serial numbers, confusion can sometimes arise. For example, if you uninstall the pre-installed copy of the OS and then install your own version, the OEM and Product keys will not match.

Why do you need a key?

Before the release of the “ten,” Microsoft developers used a simpler method to determine a unique code. The serial number for the pre-installed version of the operating system was always located on a sticker on the back of the laptop or PC case. With the advent of Windows 10 and the spread of digital versions, it was decided to abandon this idea.

Now owners of the “Ten” have to use non-trivial solutions to determine the serial key. You will need the number if you decide to reinstall a licensed copy of the OS on your computer. When using a pirated version, this operation is not required, since activation is carried out using a special program. You can also purchase a Windows 10 license through the official Microsoft website.

How to check if Windows 10 is activated?

Before searching for the key in the system, check that your copy is activated. It's very easy to do. To resolve the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on the shortcut "This computer" on the desktop and in the context menu, select .

  1. In the window that opens, you will see information about your system (technical data, performance assessment, etc.). In the subsection "ActivationWindows" there should be an inscription: "ActivationWindows done", as shown in the screenshot:

You can open the same window using the keyboard shortcut Win + Pause/Break

Now you know how to check whether the installed copy of the OS is activated. Now you can start searching for a license key for your Windows 10.

Where can I find my Windows 10 key?

You can find the activation key using standard OS tools and third-party programs. Let's look at all the methods in more detail:

  • VBS script;
  • extended command line (PowerShell);
  • ProduKey program;
  • ShowKeyPlus;
  • extract from UEFI;
  • applications for collecting system data.

Finding the key through scripts

This method looks at finding a license key using Visual Basic Script. It differs from the regular command line in that the result of the script is visualized in a separate window. You can download the script from . If you encounter any difficulties with the download, do not worry - you can create such a script yourself.

First, you need to create a document in Notepad with the following. Then save the file to any location on your computer with .vbs resolution and any name in English. To change the extension, you must first save the text document and then change the resolution using the rename function. Next, you need to launch the file by simply clicking on it. The system should show the OEM key on the desktop in a separate window, as shown in the screenshot. Click OK, after which you will see more detailed information about the installed version of the operating system:

The method works for 32-bit and 64-bit systems, as well as for all versions of Windows 10, including Home and Pro.

PowerShell

The second way to obtain a key using the built-in functionality is to use the PowerShell command line, which is only available on Windows 10 (x64). With its help you will receive information about the Product Key, that is, the current OS version number.

  1. Launch Notepad and copy the text from . After that, save the file to any folder with the extension .ps. Now you need to run PowerShell as an administrator. To do this, go to the search and enter the name in English (1). Now right-click on the icon and select from the menu "Run as administrator" (3).

  1. In the command prompt window, enter the command Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned and press Enter on your keyboard. Next, you need to specify the path to the file with the extension .ps1. If you saved it directly to your desktop, the command will look like this:
C:\Users\your username\Desktop\winkey.ps1

The Installed Key line will indicate the 25-digit code of your operating system. You can save it to a separate text file. Now let's figure out where to check the serial number for the OEM version of the OS.

We take out the key from UEFI

This method will allow you to find the OEM Key.

  1. First, open the command line as an administrator:

At the command prompt, enter the combination and press Enter.

The same action can be performed via PowerShell. Open PowerShell again using the method described earlier and enter the command ( Get-WmiObject -query "select * from SoftwareLicensingService").

Now you know how to check your license using the built-in operating system tools. Let's move on to third-party tools.

To install the program, follow the link. The application starts without installation, immediately after downloading. Information about the serial numbers of the installed software will appear in the ProduKey main window:

Producey is also used to determine the license number of Microsoft office suites and other software.

Download the program for free using the link. After launch, you will immediately be able to read information about Product and OEM in one screen:

Other applications

If you want to receive information not only about the OS license, but also about the entire PC, you can use one of the following programs:

  • AIDA 64;
  • Everest;
  • SIW and the like.

Software in this category allows you to find out everything about the software and hardware installed in your computer. The information also includes serial numbers. Finding them is not that difficult.

For example, let's take the program. On the main screen, tap the button OperatingSystem(1). On the right side of the program you will see SerialNumber(2). In a similar way, you can find the serial number through the other programs listed above.

conclusions

There are numerous ways to find the Product Key or OEM Key of an installed operating system. The article describes everything so that the user can use it by choosing the method independently. If a method doesn’t work for you or you don’t understand the procedure for performing it, just move on to another! The easiest way is to use automated software such as ProduKey and others. More experienced users will easily cope with scripts and the command line (PowerShell).

Video instruction

Most commercial software comes with special protection against unauthorized copying and installation. And although manufacturers use different methods to solve this problem, almost all of them prompt the user to enter a product key or serial number - at least this is the case with Microsoft Windows and Office.

The string, consisting of letters and numbers, is an individual identifier that proves the legality of your copy. This data is required to authorize the installation of the software, as well as to receive support, so it can be important to know where the key is and how to get it.

Below are some easy ways to help you find your serial number for Windows and Office.

Find product key

Try to remember how you purchased your Microsoft software, as this will determine where to look for your product key.

If you bought a copy of Microsoft Windows or Office on disk, then, first of all, you should examine its box. Retail Microsoft product keys are usually located on a bright sticker located inside the CD/DVD cover or on the back. The key consists of 25 characters, usually divided into 5 groups of 5 characters.

If your computer came with Microsoft Windows pre-installed, the product key is usually printed on a colored sticker placed directly on the PC case. For Microsoft Office, the serial number sticker should be on the installation disc that came with your computer. If you don't find it anywhere in the listed places, then you need to contact Microsoft to request a replacement for your lost key.

You can usually find your Microsoft Windows serial number on a sticker attached to your PC.

Windows 10

With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new way to authenticate the operating system called digital authorization, but it doesn't work on all Windows 10 PCs.

In fact, you definitely have a digital resolution if you upgraded the OS on your PC from Windows 7 or 8.1 for free. You also get a digital pass if you paid to upgrade to Windows 10 from the Windows Store or installed a fresh copy of the OS and then paid for it in the same Windows Store.

However, if you received Windows 10 either bundled with a new PC, or purchased a Windows 10 installation DVD from a store, or bought a digital copy of Windows 10, but not from the Windows Store, but from another online store, then you will have a traditional product key , not digital resolution.

What is digital resolution

If your PC has a digital resolution, Microsoft records your right to run Windows 10 on its servers. The upside is that you simply don't have a product key to lose. And if you need to reinstall the system, for example from a USB drive, you don't even have to activate your PC. Instead, after reinstalling Windows, activation will take place in the background for a few hours (or, in extreme cases, a few days).

But keep in mind that your digital resolution is based on your system configuration. If you change too many components at once and then try to reinstall Windows 10, you may encounter a problem.

From the point of view of the new control system, it would be better, for example, to first replace the HDD or SSD, then reinstall Windows 10, and update other components after activation. Otherwise, you may have to call Microsoft's hotline for automatic activation. This doesn't happen very often, but it does happen.

However, major updates, such as replacing the motherboard, will definitely require a call to Microsoft.

Retrieving a key from Microsoft Windows or Office

If you cannot find your product key, but the program is already installed, you can use special programs, in particular Magical Jelly Bean Key Finder. This utility will quickly find the key for Windows (as well as keys for many other installed programs) and display it on the screen.

1. Download Magical Jelly Bean and follow the instructions to install the software on your computer.

2. Launch the program. You can find it in the Start menu - start typing keyfinder and click.

3. The program will scan your installed software and find product keys for supported programs, including various versions of Windows and Office.

4. When the scan is complete, you will see a window with a panel on the left side that will list any installed versions of Windows and Office.

5. Click on your version of Microsoft Windows and you will receive the key as well as other installation information. The serial number itself will be located in the ‘CD Key’ section on the right side of the window. Write this information down in case you may need it in the future. Make sure that you have rewritten all the symbols correctly, otherwise the key simply will not work. And don’t pay attention to the ‘Product ID’ section - we don’t need it.

6. Click on your version of Microsoft Office to get your product key and other installation information. In the case of Office, everything happens exactly the same - your key will be located in the ‘CD Key’ section on the right side of the window. Make sure that you have rewritten all the symbols correctly, otherwise the key simply will not work. You can also use Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to extract the keys of any software that is installed on your PC.

Previously, if a laptop came with the Windows operating system preinstalled, there was a sticker on its bottom side with a product key or so-called license key. Nowadays these stickers are not put on laptops and it is no longer possible to simply find out the product key for them.

But, if you use some tricks, you can still find out the Windows 10 product key. In this material we will look at several ways to do this.

It should be noted right away that different methods extract keys from different sources, so the resulting keys will differ. So, the key extracted from the operating system will be different from the key that is extracted from the UEFI motherboard.

How to view the product key in Windows 10 using third-party programs

If you want to find out the product key in Windows 10, the easiest way is to use third-party programs. In this case, you won't have to deal with the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell. All you need to do is install the program and run it.

The first program we'll look at is called ProduKey. This program is produced by NirSoft, a company known for its small utilities for Windows. You can download ProduKey.

The ProduKey program collects data about the keys installed in the operating system and displays this information in the form of a convenient table. Using ProduKey, you can find out not only the Windows 10 product key, but also keys for other Microsoft programs. For example, you can find out the license key for the Microsoft Office software package.

Also, the program ShowKeyPlus is often used to view license keys. It is an open source program.

A special feature of the ShowKeyPlus program is that it can retrieve a product key from several sources at once. Firstly, the program can extract a key from the Windows 10 operating system itself (in the program it’s Installed Key), secondly from the computer’s UEFI (in the program it’s OEM Key), and thirdly from a previous version of Windows, which is saved in the Windows folder .old.

How to view the Windows 10 license key without using third-party programs

If you don't want to use third-party programs and are willing to tinker a bit using the built-in tools in Windows 10, then you can resort to the following options.

To view the license key saved in the UEFI of your motherboard, you need to run the following command:

  • wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

This operation can also be performed using Windows PowerShell. To launch PowerShell, you can simply open the Start menu and search for “PowerShell.” You can also open the Run menu using Windows + R and enter the PowerShell command there. After PowerShell starts, you need to run the following command in it:

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

After executing any of these commands, information about the license key that is stored in the UEFI of your motherboard will appear on the screen. If there are no keys saved in UEFI, then the commands will not give any result.

In addition, there is a script in VBS (Visual Basic Script) with which you can extract the product key from the Windows 10 operating system. In order to use this script, you need to open the Notepad program and paste the following code into it:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
regKey = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\"
DigitalProductId = WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "DigitalProductId")
Win10ProductName = "Windows 10 Version: " & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "ProductName") & vbNewLine
Win10ProductID = "Product ID: " & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "ProductID") & vbNewLine
Win10ProductKey = ConvertToKey(DigitalProductId)
ProductKeyLabel ="Windows 10 Key: " & Win10ProductKey
Win10ProductID = Win10ProductName & Win10ProductID & ProductKeyLabel
MsgBox(Win10ProductID)
Function ConvertToKey(regKey)
Const KeyOffset = 52
isWin10 = (regKey(66) \ 6) And 1
regKey(66) = (regKey(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin10 And 2) * 4)
j=24
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
y=14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = regKey(y + KeyOffset) + Cur
regKey(y + KeyOffset) = (Cur\24)
Cur = Cur Mod 24
y = y -1
Loop While y >= 0
j=j-1
winKeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & winKeyOutput
Last = Cur
Loop While j >= 0
If (isWin10 = 1) Then
keypart1 = Mid(winKeyOutput, 2, Last)
insert = "N"
winKeyOutput = Replace(winKeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0)
If Last = 0 Then winKeyOutput = insert & winKeyOutput
End If
a = Mid(winKeyOutput, 1, 5)
b = Mid(winKeyOutput, 6, 5)
c = Mid(winKeyOutput, 11, 5)
d = Mid(winKeyOutput, 16, 5)
e = Mid(winKeyOutput, 21, 5)
ConvertToKey = a & "-" & b & "-" & c & "-" & d & "-" & e
End Function

As a result, the VBS script will be executed and information about the Windows 10 license key will appear on the screen.