Windows 10: Find Product Key in Windows 10  

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    Find Product Key in Windows 10

    Find Product Key in Windows 10

    How to View the Product Key in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Installation & Upgrade
    20 Aug 2018
    Designer Media Ltd

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    Brink's Avatar
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    Posts: 32,399

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    How to View the Product Key in Windows 10


    The Windows 10 product key is a sequence of 25 letters and numbers divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each (ex: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) that is used to activate the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 edition that you have installed.

    OEM PCs store and encrypt the product key in the UEFI firmware chip. The product key is no longer on a COA sticker to help prevent theft. When you reset or install Windows 10, the product key will automatically be detected from the UEFI firmware chip, and will be used to activate.

    When you install an Insider Preview or retail copy of Windows 10, you will need to enter it's product key during installation.

    Windows 10 Enterprise does not require you to enter a product key during installation. You will have a free 90-day evaluation period before you must change the product key to be able to enter your volume license product key and activate.

    This tutorial will show you how to view the installed and OEM product key in Windows 10.

    Note   Note
    If you upgraded to the free upgrade of Windows 10 from an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, then you will not have a product key. Instead, the PC gets registered on Microsoft activation servers with a digital entitlement that will always be used to activate Windows 10 on that PC.

    Starting with Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14371, you can link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license (formerly called digital entitlement) on your device. This can help you reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter if you make a hardware change later, such as replacing the motherboard.

    Starting in Windows 10 Insider Preview build 10565:

    Device activation improvements: Microsoft has received a lot of feedback from Insiders on making it easier to activate Windows 10 on devices that take advantage of the free upgrade offer to genuine Windows by using existing Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys. If you install this build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview on a PC and it doesn’t automatically activate, you can enter the product key from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 used to activate the prior Windows version on the same device to activate Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Change Product Key. If you do a clean install of Windows 10 by booting off the media, you can also enter the product key from prior Windows versions on qualifying devices during setup. Refer to the Insider Hub for more information on these activation improvements including requirements.


    Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading with free upgrade?

    Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer or Media Creation Tool on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.




    Here's How:

    Installed Key = This is the product key that Windows is currently activated with.

    OEM Key = This is the key stored in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard. This key will not always be the same as the installed key. For example, when the PC came with Windows 8.1 originally installed.

    1. Download and run ShowKeyPlus. See: "ShowKeyPlus" Information and Download Page

    Name: Capture.PNG Views: 44060 Size: 13.1 KB Name: Capture1.PNG Views: 44028 Size: 16.2 KB
    Name: Capture2.PNG Views: 44267 Size: 12.3 KB Name: Capture3.PNG Views: 43728 Size: 9.9 KB


    That's it,
    Shawn


  1. Friction's Avatar
    Friction

    Junior Member
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       New 02 Aug 2015 #1

    Option 2 and 3 do not work for me on Windows 10 Pro 64 (10240)
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  3. Brink's Avatar
    Brink

    Administrator
    Posts : 32,399
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro build 18242
    Thread Starter
       New 02 Aug 2015 #2

    Thank you Friction for letting me know, and welcome to Ten Forums. Those options have been removed for now.
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  4. Akane's Avatar
    Akane

    Member
    Posts : 122
    Windows 10 Pro
       New 02 Aug 2015 #3

    @Brink Thank you :)

    Btw,Can I use this key to install windows 10 or this key is only genetic key ?
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  5. Friction's Avatar
    Friction

    Junior Member
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       New 02 Aug 2015 #4

    If you are upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1 there is no need to enter a product key at all.
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  6. Brink's Avatar
    Brink

    Administrator
    Posts : 32,399
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro build 18242
    Thread Starter
       New 02 Aug 2015 #5

    Hello Akane, :)

    Only if you purchased a retail copy of Windows 10 that came with a product key, and you used the key to activate with.

    If you have the free offer Windows 10, then you do not have a product key. The blue note box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on this though.
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  7. sn00ker's Avatar
    sn00ker

    Power User
    Posts : 496
    10 pro 64 clean install
       New 02 Aug 2015 #6

    Brink said: View Post
    Hello Akane, :)

    Only if you purchased a retail copy of Windows 10 that came with a product key, and you used the key to activate with.

    If you have the free offer Windows 10, then you do not have a product key. The blue note box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on this though.
    But even so, if one were to do a clean install of 10 on a new drive and afterwards uses a key finder it will show a windows 10 license key . I have done it with using Belarc Advisor and yes I know you don't need to but its nice just to have, no ?
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  8. Brink's Avatar
    Brink

    Administrator
    Posts : 32,399
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro build 18242
    Thread Starter
       New 02 Aug 2015 #7

    Hello sn00ker,

    Thank you for sharing. Were you able to successfully activate with that key if entered during a clean install?
      My ComputersSystem Spec
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  10. sn00ker's Avatar
    sn00ker

    Power User
    Posts : 496
    10 pro 64 clean install
       New 02 Aug 2015 #8

    Brink said: View Post
    Hello sn00ker,


    Thank you for sharing. Were you able to successfully activate with that key if entered during a clean install?
    Hi Brink,

    You know I haven't try it yet but I can't see why it wouldn't since it was generated by MS, right ? Though I am going to try a none license 7 version just to see if it will get act . Can you imagine if its possible as to how many computer shops doing so to make a profit

    PS All my copies are legit but I have this thought and I'm curious whether it will work . I heard in another forum someone saying his P7 was able to upgrade
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  11. Brink's Avatar
    Brink

    Administrator
    Posts : 32,399
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro build 18242
    Thread Starter
       New 02 Aug 2015 #9

    I wouldn't count on it being a key that you can use to activate with though.
      My ComputersSystem Spec
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