January 7, 2023

how to find windows 10 product key or digital license

Windows 10 is installed thousands of times every day on new and old computers. But without a receipt, how can you prove you actually have Windows? This article is about how to find windows 10 product key or digital license

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Your Windows 10 product key serves as proof that you actually have Windows 10.

You can find the Windows 10 product key from the Command Prompt or by checking the product packaging.

You can provide your product key when upgrading Windows or troubleshooting.

This is where your product key comes in. Your Windows 10 product key is a unique receipt that shows that you have a Windows installed service.

Every Windows computer has a unique 25-character product key, formatted like this: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.

Your product key is important for many reasons. If you want to install Windows, you can install it. The same goes for major updates, such as upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Note: You can still use Windows without a key, but it will have annoying DRM features. Here’s how to find your product key and see if you have a digital license.

Windows 10 product key vs. digital LICENSE

Every PC has a product key.

But if you got Windows 10 by upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1, or bought it through a Windows Store app, you also have a “digital license.”

This digital license serves the same purpose as a product key.

Best of all, it’s built into the operating system – that means if you want to install or upgrade Windows, you won’t need to install it.

If you have a digital license, when Windows asks for a product key, click Next to skip that step.

As long as you connect to the Internet afterwards, you will not be prompted to do so again.

To check if you have digital license:

Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

Click Update & Security, then click Activate on the left side.

If you have a digital license, next to Activation it will say that Windows was activated with a digital license or with a digital license associated with your Microsoft account.

If you purchased a digital copy of Windows 10 through Microsoft’s online store — not a Windows Store app — your product key will be included in the confirmation email you received after payment.

How to Find Windows 10 Product Key Using Command Prompt or PowerShell

The easiest way to find your product key is to use Command Prompt or PowerShell.

1. Right-click on the Windows icon in the lower left corner of your screen and from the menu that appears, click Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. In the popup that appears asking if the application is allowed to make changes to your device, click Yes.

3. You must enter the code.

Type or copy this (it’s case sensitive) and press Enter:

wmic SoftwareLicensingService path get OA3xOriginalProductKey

This 25 character code is your product key.

How to find your Windows 10 product key in the physical product packaging

If you bought your PC or a copy of Windows 10 from a store, you will find your product key on the packaging.

You can find it in a few possible places.

Your computer case may have a “Certificate of Authenticity” sticker with a product key printed on it. However, not all PC manufacturers put stickers on computers.
The packaging that came with the computer may also include a sticker of its authenticity and the product key.
If you have purchased Windows 10, the product key should be printed on a card or label inside the Windows 10 package.
If you can’t find your product key, contact your computer manufacturer for help.