Need your Windows 11 or 10 product key? Here's how to retrieve it using a single Command Prompt or PowerShell command.
If you've ever purchased a Windows laptop, you've probably never had to worry about your operating system's product key. That's because if you bought it from an authorized or trusted seller, the operating system is likely activated as the product key is already written into the firmware. However, there are some situations in which you may need to find your product key.
If you want to reinstall Windows, or if you bought a computer that did not have Windows activated or installed, or if you are transferring licenses between computers, or if you want to change your product keys. In such cases, it is important to know how to find your Windows 11/10 product key.
If you purchased Windows 11 and have the product box, you'll likely find the key inside the product packaging. If you purchased it digitally through Microsoft or a third party, you'll likely have it in your transaction history or in your emails.
However, there are other ways to get the product key on most computers because the product key is also embedded in the firmware. You can retrieve it via the Command Prompt by running the program as administrator with the following command:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
You can also open the PowerShell as administrator and run the following cmdlet:
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey
Since the product key is included in the firmware, you will have it as a result when you run one of the two commands.
In most cases, a single command will give you your product key. There are some cases where you won't have access to your product key. This can happen if you're using a computer managed by your employer's IT department that doesn't allow you to locate your product key, or if you activated a digital license through Microsoft's servers, or if your device vendor hasn't passed along the product key for some reason.
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