How to Look Up Your Windows 10 License Key

TSChristianB

Any Windows computer should come with a license key for activation. However, that key isn't always readily available. Some computers have a sticker on the outside with it, but with newer computers the key is usually pre-loaded and stored digitally on the system. This article will show you some methods to bring up that license key.

• Using ShowKeyPlus
• Using the Command Prompt
  
• Using Powershell
  

Related Articles:

How to Check if Windows 10 is Activated

How to run the Windows activation troubleshooter

How to check which version of Windows 10 your PC is running

TSPhillipT

Method 1: Using ShowKeyPlus

ShowKeyPlus is a simple third-party software that is made to bring up the license key on your system. There are two options to get ShowKeyPlus on your computer.

 

Option 1: Windows App Store

1.    You can get ShowKeyPlus as a Microsoft Store app. It's a quick download and you can find it at the following link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/showkeyplus/9pkvzcprx9nv?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

 

 

2.    On the Microsoft Store page click the Get button on the upper right to bring up the Microsoft store app on your computer.

 

3.    On the app page, you'll see another Get button, click it and it will turn into an Install button. You'll need to sign into a Microsoft Account if you're not already. 

 

 

4.    Once the app finishes downloading, you'll see the option to Launch. Click on that to launch the app and see your license key information. It will also be available in the Start Menu if you want to use it again later

 

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Method 2: Using the command prompt

1.    The first option is to bring it up with command prompt. Start by clicking the search bar on your computer and searching for cmd.

 

 

2.    Right click on Command Prompt at the top of the results and then select Run as Administrator. It will if you want to allow the app to make changes to your device. You do, confirm that by clicking Yes. You’ll know it works if the default directory is saying C:\Windows\system32>

 

 

3.    From here, enter the following and then press enter: 

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

 

 You should now see the product key in the format xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

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Method 3: Using Powershell

1. Powershell is Microsoft’s most recent command line software for Windows 10 computers. This method is very similar to how we used Command prompt to pull up the product key. You can open Powershell by holding down the Windows key, then pressing X on the keyboard. This will bring up the Quick-start menu at the Windows Start Button. From here, choose the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option and confirm that you want to make changes again. You’ll know it works if the starting directory is showing C:\Windows\system32>

 

 

2. In PowerShell type the following as your command, then press enter:

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

 You should now see the product key in the format xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.