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How to Find Your Windows 10 Product Key

Written by Ahmad Tsalis

When purchasing a new laptop with Windows 10 pre-installed, you might notice it doesn't come with the traditional Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) sticker that displays the product key.

This change is because the product key, also known as the serial number, is now embedded within the UEFI firmware—a modern replacement for the old BIOS system.

This embedding process eliminates the need for stickers and simplifies the reinstallation process. When connected to the internet, Windows automatically activates by verifying the embedded product key against Microsoft’s database.

Nonetheless, knowing your Windows 10 product key is crucial in certain scenarios, such as upgrading your laptop’s hard drive to an SSD or transferring the key to a different machine.

It's important to note that you cannot view the product key directly from the UEFI settings before the system boots. However, Carisinyal will guide you through several easy methods to retrieve it. Before proceeding, ensure that your Windows 10 license type is transferable to another laptop.

Windows 10 licenses are sold in three forms: retail, OEM, and volume licensing, each with distinct features:

  • Retail

Purchased directly from computer retailers—either online or at physical stores—this license type is also known as a Full Packaged Product (FPP). It’s flexible and lets users reuse on a different hard disk within the same laptop, and it can also be transferred to another laptop.

  • OEM

Short for Original Equipment Manufacture, this license type is bundled with pre-installed Windows on laptops. The license is restricted to the original laptop and cannot be transferred to another device.

  • Volume

Designed for organizational use, Microsoft offers these licenses in bulk under labels like Enterprise, Education, or Pro Education. These licenses are transferable between devices but may require reactivation upon expiry.

That said, let's explore the methods to locate your Windows 10 product key without the need for additional software.

1. Check the Activation Menu

If you bought a Windows 10 DVD from a store, there will be a sticker with the product key on the box. However, if you lost the box, you can still find the product key in the activation menu. Here's how to access it:

  1. Press the Windows key.
  2. Type “Activation” in the search bar.
  3. When the Activation settings menu appears, click on it.
  4. Your screen will display a 25-digit product key.

2. Check via Command Prompt

If your Windows 10 is activated with a digital license, the Activation Menu method will not work. A digital license is used on laptops that come with Windows pre-installed.

You can get the product key from the laptop's UEFI using Command Prompt. Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows key.
  2. Type “CMD.”
  3. When the Command Prompt appears, right-click on it and select “Run as administrator.”
  4. Then, type or copy this code: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
  5. Press enter. The product key will appear below the code you typed.

3. Check via PowerShell

If the Command Prompt method doesn’t work, you can also check the product key using PowerShell. Here’s how:


  1. Press the Windows key.
  2. Type “PowerShell.”
  3. When the PowerShell menu appears, click “Run as administrator” on the right.
  4. Type or copy this command code: (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey
  5. Press enter. The product key will appear shortly.

4. Check via a Special Script

If the Command Prompt and PowerShell methods don’t work, there’s still another way to find the product key without using an application. You can try using a Visual Basic script. Here’s how:

1. Copy the Script

First, download the special script from this link. Then, copy the entire content of the script by pressing Ctrl+A to select all, then Ctrl+C to copy it.

2. Save the Script in Notepad

Next, create a new Notepad file on your desktop. To do this, right-click on the desktop, click “New,” then select “Text Document.” Name the document whatever you like.

Open the document and paste the script inside. Then, change the file extension by clicking on “File,” selecting “Save As,” and adding “.vbs” to the end of the file name. Click save.

3. Execute the Script

To finish, double-click the file you just saved on your desktop. The product key will appear instantly.

You can either write it down manually or save it by clicking “Yes.” If you choose to save it, a “WindowsKeyInfo” file will be automatically created in Notepad format on your desktop.

5. Using the Magical Jelly Bean Application

Magical Jelly Bean is a software that can find various codes stored on your laptop, such as Wi-Fi passwords, Microsoft Office serial numbers, and Windows product keys. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download the free version of the application from the official Magical Jelly Bean website, or get it here.
  2. Install it and wait for about five minutes.
  3. Open the application.
  4. Instantly, the application will display information about your installed Windows, including the product key labeled as “CD Key.”

6. Using the NirSoft ProductKey Application

Like Magical Jelly Bean, NirSoft is another tool that can find the product key for installed software on your computer. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download the appropriate application zip file here for Windows 10 32-bit users, and here for Windows 10 64-bit users.
  2. Extract the downloaded file using an extractor like WinRAR.
  3. Double-click the file named “ProduKey” to run the program.
  4. A window will appear, showing the product keys for several software programs, including Windows 10.

That’s a quick overview of how to find your Windows 10 product key.

Carisinyal recommends backing up your product key once you find it. You can store it on a flash drive or save it to cloud storage, such as Google Drive or OneDrive. This way, you'll always have access to it when needed. Good luck!

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