Find the Windows Product Key and validate the genuine copy

Microsoft offers the option to download Windows to proceed with a fresh installation of the operating system on the computer, the problem is that each copy of Windows must be activated and validated with a product key which serves to verify the actual purchase of the user license Windows which, remember, is not free. On Windows 10 the Product Key is prompted immediately at boot, but we can also enter it at a later time, so as to test the system first and then choose whether or not to pay for the license.
If we have already purchased a user license in the past we can retrieve it from the old PC and use it on the new one, so as not to spend anything.
So in this article we see how recover the Windows 10 product key to be able to reuse it in a new installation and for correct the unauthenticated copy problem when it is Windows it was regularly purchased.
The procedures described are also valid for old versions of Windows, in case we want to recover those codes as well.

How to find the Windows 10 product key

In the following chapters we will first show you which license types are supported by Windows 10 and which are the methods we can use to view and copy it to a new PC (always if the license is compatible with the transfer).

License Types

Windows 10 can be activated in two ways:

• Via Windows Product Key, i.e. a code consisting of 25 characters (of type XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX). This is usually the license that is purchased in store (Retail) or that we can purchase from the Windows website and is transferable.
• Via digital license: the digital license allows you to activate Windows 10 without entering any product key. This license is provided when we upgrade from an older Windows operating system or when our license is tied to your Microsoft account. Most of these licenses can be transferred.
• Via OEM license: this license is tied to the motherboard of our PC so, unless we use the same motherboard, we will not be able to transfer it from one computer to another.

Before proceeding with the license move we will have to check what type of Product Key is active on our computer, so as to know in advance if we can proceed. In this regard, we invite you to read our guide How many computers can I install Windows on?

How to find Product Key without any app

On Windows 10 we can view the active product key without having to use external programs.
To succeed in the interior we open the Start menu at the bottom left, we look for the Command Prompt, right click on it and choose Run as administrator. In the black window that will appear, type the following command:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

We reward Enter O Enter on the keyboard to confirm; if we have done everything correctly, the Product Key will appear directly under the command, ready to be copied.

Another effective way to find Product Key without any app on Windows 10 involves using PowerShell, an enhanced version of the old Prompt.
To open it, let’s go to the Start menu at the bottom left, let’s search PowerShell, right click on Run as administrator and type in the blue window, the following command:

powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”

We press again Enter O Enter on the keyboard to see our license code appear directly in the new terminal.

Best apps to show Windows 10 product key

If the previous commands did not have the desired effect or if we want to recover the product key with a program, there are numerous free tools designed for the purpose.

One of the best is undoubtedly ProduKey, produced by the famous software house Nirsoft (which has also created other useful tools for Windows).

To find the code quickly, just open the tool (it is portable, it does not even require installation), select the item Windows 10 or Windows 10 Pro in the column Product Name, right click on it and select Copy Product Key. We can copy the code thus obtained in a personal chat or save it in a text file for validation on the new computer.

Another tool similar to that produced by Nirsoft is Windows 10 Product Key Tool, available for free for every version of Windows 10.

This tool is even easier to use, since you just have to start it to immediately view the code in a simple window, ready to be reused or copied.

Another good program to find the Windows Product Key is without a doubt Lazesoft Windows Key Finder, which can also be downloaded for free.

Also in this case we will have a very simple tool to use: just download it on your computer and start it to immediately see the Product Key of the active copy of Windows 10. To save it we can either copy the code directly or use the Save buttons (to save a text file) and the Print button (to print the code on paper or on a PDF file, thanks also to the virtual printers).

How to validate product key on Windows 10

After recovering the product key from the old PC we can validate it on a new one clean install of Windows 10 both in the installation screen and later, by opening the Start menu at the bottom left, looking for the app Settings and taking us on the path Update and security -> Activation and press on the item Change product key, which will appear immediately under the heading Activate Windows now.

A new window will open in which to enter the code recovered with one of the methods seen above, so as to be able to activate Windows 10 and use it without limits. If we already have an old active license and want to change it with the one recovered from another PC, just go to the same screen at the top and always press on Change product key, which will appear this time under the heading Update Product Key.

If, on the other hand, we have a digital license we can activate it on our new computer with Windows 10 by turning on with the same Microsoft account used on the old computer (where the Retail digital license was already present); to proceed we open the Start menu, click on the app Settings, let’s take the path Account -> Le tue Info and log in with your Microsoft account. Immediately after logging in let’s get in Update and security -> Activation and check if the license has been moved; otherwise, press down on Troubleshooting, so as to be able to start the procedure for restoring any license in possession.
To learn more about this aspect, we invite you to read our guide How to activate Windows 10 and fix product key errors.

Conclusions

The product key can also be used on the new computer, without having to spend an absurd amount again to purchase a license for every new PC we buy! Obviously we can only transfer compatible licenses (Retail and some digital licenses), while we will not be able to transfer pre-activated licenses on computers sold in stores (i.e. OEM licenses).

If we don’t know where to buy a license for Windows 10, we invite you to read our in-depth study on where purchase the Windows 10 license.
If, on the other hand, we find it difficult to move the license from an old PC to the new one, we can also read our guide on how Move the Windows license and deactivate the product key from the old PC.