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Piece of mind if you’re transferring to a new PC or doing a clean install of Windows 10.Product keys are typically only valid for one installation of the software used to activate them. There are only a few times you may ever need your Windows 10 product key, but it’s an important thing to have.įortunately, even if you have a physical key and you lose it, you’re not out of luck and can always dive into your PC and see what it is. Press ‘Enter’ and you’ll now see the product key in front of you. Note that it is case-sensitive, so you’ll need to copy it exactly as below: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey Now you’ll have to enter the necessary command to see your Windows 10 product key. Open this by right-clicking on the Start Menu and choosing 'Windows Powershell (Admin)'. Click ‘Yes’ at the message box that pops up and the Command Prompt window will open.Īlternatively, you can use Windows PowerShell. In Windows search type 'Command Prompt' and when it appears, right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'. The first step is to open Command Prompt with administrator rights.
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(Image credit: TechRadar) (opens in new tab) 2. It’s a good idea to keep this safe in case you ever need it, but if you do misplace it all is not lost - we can definitely help you find your Windows 10 product key so you don't miss out on important updates. If you buy through an authorized reseller, either digitally or receiving a physical box, you will be provided a copy of the product key which you will need to enter manually. If you buy through the Microsoft Store on your PC, the latter will apply. If you need to buy Windows 10, you’ll be given a key either to enter manually or that will automatically be applied to your Microsoft Account.
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Where to find the Windows 10 product key for copies you purchased It’ll also nag you from time to time as a reminder that you’re not using an activated copy of Windows 10. It’s possible to continue to use your PC with an unactivated copy but you will miss out on a number of features and, crucially, important updates. You can add it during the installation process, but you can just as easily do so afterward.įiguring out how to find your Windows 10 product key is necessary to activate your copy of Windows 10 and gain unrestricted access to its features. It’s no longer necessary to have a Windows 10 product key to install the operating system on a PC.
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