How to Find a Windows 11 Product Key

You can use the Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the Windows Registry

By
Jon Martindale
Headshot of Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale
Writer
Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
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Updated on October 6, 2022

What to Know

  • Open the Command Prompt and type: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey.
  • You can also use Windows 11 PowerShell and the Windows Registry to discover your product key.
  • Your Windows 11 product key may be necessary for reinstalling the OS, or future upgrades.

This article explains how to find your Windows 11 product key in three different ways.

How to Get a Product Key Using Command Prompt

The easiest way to find your Windows 11 product key is to use the Command Prompt.

  1. Open the Windows 11 Command Prompt by selecting the search icon (the magnifying glass) and searching for CMD in the Windows search bar. Then select the corresponding result.

    CMD in Windows Search and Command Prompt in Windows 11 Start menu.

  2. Input or copy and paste the following command:

    wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

    wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey in the Windows 11 Command Prompt

  3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard. Command Prompt will then display your product key.

Finding the Product Key Using the Windows 11 PowerShell

If you prefer, you can use Windows 11 PowerShell to find your product key.

  1. Open Windows PowerShell by pressing Windows key+X and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin).

    Windows PowerShell (Admin) in Win+X menu

  2. Input the following command:

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

    Finding the Windows 11 product key in PowerShell.

  3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard. It will then display your Windows 11 product key.

How to Find Your Product Key In the Windows Registry

You can also use the Windows registry to find your Windows 11 product key.

  1. Press the Windows key+R to open the Run menu, and search for Regedit and press OK to open the Windows Registry.

    Regedit in the Windows Run menu in Windows 11.

  2. Input the following into the Registry navigation bar:

    ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSoftwareProtectionPlatform

  3. Press Enter. Your product key will be visible next to the BackupProductKey field.

    BackupProductKey in the Windows 11 registry.
FAQ
  • Do I need a Windows 11 product key?

    If your computer supports it, you can get Windows 11 for free, but you can't use all the features without activating it with a product key or a digital license. If you upgrade from Windows 10, it should already be activated.

  • Where can I buy a Windows 11 product key?

    You can buy a Windows 11 product key from the Microsoft Store, but you may be able to find it for cheaper from an online retailer. Just make sure you purchase it from a legitimate source.

  • How do I activate Windows 11 with a product key?

    If you didn't enter the Windows 11 product key during installation, go to Start > Settings > System > Activation > Update product key > Change product key.

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