• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Smart phone, gadget and computer tutorials

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
How to Find Your Windows 10 Product Key

How to Find Your Windows 10 Product Key

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Kat Armstrong 1 Comment

With each iteration of Windows, Microsoft makes it easier for you to activate your install of the operating system. There may be times, though, that the activation process does not go quite right. Or, you could purchase a new machine and wish to transfer your licensed copy of Windows over to it. In either case, you will need to know where to find your product activation key.


From the Microsoft Store

If you bought your copy of Windows directly from the Microsoft Store, the company stores a copy of your product key in your account. To find it here, log into your Microsoft Store account. Head to “Downloads,” followed by “Product Keys” and then click “Subscription Page.” Finally, click the ”Digital Content” tab, where you will find your product key.


From a Physical Package

If you happened to buy an actual box with a physical disk inside of it that contained your Windows 10 install, there will be a small business card in the back of the box that has your product key written on it. Do not just leave this in the box… even if you plan to save the box. Store the card in a safe place and consider saving the key itself in an encrypted digital file, as well.


On a PreBuilt Computer

When you buy a computer from a store such as WalMart, it will come with Windows preinstalled. Finding your product key on these machines is extremely simple: it will be located on a sticker which is usually found somewhere on the computer – usually the back or bottom. I recommend taking a photo of it to keep. These stickers can wear off pretty quickly and the number becomes impossible to read.


From the Windows OS

Still cannot locate that key? No problem! We can find it right inside of Windows itself. Click your ”Start” button and type ”Notepad” to open that application. Now, copy and paste this exact text to Notepad:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))


Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

At the top of Notepad, click ”File” and then ”Save AS” – do not simply save it. Change the file type at the bottom of the save window to ”All File Types” and then name it ProductKey.vbs – the .VBS extension is the important part. The actual file name does not matter, and neither does the location you choose to save this text.

As soon as you have saved the file, double-click on it and a small box with your Windows product key in it will pop up. Write it down or take a photo of it for safekeeping and you’re finished.

There you have it: easy ways to grab your current licensed Windows product key.

What other questions can I help you with? Are you having trouble finding things that are driving you up the wall? Let me know!

Happy computing.

You Might Also Like

  • How to Find Windows Product License KeyHow to Find Windows Product License Key
  • Windows 10: Find Who is Logged inWindows 10: Find Who is Logged in
  • How to Find Out Which CPU I Have in My Computer (Windows)How to Find Out Which CPU I Have in My Computer (Windows)
  • Windows: Command to Find MAC AddressWindows: Command to Find MAC Address
  • Find Wi-Fi Password From Windows & macOSFind Wi-Fi Password From Windows & macOS
  • Windows 10: How to Find the Location of EXE ProgramWindows 10: How to Find the Location of EXE Program
  • Windows 10: Find How Many Processor Cores for PCWindows 10: Find How Many Processor Cores for PC
  • Find Proxy Server You're Connected to in WindowsFind Proxy Server You're Connected to in Windows
  • 4 Methods to Find a Lost Files in Windows 104 Methods to Find a Lost Files in Windows 10

Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David MacKay says

    November 11, 2019 at 5:40 am

    I have a Asus transformer which became very slow and I carried out a factory re-set but now cannot get it restarted. I have tried everything. I feel something is stopping it from rebooting.
    Any ideas please.
    I get into all set up on the blue screen but do not know what more I can do to fix problem.

    Is there a down load I can put on an USB stick I can use to reboot it?

    Desperate David.

Did this help? Let us know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Fix Microsoft Teams Not Displaying Images and GIFs
  • Can’t Connect to Google Play? Try These Useful Tips
  • How to Fix Zoom Error Code 614
  • Google Duo on Android: How To Enable Low-Light Mode
  • Troubleshooting Zoom Error 3065
  • How to Fix Microsoft Teams Error caa82ee2
  • Zoom: How to Change the Size of the Text in Chat Windows
  • Slack: How To Change Your Display Name

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

Follow me on Twitter, or visit my personal blog.

You May Also Like

  • Windows 95/98
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Windows Media Player (WMP)
  • Top 8 Itunes Alternatives for Windows

© Copyright 2021 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy