Where is the activation key. How to find your Windows or Office product key. The easiest way

02.08.2020

Have you ever lost your keys? A strange question, of course, but in the meantime, if you somehow "lost" the key Windows activation, then you have lost your license, and therefore the money that you paid for it. In addition, it is not possible to prove the legality of using Windows without an activation key.
However, there is good news. You can find the key yourself. Even if it is lost, it can be restored. Now we will tell you how to do it. So, in order.

What is a Windows Activation Key?

The Windows activation key, or in other words - the license key is one of the tools with which the licensing of the Microsoft product you purchased takes place. This is a license. The key is a 25-character code. This is a combination of Latin characters in different registers with numbers. The code is written as a sequence of five five-character "words" separated by a dash. It looks like this:
DNAW6-WCRBM-TFBYC-TLVD8-2GV66t

The license key is a confirmation of the legality of your use of the product. No other methods or means may be used for this purpose. For example, a sales receipt from the store where you bought the computer, or cash receipt or other payment document.

What is a license key for?

You will need a Windows key for:

system reinstallation
installations new version, for example 10th
updating Windows to the next version
confirmation of the legality of the purchased product
receive regular operating system updates

What are the types of keys?

Windows license keys come in several types and have different designations: Installed Key, Product Key, and OEM Key.
Product Key and OEM Key are essentially the same thing, just different stickers, the design of which was constantly "improved" a different name was used.
The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or Product Key is the key of the operating system preinstalled by the manufacturer on your computer or laptop. Each computer or laptop with the Windows operating system installed has Microsoft branded stickers. The computer manufacturer purchased and installed the operating system for you on your computer. The plus is that you don't have to pay extra for a Windows license, the minus is that the key is "bound" to this device. It is not possible to transfer the system to another computer. The key is stored in the BIOS. But it is almost impossible to lose it.
Installed Key is a "free" activation key. You get it when you buy a "boxed" version of Windows for self installation on computer. It is also printed on a sticker on the packaging box.

How can I find out the license key of my system?

The easiest way is to read it from the sticker. But there are a few "buts". Stickers sometimes tend to get lost or simply erased to such an extent that it is impossible to read the key on them. In addition, Microsoft periodically changed the design of the stickers. The changes ranged from minor to radical. Here, for example, with which sticker Asus was bought with Windows 8.1 preinstalled on it

The sticker on the laptop case does not contain a license key. It is embedded in the BIOS. This method is used to activate Windows 8/8.1
Therefore, the surest way remains - to extract information about the activation key from Windows itself.
Microsoft offers its own version of how to Find out the Windows activation key.
Not always, however, this method works, oddly enough. It happens when this script still “does not see” the activation key of the operating system, but issues the following line: ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ. Also, this script only shows the Installed Key (ending 6F4BT) and does not provide information about the OEM Key.

Therefore, you can use various programs. For example, ProduKey. The result of defining a key looks like this:

The picture shows that there are two keys: Installed Key (end 6F4BT) and OEM Key (end 2GV33). The Installed Key appeared in this case, after a “clean” installation of Windows 10 on a laptop on which Windows 8.1 was installed by the manufacturer with an OEM Key (end 2GV33).

How can I lose my activation key?

Very simple. One user, convinced of the advantage of Windows 10 over his 7, decided to finally switch to 10. Moreover, Microsoft again announced the closure of the free transition from January 1, 2018.
There are two ways to go - upgrade and clean install. The difference is that when updating, the data on the computer's disks remains safe, and most of the installed programs will remain installed. In fact, there are always risks, so many people prefer to do a clean installation, after saving the data in the cloud storage or on an external drive. Here, during a clean installation, the user formatted the disk on the computer and ... almost lost the last opportunity to switch to 10 legally. When formatting, along with the remote 7, the key was also lost (if it were 8, then the key would simply be taken from the BIOS). When he tried to read the key from the sticker, he saw that it was simply overwritten to the point of unreadability.
Why “almost lost”, because, fortunately, there was a backup copy of Windows, from which, using ShowKeyPlus, the key was extracted.

What are the ways to recover the key?

Everything is easier with the 8th, this is just the case when you don’t need to restore anything, because it’s almost impossible to lose. The OEM key is in the BIOS. You can view it in the BIOS using the RWEverything program.

As already mentioned, the ShowKeyPlus program can restore the key from a backup or backup of your operating system.
It can also be used to check the compliance of the key with the software product. Download the archive file, install the program and your activation key will always be with you. The program also automatically saves key data in text format to a Windows Key file.

When registering any Windows operating system, Microsoft requires a special 25-character key. It is used to check the installed OS for authenticity (on illegal copies it is impossible to activate with a third-party key). Typically, this code comes with a package of documents that the user receives when purchasing a Windows disc. In addition, if a laptop or PC system unit comes with a pre-installed OS from Microsoft, there must be a sticker with a license key on its case.

Where can I find the Windows XP/7/8/8.1 key on the installed OS?

In cases where the operating system on the computer is installed and activated, the key can be obtained programmatically, even without a sticker on a PC or laptop (it is not necessary to know for this). This method is suitable for all OS versions from Microsoft, starting with XP.

Obtaining the Windows key from the operating system:

To get started, create a blank text document in Notepad (not Word!);
Open it and paste the text of the script from the Microsoft page into it (which starts with the line "Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")" and ends with "End Function");
Save and close the text document;
Now right-click on it and rename it to Key.VBS (the display of the file extension must be enabled on the computer);
Double-click on the file to run it, after which a window with the Windows key will be displayed.

If your activation key is blocked, learn about its replacement from the article

Instruction

To enter a product key, go to the appropriate section of the operating system. To do this, call the "Start" menu and right-click on the "Computer" item. Select the "Properties" attribute from the list that appears.

In a new window, you will see information about your computer and the operating system version you are using. To go to the product activation section, at the bottom of the "Windows Activation" menu, click on the "Activate Windows Now" link.

In the window that appears, you will be asked to choose one of the methods for activating the system - directly via the Internet or by phone. The first option is considered the most convenient activation option. The second option should be selected only if you do not have a working network connection.

After selecting "Activate Windows over the Internet", enter the product key that is printed on the box with the license disc. If the combination is entered correctly, you will see a message about the successful activation procedure.

To receive the code by phone, select "Show other activation methods". After that, enter your product key found on the box with the Windows 7 disc. After that, click on the link "Use automatic phone system". In the next window, select the country of your residence and call the number indicated on the screen.

To activate, follow the instructions of the answering machine. The automatic program will ask you to enter the product code, which will be shown on the screen. Input must be done using the phone keypad. If the operation is performed correctly, you will be informed of the activation code, which you will need to write down or immediately enter in the activation program window. If you cannot enter the code correctly, stay on the line to consult with a Microsoft support specialist.

Helpful advice

OS activation is necessary to prevent the use of unlicensed software and serves as a means of combating pirated copies of Windows.

Often, before installing software on a computer or laptop, you should first download its demo version. This will allow you to find out the performance of the program and choose its optimal configuration. Then you can activate full version, gaining access to it in the form of a serial number-key. The key can be issued for a certain period, after which the program will again require activation. This requires obtaining a new product key.

Instruction

There are several ways to obtain a new key for a software product. The first way is a product through the Internet. If the program is free and does not require financial investments to extend the term of its use, then registration via the Internet will require only an e-mail address and the ability to access the website of the computer software manufacturer. As a rule, after registering on such a site, you receive an email with an activation code or an offer to follow the link for a certain period of time to extend the period of using the program. If the use of the program involves a periodic payment for the extension of the validity period, then its activation via the network requires bank card or a personal account from which money will be debited to pay for it. When entering contact information, you will need to indicate the account number and confirm payment for it.

The second method involves paying for the product via SMS. Information about this possibility is usually indicated on the website of the program manufacturer. This is very convenient if you are unable to make a payment. An SMS message to a certain number activates the use of the program, or after the payment is withdrawn from your mobile phone account, you will receive a unique digital code to extend the use.

The third way to get it is to buy a licensed disc or a special scratch card containing an activation code. The PC-disk will require installation and will automatically extend the period of using the software. The scratch card contains a unique digital code that will need to be entered directly in the window of the already installed program intended for this. Both the disk and the scratch card can be purchased at specialized online stores and computer stores in your city.

WebMoney is used to create a virtual wallet on the Internet to pay for services and purchases in online stores, as well as to send money over the network. With this app, you can easily manage your web savings, billing, paying bills and exchanging currency.

You will need

- the Internet.

Instruction

To get your own registration code, go to start.webmoney.ru. Find the "Registration" item - it is located in the top menu of the page. Click on the label to start the registration process. Enter your mobile phone number, which you use constantly, because if you lose access to your wallet, one of the recovery methods is through your mobile phone. Carefully enter your phone number, as it will receive a message asking for activation.

Click on the "Continue" button and fill in all the fields, entering your real data. To confirm your identity, you will need to provide a copy of your passport, and without this, the registration procedure will not be completed. You can not immediately upload copies of your documents, but only after you make a personal certificate.

Check the entered data on the next page. If everything is correct, click Continue. Open your mailbox and check your mail - a letter with a registration code should come to the mailbox indicated in step 1. If you do not activate your WebMoney account using the link in the letter within 10 days, your registration will be cancelled.

Install the WM Keeper Classic program into the operating system and connect the registration data to the program to activate your wallet. After confirming your identity by the site administration, you can use the wallet.

If you still haven't received a letter with a registration code, check the "Spam" folder of your mailbox - sometimes, due to incorrect anti-spam settings, the letter ends up there. Go through the registration procedure again if the letter was not there. It is also worth noting that for a more reliable use of the wallet, you need to include anti-virus licensed software.

How to find out Windows 8 key using VBSCrit

Activation keys for the Windows operating system are stored on the hard drive in encrypted form. Executing the VBSCrit script will allow you to get the product key of the installed operating system in decrypted form. This script was developed for Windows 8 operating system, but this code also works fine in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 operating systems.

To perform the operation, double-click on the “WindowsKey.vbs” file. In the window that opens, you will see the Windows activation code. Next, click on the "OK" button.

The next window will display information about the operating system version, product ID, and product key number. Ignore the name of the entry "Windows 8 Key". The name of this OS will be displayed on any version of the Windows operating system.

The free Speccy program from the well-known company Piriform, the manufacturer of CCleaner and other software. From the official site you can download a portable (portable) version of Speccy. There is a paid version of the program with advanced features.

The program provides the user with detailed information about the hardware of the computer, and with the help of the application, you can find out the license key of the installed Windows.

Run the Speccy program, in the "Operating system" section, the version of the installed operating system will be displayed, its serial number(activation key).

AIDA64 is a powerful program for getting all sorts of information about computer software and hardware.

After launching the AIDA64 program, in the "Menu" tab, in the "Operating system" section, license information will be displayed, including the Windows product key.

Select the product key, select "Copy" in the context menu, then paste the key into Notepad, or another similar program to save.

SIW

SIW (System Information of Windows) - a program for obtaining information about the hardware status and software computer.

After launching SIW, enter the "Programs", "Licenses" section. This will display information about the product key used in the Windows operating system installed on the computer.

Wrong product key

When checking the keys in the ways listed above, the Windows product key may appear as follows: "BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB".

This means that your computer is activated with a corporate MAK or VLK key. Operating Windows does not save such keys, so programs do not see them.

Windows 10 uses new method system authentication (not for all cases in Windows 10). The activation record is stored on Microsoft servers and does not appear on your computer. After reinstallation, Windows will automatically activate for some time.

The retention of the license is subject to changes in the hardware configuration of the computer. If the motherboard is replaced, Microsoft's activation servers will revoke the license for that computer. Windows will prompt you to purchase a new product key.

Conclusion

If necessary, the user can find out the license code of the Windows operating system by running a VBS script, or using specialized programs: ProduKey, ShowKeyPlus, Free PC Audit, Speccy, AIDA64, SIW.

Manufacturers of modern laptops and computers are actively refusing disk drives, since any program or game can be downloaded from the Internet, and the presence of a drive only makes a PC more expensive for the end buyer. At the same time, users who are accustomed to receiving a Windows disk and a license key bundled with their computer look at the issue of reinstalling the operating system with difficulty. While Windows itself can be installed from a USB flash drive, a license key is still required from it. In this case, users have a question: how to find out the Windows product key that was preinstalled on a laptop (desktop computer), or installed later from a disk that is not currently available? It is enough to do this, both by means of Windows and with the help of third-party programs.

Asking the question of determining the license key of the operating system operating on the computer, you should understand such concepts as Installed Key and OEM Key. In fact, they are both Windows license keys, but there are some differences between them. The way they are defined also differs.

Installed Key is the installation key of the operating system operating on the computer. It can be determined on those laptops and desktop computers on which Windows was installed by users independently from a disk or in the form digital copy purchased online and activated.

The OEM Key is the license key for the version of Windows that was originally installed on the computer. The OEM key information is hardwired into the motherboard of a laptop or desktop computer and cannot be changed.

Therefore, if your computer was running Windows 8 at the time of purchase and later upgraded to Windows 10, the OEM and Installed key information will be different. At the same time, if you want to install Windows 8 on a new computer, you will need to enter the OEM key - only it will work with this version of the operating system. The Installed Key is fine if you want to install Windows 10.

Attention: You can use an existing OEM or Installed key only for the version of the operating system that is installed on the computer. You cannot enter a key from a Windows 10 Basic version to Professional build.

How to find out the Windows 10 key using the operating system?

On any computer, having administrator rights, you can find out the Windows 10 license key without third-party programs and applications. At the same time, the procedures are different, in the case of determining OEM and Installed keys.

It is very easy to find out the license key of the operating system, which is "sewn" into the computer's motherboard, if you know the command that is specifically provided for this in Windows 10. To determine the OEM key, do the following:

The key issued by the OEM can be used to reinstall the version of the operating system that was originally installed on the computer.

Using a single command, it will not work to determine the Installed Key, and it is hidden a little deeper in the Windows operating system. But if you wish, you can get information about the Windows license key without installing third-party applications on your computer. To do this, do the following:

Launch an empty standard Windows notepad, which can be found in the following path: "Start" - "All Applications" - "Windows Accessories" - "Notepad".
Copy the following code into an open text editor program:

function Get-WindowsKey ( param ($targets = ".") $hklm = 2147483650 $regPath = "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" $regValue = "(!LANG:DigitalProductId" Foreach ($target in $targets) { $productKey = $null $win32os = $null $wmi = "\\$target\root\default:stdRegProv" $data = $wmi.GetBinaryValue($hklm,$regPath,$regValue) $binArray = ($data.uValue) $charsArray = "B","C","D","F","G","H","J","K","M","P","Q","R","T","V","W","X","Y","2","3","4","6","7","8","9" ## decrypt base24 encoded binary data For ($i = 24; $i -ge 0; $i--) { $k = 0 For ($j = 14; $j -ge 0; $j--) { $k = $k * 256 -bxor $binArray[$j] $binArray[$j] = ::truncate($k / 24) $k = $k % 24 } $productKey = $charsArray[$k] + $productKey If (($i % 5 -eq 0) -and ($i -ne 0)) { $productKey = "-" + $productKey } } $win32os = Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem -computer $target $obj = New-Object Object $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty Computer -value $target $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty Caption -value $win32os.Caption $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty CSDVersion -value $win32os.CSDVersion $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty OSArch -value $win32os.OSArchitecture $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty BuildNumber -value $win32os.BuildNumber $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty RegisteredTo -value $win32os.RegisteredUser $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty ProductID -value $win32os.SerialNumber $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty ProductKey -value $productkey $obj } } !}

Please note that the Installed Key is displayed in the "Product Key" item. You can also learn some details about the operating system used on your computer by following the steps above.

How to find out Windows keys using third-party programs?

From the instructions above, you can see that it is very easy to find the Windows OEM Key, but getting to the Installed Key is much more difficult, and the procedure for detecting it using Windows tools takes a lot of time. If there is no desire to conduct it, then you can install a third-party application that will independently detect information about the OEM Key and Installed Key on the computer, and then issue it to the PC administrator.

One of the simplest and most convenient programs for determining the Windows key is ShowKeyPlus. It can be downloaded from the official website of the developers absolutely free. At the same time, the program not only displays information about license keys used version of Windows, but also allows users to save the received information in a txt document.