Finding your Windows 11 product key is not difficult at all. There are different ways to find it—all of which are discussed below—so you can choose the one you find the simplest.

Method #1 – Product key command

Most people find this the easiest, including those who have never seen a Command Prompt window before.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Type command prompt in the Search bar in the taskbar and hit Enter
• In the Command Prompt window, paste the following command and then press Enter

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

• The product key will be displayed

Method #2 – Use a PowerShell Command

You can also use PowerShell to find the product key.

Here’s what to do:

• Right-click the Start menu and select Terminal
• Ensure PowerShell is open. If you see the Command Prompt window, click the down arrow and select Windows PowerShell. If you see the Windows PowerShell window in the first instance, move on to the next step
• Paste the following command in PowerShell and hit Enter

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

• The product key will be displayed

Method #3 – Windows Registry

Windows Registry is another place where you can find the product key. However, we don’t recommend this method to users who have never accessed Windows Registry before. Windows registry is a crucial database and even a small misstep could have serious consequences.

Even though the steps to find the product key are rather simple and not likely to cause any problems, it might be better to use one of the other steps discussed here. But if you do decide to use Windows Registry for finding your product key, we strongly recommend making a registry backup. It can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong, allowing you to restore the registry to its previous state.

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box
• Type regedit and hit Enter
• Click Yes if the User Access Control window pops up
• Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform 
• Look for the BackupProductKeyDefault entry. You’ll find the product key there

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Windows 11 product key necessary?

Generally, a product key is needed to activate Windows 11 and access all the features. You can get Windows 11 for free if your computer supports it, but all the features will not be available. If you upgraded from Windows 11, the product key should already be activated.

• Can I buy a Windows 11 product key online?

Yes, you can. In fact, many users prefer purchasing the key from an online retailer instead of the Microsoft Store, since it is cheaper online. If you decide to buy the key online, just ensure you buy it from a genuine source.

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

To activate Windows 11 with a product key, perform the following steps:

• Type settings in the Search bar and hit Enter to open the Settings app
• Click System in the left-hand pane
• Scroll down and click Activation in the right-side pane
• Select Change product key and enter your product key (it will be of 25 characters)

 

• How can I keep Windows 11 in top shape?

To keep your computer in tip-top shape, make sure you install all the important updates, remove unnecessary apps and services, use a robust antivirus tool, and regularly update device drivers. If you’re wondering what’s the easiest way to update drivers, the answer is by using an advanced third-party tool. While there are many such tools on the market, none can match the speed and accuracy of Driver Updater. We strongly recommend you to give it a try. 

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download