If you end up losing your Windows 11 product key, Microsoft doesn’t provide much recourse. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + C when it pops up to copy the key to your clipboard. Once you’ve saved the file, double-click the VBS file-your product key will pop up. Save it somewhere it’s convenient to access, such as your desktop.
Once you have the code pasted into your Notepad file, click Save As > All Files and name it something like “FindProductKey.vbs” or something similar so you know what it’s for. KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId")) Just make sure to get all of the code: Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") Note that there’s quite a bit to copy and paste. If you are an advanced user, you can create a VBS file with a copy and paste of the following script into Notepad. From there, navigate to Licenses > Key to find the product key. As an admin, you can log in to the Volume License Service Center portal with your business credentials. KMS servers are meant to help manage connectivity to Microsoft for license activation. Admins set up Key Management Service (KMS) servers to monitor and manage licensing in large volumes.
If you are running Windows 11 in a business environment with a volume license for editions like Pro or Enterprise, licensing works a bit differently.
If you have a PC that came with Windows 11 Pro, it will install Pro and not Home. It will only allow you to install the version that came with the PC, too.For example, if it came with Windows 11 Home, it will install that version.
It’s also worth noting that, with this method, you’ll only be able to activate Windows 11 on the PC it came on unless you transfer the license. Just make sure you backup your key (take a photo of it), and you should be good to go if something goes awry and you need to do a clean install of Windows 11. Typically, you’ll find it at the bottom of your laptop, or on the back of your desktop PC’s case. You can also look for your key on a sticker that some OEMs provide on the computer chassis.
Microsoft provides a one-time transfer right. Once you have your product key, make sure to store it in a secure location where it’s easily accessible.
The Windows 10 product key, for example, was printed on the back of a business card in the overall packaging.Īnother option you have is to use a third-party utility like ShowKeyPlus to find your Windows 11 product key. If (or when) Microsoft starts selling physical copies of its new OS on disc, you should be able to find the key in the product box.
If you bought your digital license from Amazon, you should see your key in your personal Amazon games and software library. If you purchase Windows 11 through either company, you can find your key in the “Orders” or “Purchases” section of the online store. That will bring up the original product key that came with your computer, like in the example below – I blurred out parts of it for obvious reasons.Īnother method to finding your Windows 11 product key is to go through emails or receipts from Microsoft or Best Buy. Next, copy and paste the following path into the Command Prompt and hit Enter: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey You can also use the newer Windows PowerShell to help you find your Windows 11 product key. Choose the top result from the search list. Launch the command prompt by hitting the Windows key on your keyboard and typing: cmd. One of the easier ways to find your product key is to use the Command Prompt. If you choose a different source, it might not be genuine, and you may run into activation issues or lose functionality over time. Important: Make sure you purchase your digital product key from reputable stores like Microsoft, Best Buy, or Amazon.