Tech Reference

How to find your Windows 10 product key or digital license

Written by Dave Johnson and William Antonelli
Dell XPS 15 2019
Your product key shows that you've activated Windows 10. Crystal Cox/Business Insider
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Windows 10 is installed thousands of times a day on computers both new and old. But without a receipt, how do you prove that you actually own Windows?

That's where your product key comes in. Your Windows 10 product key is a special receipt that shows you have an "activated" copy of Windows. Every Windows computer has its own unique 25-character product key, and it's formatted like this: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.

Your product key is important for a few reasons. If you ever need to reinstall Windows, you might need to enter it. Same goes for major updates, like upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. 

Here's how to find your product key — as well as see if you have a digital license.

How to find your Windows 10 product key using the Command Prompt or PowerShell

The easiest way to find your product key is using the Command Prompt or the PowerShell app.

1. Right-click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, and in the menu that appears, click Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. In the pop-up that appears asking if the app is allowed to make changes to your device, click Yes.

3. Now you'll need to enter a code. Type or copy in this (it's case sensitive) and press Enter:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

The 25-character code that appears is your product key.

A Windows 10 product key displayed in the Command Prompt.
Your product key is 25 characters long.  William Antonelli/Insider

How to find your Windows 10 product key on the physical packaging

If you bought your PC or copy of Windows 10 in a store, you'll find your product key on the packaging.

You can find it in a few possible places.

  • Your computer case might have a "Certificate of Authenticity" sticker with the product key printed on it. Not all PC manufacturers put a sticker on the computer, though.
  • The packaging that came with the computer might have a Certificate of Authenticity sticker with the product key as well. 
key 1
The Certificate of Authenticity contains the 25-character product key.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider
  • If you just bought Windows 10, the product key should be printed on a card or label inside the Windows 10 packaging.

If you can't find your product key, contact the computer manufacturer for help.

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dave june
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.