Product Key - Find for Windows 8

How to Find Your Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key Number​

   Information

The Windows 8 product key is a sequence of 25 letters and numbers divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each (ex: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) that is used to activate either the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8 edition that you purchased and installing.

OEM PCs that come with Windows 8 or Windows RT preinstalled stores and encrypts the product key in the uEFI or BIOS firmware chip now. The product key is no longer on the COA sticker to help prevent theft. Whenever you need to reset or reinstall the same Windows 8 on your OEM PC, the product key will automatically be applied and activated.

When installing a retail (upgrade) or system builder copy of Windows 8 on a PC, you must enter your product key to continue the installation and automatically activate.

Windows 8 Enterprise does not require you to enter a product key during installation. You will have a free 90-day evaluation period before you must change the product key to be able to enter your volume license product key and activate Windows 8 Enterprise.

This tutorial will show you how to find your Windows 8 product key from within Windows 8, a Windows 8 retail box, or online order confirmation email.

   Note

For more information about a Windows 8 product key, see: What is a product key?

For more information about the Windows 8 EULA, see: Windows 8 EULA

For more information about what to look for with genuine Windows 8, see: How to Tell

A Windows 8 Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack product key will not activate Windows 8. Instead you must install and activate Windows 8 with your Windows 8 product key, then add Media Center back with it's product key.

   Tip

A Product Key and Product ID are two completely different things, despite the similarity of the terms.

The 25 character Product ID is created during the installation process and is prominently displayed under the Windows activation section at the bottom of the Control Panel (icons view) -> System window. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft; it is of no use during the installation process.

The 25 character Product Key is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the installation to activate Windows with.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key from Online Purchase Confirmation Email
• Option Two: Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key in Retail Box
• Option Three: Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "Belarc Advisor"
• Option Four: Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ProduKey"
• Option Five: Find Retail and OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ShowKey" Script
• Option Six: Find Retail and OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ShowKeyPlus" program
• Option Seven: Find OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key from UEFI with Command Prompt
• Option Eight: Find OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "Windows OEM Product Key Tool"

OPTION ONE

Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key from Online Purchase Confirmation Email

   Note

When you order and download Windows 8 online from either the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, Add Features to Windows 8, or online retailer, you will get a confirmation email that contains your order details and product key.

It is highly recommended that you print out this order confirmation email and place it in a safe place to have available for whenever you may need it.

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1. Check your email for this confirmation email, and open it. You will see your Windows 8 product key towards the top like in my emails below.​

NOTE: If you do not see it, then check your spam or junk inbox and filters to see if it may have been blocked.​

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OPTION TWO

Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key in Retail Box

   Note

A Windows 8 retail box contains a welcome card, separate 32-bit and 64-bit setup discs, and a card containing your product key.

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1. Open your purchased Windows 8 retail box, and look for the card that contains your Windows 8 product key. (see screenshots below)​

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OPTION THREE

Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "Belarc Advisor"

   Note

You must be signed in as an administrator to run this program. This program will not find the product key of Windows 8 Enterprise since it's a volume license.

1. If you have not already, download and install the free Belarc Advisor program.​

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2. Run the program. When it displays the results in your default web browser, scroll down until you see your Windows 8 product key like below.​

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OPTION FOUR

Find Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ProduKey"

   Note

You must be signed in as an administrator to run this program. This program will not find the product key of Windows 8 Enterprise since it's a volume license.

1. If you have not already, download the same 32-bit or 64-bit ZIP version of the free Produkey program as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8.​

NOTE: This program is a standalone .exe file that will not install anything on your PC.​

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2. Run the program. When it displays the results, you will see your Windows 8 product key like below.​

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OPTION FIVE

Find Retail and OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ShowKey" Script

   Note

You must be signed in as an administrator to run this .vbs file.

This .vbs file will not find the product key of Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise since it's a volume license.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ShowKey_v1.3.vbs file.​

NOTE: This script is a standalone .vbs file that will not install anything on your PC.​

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2. Run the script. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.​

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3. When it displays the results, you will see your Windows 8 product key like below.​

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   Note

Installed Key = Product key that Windows is currently activated with.

OEM Key = Product key embedded in the UEFI firmware that came with the PC.

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4. If you like, click/tap on Yes, to save your Windows product key information to a .txt file at the same location you ran the .vbs file from.​

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OPTION SIX

Find Retail and OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "ShowKeyPlus" program

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1. See: "ShowKeyPlus" Information and Download Page​

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OPTION SEVEN

Find OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key from UEFI with Command Prompt

NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

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1. Open an elevated command prompt.​

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2. Copy and paste the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.​

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

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OPTION EIGHT

Find OEM Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key with "Windows OEM Product Key Tool"

NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to run this program.

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1. Go to the NeoSmart site below to download and run the OEMKey.exe file for the Windows OEM Product Key Tool.​

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Windows OEM Product Key Tool​

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   Note

You do not need to enter your name and email to download this program at NeoSmart. It's optional.

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 Online
• How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone
• Activate Retail Windows 8.1 with Windows 8 Product Key
• How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Clear Product Key from Registry in Windows
• How to Uninstall Product Key and Deactivate Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
• How to Add Features to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Windows Media Center" to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO
• How to Download and Run "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" and "Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade
• How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
• How to View System Information about your PC in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[David Bailey]

Show Key VBS

This VBS script works for me.
It only shows the present key.
I have my OEM key & Pro key.
This shows my PRO key.
If this is of no interest, please delete.

View attachment ShowKey.vbs

 

[Brink]

Thank you David. I added the ShowKey.vbs file as OPTION FIVE in the tutorial.

 

[David Bailey]

Thank you David. I added the ShowKey.vbs file as OPTION FIVE in the tutorial.

I hope someone finds it useful.

 

[DustSailor]

Hey Sean,

This Tutorial is how I found my windows product key, and thanks!

Do you know how I can find my WMP product key? I tried going to the MS website, but it didn't show it as a purchase for some reason (or, obviously, list the Product Key). I used the upgrade back when it was discounted from a windows 7 install.

The reason is, I would like to have WMP installed on 8.1 after I upgrade to the final from the preview, through the store. I foolishly thought 8.1 preview was able to be uninstalled back when I installed it. And I am having problems locating the key.
Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Dusty,

If you mean the key for the Windows 8 Media Center Pack, then unless you have the email or a print out of the invoice, you may have lost it for good.

If you know the order number, then you can get the key directly at this link: https://www.mswos.com/

If you have the proof of purchase for the Windows 8 Media Center Pack, then the Microsoft Store Support Team may be able to help you in recovering the product key for the product that you have purchased. You can contact the Microsoft Store Support Team from this link:

Microsoft Store Support

Hope this helps.

 

[DustSailor]

^ Yes, that is what I meant. Unfortunately, I had no success in locating such an email (I should have saved but must not have). I will say that I hadn't used it very often, but it was nice to have in case I ever did (and I had used it in the past).

Oh well, best pay more attention in the future. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Sorry to hear that mate.

 

[DustSailor]

Great news Brink. Just updated to 8.1, it didn't ask for Product key (used the one already in activation), and installed media Center as well. This is a good note for anyone who was having a similar problem as I did.

 

[Brink]

I'm happy to hear the update went well.

 

[carlos28355]

I have two computers with Windows 8.1 currently. I purchased both keys online back when they were 39.99$ each. Then purchased the WMP pack for 9.99$ and I think i got the first media pack for free actually. I have all 4 printouts of each key. Again 2 windows 8 keys and 2 media keys. The problem is i foolishly did not label which key is for which computer. I need for reinstall Windows on one of them and I dont know which key is what. I used Belarc and Produkey and they both show me the same key. However that key is one of the Media pack keys not the actual Windows key. Any idea how I can find out which Windows key it is or can I reinstall using the media key? Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Carlos,

The Windows 8.1 key was replaced with the WMP pack key when it was added.

You should be able to enter either of the Windows 8.1 keys during the reinstall. If it won't activate for you, then use the other key. When finished installing, you could use "Add Features to Windows 8.1" with the same WMP key to add it back.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[carlos28355]

Hey Brink thanks for writing back so soon. So basically if it doesn't activate then that's because its the wrong key and just use the other and we should be all good?

 

[Brink]

Correct, and afterwards you could add the WMC Pack with it's key again.

 

[carlos28355]

Thats good enough thanks for the info! This time ill note down which keys belong to the computer

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

 

[TechnoMage]

I downloaded 'showkey.vbs' while on XP-Pro, so I ran it and sho' nuff' it did show me the Registration Key for XP.

I'll use it the next time I visit an OLD customer of mine, who recently bought a Gateway Mini desktop PC, with Window 8 on it.

Nowhere on the case, in the case or on any of the documentation that came with the PC, is any trace of the Registration Key, that we're used to seeing on every new PC, since.......well, a long time ago.

Thanks for that little Script. It will come in handy.

Happy 2014!

TM

 

[Brink]

Glad it could help TM.

 

[NiFu]

Any idea how I can find out which Windows key it is

The Windows 8.1 key was replaced with the WMP pack key when it was added.

I downloaded 'showkey.vbs'

• Make a copy of ShowKey.vbs
• It's a text file - so open with notpad
• Modify 2. line:
  Key = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DefaultProductKey\"
• Delete line which starts with:
  ProductName = ...
• Save changes and run this modified script.

It should show the Windows 8 backup key when MWC key has overwritten the Windows 8 key.

 

[carlos28355]

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

Everything seemed to work well with the keys. Thanks