Any Windows computer should come with a license key for activation. However, that key isn't always readily available. Some computers have a sticker on the outside with it, but with newer computers the key is usually pre-loaded and stored digitally on the system.
This article will show you how to find your license key with Command Prompt.
Here is how to do this:
- Click on the Start button, typically found at the lower left corner of the screen. Click in the search bar on your computer and type in cmd.
2. Right click on Command Prompt at the top of the search results and then select Run as Administrator.
A User Account Control window will appear. Confirm that by clicking Yes. You’ll know it works if the default directory is saying C:\Windows\system32>
3. From here, enter the following into command prompt and then press Enter on your keyboard:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
You should now see the product key in the format xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.