Prototype: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic

The physical location of your Windows product fundamental is often located on a sticker placed in difficult-to-reach spots on your PC. However, with a few commands and a little know-how, you can use the operating organisation to reveal your Windows xi production key. The overall techniques for finding a production cardinal are practically the same as they were for Windows 10, merely there are subtle differences.

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This how-to tutorial volition update how to detect your Windows 11 product cardinal using the operating system itself and not by relying on the sticker placed haphazardly somewhere on your PC.

3 simple ways to detect your Windows 11 product key

Exist forewarned: These techniques are best used for Windows eleven computers running the OS since purchase or for Windows 10 PCs upgraded to Windows 11 through the patch process. The product keys for enterprise PCs are distributed differently and may non be revealed using these methods.

1. Use the command prompt in Windows eleven

The about straight method for finding your Windows 11 product key is from the command line. Open the Windows 11 search tool and type "command." Detect command prompt (Figure A) in the search results and click the Run As Administrator link to reach the command prompt screen.

Figure A

Blazon or paste this command at the prompt and printing the Enter cardinal:

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

The command volition reveal your original Windows 11 production key right there on the command prompt screen.

2. Use PowerShell in Windows 11

If you would adopt to employ PowerShell, the process is similar, but the commands are unlike. Open up the Windows xi search tool and type "powershell." Find PowerShell in the search results (Effigy B) and click the "Run As Administrator" link.

Figure B

At the PowerShell prompt, type or paste this command, then press Enter:

powershell "(Become-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"

The command volition reveal your original Windows 11 product cardinal right at that place on the PowerShell prompt screen.

3. Use the Registry File in Windows 11

The Windows xi production key is stored in the Windows Registry File, then it is possible to find the production primal there if you navigate to the right place. Open the Windows eleven search tool and blazon "regedit." Select the Registry Editor application from the results and click the "Run Every bit Ambassador" link. Using the left-manus windowpane in the editor, navigate to this primal:

Figurer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

Equally y'all tin encounter in Figure C, the BackupProductKeyDefault cardinal will reveal a valid Windows 11 product key. (Note, this fundamental may be different than the cardinal revealed by the command prompt or PowerShell.)

Figure C

Exit out of the Registry Editor when you are finished.

There are third-party vendors offering applications which tin locate and display your Windows 11 product key for you, merely the techniques explained in a higher place seem to suggest those apps may not be worth the trouble or the potential security problems. Also, go along in heed that if you bought Windows 11 from the Microsoft Store, your account society history will as well have product cardinal information bachelor.