What Is a Windows Product Key?

AWindows product keyis a 25-character code you use to activate your copy of Windows.

A manual activation may also be necessary if you run into a Windows 11 activation error.

Windows 10 laptops displaying license agreements

Christina Desitriviantie/Shutterstock

To activate Windows in these cases, you’ll need to enter the 25-character product key.

Note that each edition of Windows uses its own unique product key.

Doing so will ease the activation process if you’re gonna wanna do it again.

Command Prompt window running the wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey command

Heres how to do this:

3. it’s possible for you to download this app from the Microsoft Store to retrieve Windows product key information.

These may also include the Windows product key or other necessary details to help you locate it.

Contact Microsoft Support

If all else fails, try contacting Microsoft support for assistance.

PowerShell console running the command to find Windows 11 and 10 product key

showkeyplus tool showing the retrieved Windows product information.

Windows 11 Settings app showing the activation option

Windows 11 Settings app activation screen

Windows 11 get help app showing the Contact Support option.

Windows 11 get help choose products and services screen