Lost Windows Product Key? Easy Fix-Problem Solved!

[Jp42nca]

I want to share my experience for those who have lost their Windows Product Key. I built 2 pc's over the last few years & the labels I attached to each Windows Product Key to designate which pc it went to came off during a move, anyone in this position knows its not easily retrieved, except for those who are technically advanced. Just recently I found an easy way to retrieve it.

 

Go to the Microsoft Store & download a free app called 'WinToys'. It's an app that shows you all that's running on your pc instead of going through all the menus and tabs in Windows.

 

On the Home tab it gives your pc info, System, Processor, Graphics, Memory, Windows, Performance. Clicking the tabs does nothing, but if you hover over the verbiage with your mouse cursor you get info on that tab. Where it says Windows 10 or 11 hover your mouse over the 10 or 11 & your Windows Product Key pops up. I found this by accident & now have my product keys back. Will not pop up if you hover over Windows, has to be 10 or 11. 

 

I want to pass this on & hope some find this helpful...jp

[Blasty Blosty]

I normally just use that command prompt command:

 

Wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

 

[Jp42nca]

2 minutes ago, Blasty Blosty said:

I normally just use that command prompt command:

 

Wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

 

Thanks for giving me another way to retrieve it. I asked a few times over the last few years but to no avail. The solution I was given was its in the registry, followed instructions but wasn't there. So I just gave up. Thanks for responding.  

[Blasty Blosty]

3 minutes ago, Jp42nca said:

Thanks for giving me another way to retrieve it. I asked a few times over the last few years but to no avail. The solution I was given was its in the registry, followed instructions but wasn't there. So I just gave up. Thanks for responding.  

Your way is definitely way more user friendly though, both great.

 

Plus "WinToys" is a lot easier to remember than the scrabble of letters I have to google every time

[Jp42nca]

1 minute ago, Blasty Blosty said:

Your way is definitely way more user friendly though, both great.

 

Plus "WinToys" is a lot easier to remember than the scrabble of letters I have to google every time

That's true. And I know there are others out there who might feel intimidated going into the Command Prompt. I know I was at first, still am sometimes when things get to complicated & you have to go deep . 

 

Just recently my wife's pc would not allow me to update Windows 10, Error encountered (0x80070643). I tried all the cmd prompts to solve the issue, scannow, checkhealth, scanhealth, & restorehealth. Nothing worked. I did some digging on youtube and there is a work around going deep into the Command Prompt & eliminating a file. Microsoft is aware they have a bug & they are working on a fix. The article went on to say wait for a the fix if its not affecting performance. So that's what I'm gonna do, if it ain't broke don't fix it until its a problem. It was a deep dive into the Command Prompt & just didn't feel comfortable doing it at this point. If I screwed it up my wife would be pretty upset    

[Blasty Blosty]

2 minutes ago, Jp42nca said:

That's true. And I know there are others out there who might feel intimidated going into the Command Prompt. I know I was at first, still am sometimes when things get to complicated & you have to go deep . 

 

Just recently my wife's pc would not allow me to update Windows 10, Error encountered (0x80070643). I tried all the cmd prompts to solve the issue, scannow, checkhealth, scanhealth, & restorehealth. Nothing worked. I did some digging on youtube and there is a work around going deep into the Command Prompt & eliminating a file. Microsoft is aware they have a bug & they are working on a fix. The article went on to say wait for a the fix if its not affecting performance. So that's what I'm gonna do, if it ain't broke don't fix it until its a problem. It was a deep dive into the Command Prompt & just didn't feel comfortable doing it at this point. If I screwed it up my wife would be pretty upset    

Definitely, apps like these need to exist for the lesser confident people in tech

[Jp42nca]

1 minute ago, Blasty Blosty said:

Definitely, apps like these need to exist for the lesser confident people in tech

Agreed