Like every Windows, Windows 10 must also be activated with a product key. Compared to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, however, a lot has changed. We'll show you what you need to consider when reading out the Windows 10 product key.
In most cases it is no longer possible to read out your product key under Windows 10. Because if you have purchased Windows 10 directly and not by upgrading Windows 7 or Windows 8 , you only receive a digital license - no key. However, if you have received Windows 10 through such an upgrade, you will find tips here on how to read out your Windows 10 product key ..
What is the Windows Product Key?
Windows is still a commercial operating system. In order to be able to use this permanently on a PC, you must have a valid license and activate the system. To do this, you need a key, the so-called Windows Product Key . Up to Windows 8.1, the 25-digit combination of numbers and letters had to be entered when Windows was installed; Windows 10 also allows later entries. This also applies up to Windows 8.1: To reinstall the system, the product key must be re-entered.
You can find the Windows Product Key, for example, as a sticker on a PC or laptop or on the system's retail packaging. If this information is missing, the product key for reinstalling Windows can also be found using special tools. Programs like Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder or ShowKeyPlus read the Windows product key from the Windows registry so that you can write it down and reinstall the system later. In addition to the actual activation, the Windows Product Key also determines which Windows edition (for example "Home" or "Pro") can be installed.
Windows 10: From product key to digital license
In Windows 10, but especially with the update to version 1607 released in August 2016, Microsoft has greatly reduced the importance of the product key . In most cases, the product key for Windows 10 is converted into a so-called " digital license " during or after installation and activation . Microsoft stores the license data on its servers, the PCs are identified using hash values..
Because of the digital licenses, the classic product key is seldom important. (Source: Microsoft.com) The PC in question also receives a digital license when upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 . It is still possible to reinstall Windows 10 on the same PC. If you now reinstall Windows 10 on the same PC, you no longer have to enter the product key. This applies, for example, if you reset Windows 10 to the factory settings using the " Refresh " function . If you signed in with a Microsoft account when setting up Windows 10, a complete reinstallation from the Windows data carrier is no problem either. As soon as you log in with the same account, the system will recognize the digital license and activate the installation. The Microsoft support area .
Read out Windows 10 product key: is that possible?
Due to the practice of the digital license, entering the product key for Windows 10 is usually no longer necessary after the initial installation and activation . On new PCs or laptops with a pre-installed Windows 10, the activation key is also permanently stored in the BIOS . If you reinstall the system later, the activation is fully automatic. The sticker with the product key, which was widespread up to Windows 8.1, is practically a thing of the past..
Despite valid product activation, tools such as ShowKey Plus under Windows 10 usually only display generic product keys or placeholders.
Theoretically, the tools for reading out the product key still work under Windows 10. In practice, however, this only applies with major restrictions . ShowKeyPlus and Co. often only display the so-called generic keys . These are standard keys that define the Windows edition for a fresh installation of Windows 10. An example of this is the " VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T " key that can be used to install Windows 10 Pro. The actual activation via the Windows settings still requires an unused key that can be entered afterwards.
Windows 10: fix activation issues
Normally, the respective edition of Windows 10 can be easily reinstalled and activated on the same PC. As in previous versions, Microsoft requires reactivation of the system after "significant changes to the PC hardware". This includes, for example, replacing the mainboard or installing the Windows hard drive in a new computer. To avoid problems with reactivating Windows 10, Microsoft recommends associating the Windows installation with a Microsoft account . If you already use such an account, your Windows license is automatically linked to it. You can easily check this: Open the Windows 10 settings and navigate to the " Update and Security ">" Activation . Here Windows 10 shows the installed edition and the activation status .
If you use a Microsoft account, Windows 10 automatically links the installation of Windows 10 to it. If the system reports the link to a Microsoft account, switching to new hardware is not a major problem. After replacing the hardware, simply log in to your account again to transfer the license. If this does not work immediately (this can happen if the hardware changes take place too often according to Microsoft standards), you will find the item " Troubleshooting " in the " Activation " area . Open it and select the item " I recently changed the device hardware " in the wizard . The wizard will guide you through reactivating Windows 10 .
If you have a local account to activate Windows 10 it gets a bit more complicated. If you have an OEM or retail version of Windows 10 , you can simply enter its key again and activate the installation. If that doesn't work, you'll need to contact Microsoft Customer Service . You can find information on this here: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/de-de/contactus/ .
The easiest way, however, is to set up a Microsoft account and link the Windows license to it before a major hardware change . You can also switch from a local to a Microsoft account in the Windows settings . Navigate to the Account section ". Your user account is listed here as a" local account ". Clicking on" Sign in with a Microsoft account instead ", Windows starts an assistant with which you can convert the local account into a Microsoft account. The license is then automatically linked Further information on troubleshooting Windows 10 activation can be found at Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20527/windows-10-activation-troubleshooter .
Using a Microsoft account makes changing hardware easier with Windows 10. Read Windows 10 Product Key: When does it bring something?
As already shown, it is only in the rarest of cases necessary or even possible to read out the product key of Windows 10 . But there is a situation in which reading the key can also be helpful in the current Windows.
If you acquired Windows 10 through the free upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, the activation key used for the previous system is still saved on the PC. If you now decide to set up your Windows installed in this way, the original key can be quite helpful. Ideally, refreshing Windows 10 also works here without entering a key . However, if you are having trouble activating Windows, one possible solution is to use the Enter the original product key .
After an upgrade, Windows 10 shows a generic product key, but the original key (in this case Windows 8.1) can still be read. The tool ShowKeyPlus mentioned above offers the possibility to find out the activation key of Windows 7 or Windows 8 also under Windows 10. On a PC that has been updated to Windows 10, the program displays the Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key under " Original Key ". To do this, simply start the ShowKeyPlus64.exe program and make a note of the Windows key . Alternatively, you can save it as a text file by clicking on " Save ". Make sure that ShowKeyPlus hides the key with asterisks by default. Click on the appropriate line to see the full activation code for Windows 10.