A Windows product key is a 25-character code that looks like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX and is used to activate Windows.
This short note shows how to find the Windows product key from a command prompt (CMD) or from a Windows PowerShell and check its validity.
Cool Tip: How to check Windows version from CMD & PowerShell! Read more →
How To Find Windows Product Key
To find the Windows product key it is required to start the command prompt or the Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
Press ⊞ Win keybutton to open the “Start” menu, type in cmd to search for the command prompt or power to search for the PowerShell and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch it as an administrator.
Execute the command below in the elevated command prompt or the Windows PowerShell to display the Windows product key:
C:\> wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
You can check the validity of the installed Windows product key by running this command from the command prompt or the Windows PowerShell:
C:\> slmgr /dli
If the license status is “Licensed”, then you are using the genuine Windows product key, otherwise the key is not genuine.