Finding Windows 7 Product Key: A Powershell Guide

If you're looking to find your Windows 7 product key using Powershell, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll show you the simple steps to retrieve your Windows product key using Powershell. This process will also work for Windows 11, 10, 8, and Vista. First, make sure you have administrative privileges. Then, open a Powershell window and type the following command:

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

Hit Enter, and your Windows license key will appear in the Powershell window.

Using the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt method to recover a Windows product key is very simple and works for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. Here are the steps to recover your Windows product key using the Command Prompt:

• Access the Command Prompt: Press the Windows key + S to open the search bar. Type "cmd" into the search bar. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator" to ensure you have the necessary permissions.
• Enter the command: Once the Command Prompt window is open, type or copy and paste the following command:

Wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Press Enter. The command queries your system for the Microsoft product key associated with your Windows installation.

View your product key: After pressing Enter, the system will process the command. The 25-digit Windows product key will be displayed in the Command Prompt window.

Note that this method also works for OEM and Retail licenses.

Using PowerShell

To find your Windows product key using PowerShell, follow these steps:

• Open PowerShell with administrative privileges: Press the Windows key and type "PowerShell". Right-click on the PowerShell app and select "Run as administrator" to ensure you have the necessary permissions.
• Enter the command: In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

Powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"

This command queries your system for the Microsoft product key associated with your Windows installation.

View your product key: After executing the command, your Windows product key will be displayed in the PowerShell window.

This method will show you your Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11, or Windows Vista product key.

Using the PowerShell window

To find your Windows 7 product key using PowerShell, you will need to open a PowerShell window with administrative privileges. Here's how to do it:

• Press the Windows key and type "PowerShell".
• Right-click on the PowerShell app and select "Run as administrator" to ensure you have the necessary privileges.

Once the PowerShell window is open, type the following command and press Enter:

Powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"

Your Windows 7 product key will then be displayed in the PowerShell window.

This method will allow you to retrieve your Windows 7 product key, even if you have a Retail or OEM license. It is important to note that a Retail product license is tied to the person, while the OEM product key is tied to the machine.

Additionally, if you are using Windows 10, you can also find your product key by using the following command in the PowerShell window:

Wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

This command will display your Windows 10 product key, which is a 25-character alphanumeric code.

Remember that your Windows product key is essential for activating your operating system and verifying its legitimacy. It is always a good idea to keep your Windows product key, license type, serial number, and Product ID handy for emergencies.

Using the Windows Registry

To use this method, you will need to boot into your Windows computer. Then, using a simple VBScript, you can read all the binary gibberish written in the Windows Registry. This script translates the Registry values into a readable format.

Copy and paste the following script into a Notepad window:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)

Const KeyOffset = 52

I = 28

Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"

Do

Cur = 0

X = 14

Do

Cur = Cur * 256

Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur

Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255

Cur = Cur Mod 24

X = x -1

Loop While x >= 0

I = i -1

KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput

If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then

I = i -1

KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput

End If

Loop While i >= 0

ConvertToKey = KeyOutput

End Function

• Save the Notepad file as "productkey.vbs" by choosing the "All Files" option in the "Save as type" dialog box.
• Click on the saved file, and a new popup window will display your Windows product key in the registry. You can copy or note this down to use later.

Using a third-party app

If you're looking for a Windows 7 product key, it's likely that you own a new PC, in which case the product key is preinstalled on your device. You can find it on a sticker on your computer, or it may be included in the packaging that the PC came in. If you can't find it there, it may be included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC.

If you still can't find the product key, you can try using third-party software. One of the best apps to find out your Windows product key is ShowKeyPlus. Here's how to use it:

• Head over to the tool’s official GitHub repository and download its zip file.
• Once the download finishes, extract the contents and head over to the ShowKeyPlus folder.
• Double-clicking on the ShowKeyPlus.exe file will show you your product key.

Other third-party tools that can help you retrieve your Windows activation key include:

• Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder: This Microsoft key finder can locate product keys for Windows, Office, and other programs. However, some antivirus programs may flag it as potential malware.
• A portable tool that does not require installation and can identify license keys for numerous applications. You can carry it on a USB stick and use it across multiple devices without installation.

Finding the key on a sticker/label

If you have purchased a new PC, it is likely to come pre-activated. This means that you may not need to open your command prompt or play with the Windows Registry. Your Windows key could be right in front of you on a Certificate of Authority (COA) sticker on your computer or included in the original packaging.

If you bought your PC from an authorised Microsoft retailer, you need to find the Windows product key on a label inside the PC box. The COA sticker on your computer verifies the authenticity of your Windows computer. If you own a desktop PC, you will spot the COA sticker on the side of the desktop case. If you have a laptop, the COA sticker could be under the battery if it is removable.

If your COA sticker has been rubbed off, you could try gently rubbing a soft 2B lead pencil over the faded area to clarify the characters. Alternatively, take a high-resolution photograph of the sticker and zoom in to read the characters.

Frequently asked questions