If you bought Windows 10, you’ll receive a digital license instead of a product key. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer.Ī digital copy from a Microsoft website. The product key is in the confirmation email you received after buying your digital copy of Windows. The product key is preinstalled on your PC, included with the packaging the PC came in, or included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC. The product key is on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer.Ī new PC running Windows.

Where to find your product key depends on how you got your copy of Windows:įrom an authorized retailer. Microsoft’s website lists the following information about finding the Windows product key for Windows 10: There is an option to change the product key in the Settings, but there is no such thing to show the active Windows 10 product key. It turns out there is no easy answer to find this out. This is the only form of nag you’ll see - there are no pop-up windows, for example.Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft accountīut what is my Windows 10 product key? How to find out the currently installed license key of my Windows 10 installation? Where to find Windows 10 key? Maybe you want to backup the Windows 10 key just in case? Activate Windows now.” link at the bottom of the Settings app. You’ll also see a “Windows isn’t activated. First, you’ll notice a watermark in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Eventually, Windows will start nagging you a tiny bit. Initially, you won’t notice a difference. These days, Windows just complains at you in a few minor, cosmetic ways.

With Windows XP, Microsoft actually used Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) to disable access to your computer. However, an unactivated version of Windows 10 doesn’t have many restrictions. RELATED: How Does Windows Activation Work?Īfter you’ve installed Windows 10 without a key, it won’t actually be activated. Whatever version you choose, Windows 10 will install normally.

When you select this option, you’ll be able to install either “Windows 10 Home” or “Windows 10 Pro.” Bear in mind that, if you plan to pay to upgrade to the paid version later, it’ll be cheaper to upgrade to Windows 10 Home, so you may want to install the Home version.

Free product key windows 10 pro