If you’re a Windows 8 user, you may have encountered a situation where you need to reinstall the operating system or activate a new computer. In these cases, you will need your Windows 8 product key, also known as a license key, to complete the process. But what if you can’t find your product key? Don’t worry, in this article we will show you how to view your Windows 8 product key.
Why Do You Need Your Windows 8 Product Key?
Your Windows 8 product key is a unique 25-character code that is used to activate your operating system. It is required when installing or reinstalling Windows 8, as well as when activating a new computer. Without a valid product key, you will not be able to use your Windows 8 operating system.
How to Find Your Windows 8 Product Key
There are a few different ways to find your Windows 8 product key. Here are three methods you can try:
- Check the packaging or email receipt: If you purchased a physical copy of Windows 8, your product key should be included in the packaging. If you purchased a digital copy, check your email receipt for the product key.
- Use a product key finder: There are many third-party product key finder tools available online that can help you retrieve your Windows 8 product key. Some popular options include Belarc Advisor, ProduKey, and Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.
- View it in the registry: If you have already installed Windows 8 on your computer, you can view your product key in the registry. Here’s how:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit” and press Enter.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion.
- Look for the “DigitalProductId” entry on the right-hand side.
- Your product key will be listed next to this entry.
How to View Your Windows 8 Product Key Using Command Prompt
Another way to view your Windows 8 product key is by using the Command Prompt. Here’s how:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin).”
- Type the following command and press Enter: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
- Your Windows 8 product key will be displayed in the Command Prompt window.
How to View Your Windows 8 Product Key Using PowerShell
PowerShell is another command-line tool that can be used to view your Windows 8 product key. Here’s how:
- Open PowerShell as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
- Type the following command and press Enter: powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
- Your Windows 8 product key will be displayed in the PowerShell window.
How to View Your Windows 8 Product Key Using a VBScript
If you prefer using scripts, you can also use a VBScript to view your Windows 8 product key. Here’s how:
- Open Notepad and copy and paste the following code:
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
2. Save the file as “productkey.vbs” and close Notepad. 3. Double-click on the file to run it. 4. A pop-up window will appear with your Windows 8 product key.
How to View Your Windows 8 Product Key Using a Third-Party Software
If you’re not comfortable using command-line tools or scripts, you can also use a third-party software to view your Windows 8 product key. Here are a few options:
- https://www.keyfinderthing.com/: This free software is easy to use and can retrieve product keys for various software, including Windows 8.
- https://www.winkeyfinder.com/: This free software is specifically designed to retrieve Windows product keys.
- https://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/utility/windows-product-key/: This free software is lightweight and can quickly retrieve your Windows 8 product key.
What to Do if You Can’t Find Your Windows 8 Product Key
If you have tried all the methods above and still can’t find your Windows 8 product key, there are a few things you can do:
- Check your email: If you purchased a digital copy of Windows 8, check your email for the product key. It may have been sent to you when you made the purchase.
- Contact Microsoft: If you purchased a physical copy of Windows 8, you can contact Microsoft support and provide proof of purchase to retrieve your product key.
- Use a generic product key: If you are reinstalling Windows 8, you can use a generic product key to complete the installation. However, you will still need to activate your operating system with a valid product key later.
Conclusion
Your Windows 8 product key is an essential piece of information that you will need when reinstalling or activating your operating system. By following the methods outlined in this article, you should be able to retrieve your product key and complete the necessary steps to use your Windows 8 operating system. Remember to keep your product key in a safe place for future use.
