Windows 10: I can't find my product key to reactivate windows 11

I accidentally signed out of windows 11 on my prebuilt pc and can't activate it again because I don't know my product key. I've tried using several 3rd party tools but none were successful and they only gave me the last 5 characters. Using a command prompt and power shell didn't work because it wouldn't show me since I have a prebuilt PC. Will I have to purchase a digital windows 11 product id? If so, how?

:)

 

Product Key Reactivation

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

Reactivating Windows 11 after retrieving the motherboard key involves using the original product key or digital license associated with your system.

Here are the steps to reactivate Windows 11:

1. Open Settings:
   
   • Click on the Start button and select the gear icon to open "Settings."
     
2. Navigate to Update & Security:
   
   • In the Settings menu, click on "Update & Security."
     
3. Go to Activation:
   
   • In the left sidebar, select "Activation."
     
4. Enter Product Key:
   
   • If you have a product key, click on "Change product key" and enter the key when prompted.
     
5. Use Digital License:
   
   • If your Windows 11 was linked to your Microsoft account, you might see an option to troubleshoot and link your digital license. Click on this option and follow the prompts.
     
6. Restart Your Computer:
   
   • After entering the product key or linking your digital license, restart your computer.
     
7. Verification:
   
   • Go back to the Activation section in Settings to verify that Windows 11 is now activated.
     

 

Linking Windows 11 Product Key to my Microsoft account

Hi



Thanks for your reply.

Given your situation, let's address how to find your full Windows 11 product key and the steps to manually add it to your Microsoft account, even though the latter is not a standard procedure for linking your digital license to your Microsoft account.

Unfortunately, Windows itself doesn't provide a straightforward way to view your complete installed product key through its interface. However, you can use the script to retrieve your product key. One commonly used method is via the Windows Command Prompt with a simple script:

1. Using Command Prompt:
   
   • Press Windows + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the menu.
     
   • Type the following command and press Enter:
     
     
   • This command should display your product key. If it doesn't, it's possible that your Windows installation doesn't store the key in a retrievable format (this can happen with digital licenses upgraded from Windows 10).
     

It's important to clarify that there isn't a manual process for adding a Windows product key directly to your Microsoft account through account settings. The linking process is automatic upon activation with a Microsoft account signed in on an activated Windows 11 system. The purpose of linking is primarily for ease of reactivation in case of significant hardware changes, not for key management or storage.

Since your Windows states "Windows is activated" without specifying it's linked to your Microsoft account and the 'Troubleshoot' option isn't available, it suggests your system is already activated, but the link to your Microsoft account isn't established due to some anomaly.

Given these circumstances and the steps you've already taken, your best course of action is to:

1. Contact Microsoft Support: Since the standard procedures haven't resolved your issue, reaching out to Microsoft Support directly is advisable. They can provide specific assistance for activation issues and may offer a solution to ensure your digital license is properly linked to your Microsoft account. Be prepared to provide details about your Windows 11 upgrade and your Microsoft account.
   
2. Keep a Record: Once you retrieve your full product key using one of the methods above, keep a record of it in a secure location. Although the product key itself may not need to be manually added to your Microsoft account, having it on hand can be useful for support purposes or future reference.
   

If your system is already activated (which seems to be the case), your primary concern should be ensuring you can reactivate Windows if needed, such as after significant hardware changes. Microsoft Support can guide you on ensuring your activation status remains intact and troubleshoot any issues with linking to your Microsoft account.

 

Windows 10 Product Key

Hi Oscar,

Since the laptop has no battery compartment wherein the product key is usually located, we recommend that you follow these steps to find your Windows product key:

• Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
• Enter this command: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
  and hit Enter.

Also, if you're looking to reinstall Windows 10 after a hardware replacement, we recommend that you follow the steps provided in this

article.

Let us know if performing these steps resolved the issue.