In short: Windows never displays your full key, but you can quickly find out which type of licence it uses with the slmgr /dli command. If your PC came with Windows, the original key is often stored in the firmware and can be read with a PowerShell command. For a key bought online, the reference remains the seller's order email: keep it safe.
Product key or digital licence?
- The product key has 25 characters (XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX). This is what you receive when you buy a licence.
- The digital licence is the fingerprint Microsoft records once the PC is activated. It lets you reinstall Windows on the same hardware without re-entering the key, and it can be linked to your Microsoft account.
To see which one is in use, open Settings > System > Activation: Windows shows, for example, "Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account".
Check your licence type: slmgr /dli
Open the Start menu, type cmd, then enter:
slmgr /dliA window shows the edition, the last 5 characters of the key and, most importantly, the Description line, which gives the licence channel:
| Channel shown | Licence type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| RETAIL channel | Retail | Transferable to another PC, one at a time |
| OEM_DM channel | OEM supplied by the PC manufacturer | Tied to this computer, key stored in the firmware |
| OEM_COA or OEM_System Builder | System builder OEM | Tied to the first PC it activates |
| VOLUME_MAK | Volume licence | One key for several devices, each PC uses one activation |
Read the key stored in the BIOS (branded PCs)
Since Windows 8, PCs sold with Windows have their key stored in the firmware. Open Terminal or PowerShell and type:
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKeyThe full key is displayed. An empty line means the PC has no key in its firmware, which is normal for a self-built PC or one activated with a Retail key. The old wmic command, often quoted online, has been removed from Windows 11 starting with version 25H2.
Other places to look
- The order email from the seller, or your customer account on their website.
- The sticker under a laptop or on a desktop tower, for PCs from before around 2015.
- Your Microsoft account: it does not show the key, but the linked digital licence is enough to reactivate Windows after a reinstall.
Be wary of software that promises to "extract" the installed key: with a volume licence or a digital activation, it often shows a worthless generic key, and some of these tools are adware.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Windows key saved in my Microsoft account?
Not the key itself, but the digital licence is, if you linked it. That is enough to reactivate Windows after a reinstall on the same PC.
How can I tell whether my licence is OEM or Retail?
Type slmgr /dli in the command prompt. The Description line shows RETAIL for a transferable licence, OEM for a licence tied to the PC and VOLUME_MAK for a volume licence.
The PowerShell command shows nothing: is that a problem?
No. It simply means the PC has no key in its firmware. Your licence is elsewhere: in the seller's email or as a digital licence.
Does a recovered Windows 10 key work on Windows 11?
Generally yes, for the same edition and on a compatible PC. An OEM key, however, stays tied to the PC it was first activated on.
Key nowhere to be found or tied to an old PC? Our Windows 11 and Windows 10 licences are delivered by email within minutes, with an invoice. To choose the right type, read OEM, Retail or volume licence.