Finding your Windows or Office key
First look for the purchase email or invoice: it is the only complete source. On the PC, Windows and Office only show the last 5 characters of the key (slmgr /dli or ospp.vbs /dstatus command). A key built into the PC by the manufacturer can be read with a PowerShell command.
Where the key really is
- The purchase email or invoice: the full 25-character key is there. At Licenciel, it is also in your customer account, under “My keys”.
- The packaging or card: for a box or card bought in a shop.
- The Microsoft account: some licences are linked to an account and have no key to re-enter (see below).
Windows: what the PC can tell you
| Need | Method |
|---|---|
| Check that Windows is activated | Settings › System › Activation |
| See the last 5 characters of the installed key | Command Prompt as administrator: slmgr /dli |
| Read the key built in by the manufacturer (branded PC) | PowerShell: (Get-CimInstance -Query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey |
The key of a digital licence (free upgrade, licence linked to a Microsoft account) cannot be “found”: Windows reactivates itself after a reinstall on the same PC, once signed in to the same account.
Office: only the last 5 characters
Once Office is installed, the full key is no longer kept. To see the last 5 characters and the licence status, open Command Prompt and type cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /dstatus (the path may vary). If your Office is linked to a Microsoft account, it appears under Services & subscriptions in the account.
What to avoid
Small programs promise to “extract all keys”: in practice they only find a partial key or the manufacturer’s, and booby-trapped versions circulate. Prefer the commands above, provided by Windows and Office.
Can’t find the key? If you bought it from Licenciel, contact us with your order number. To check that a key is genuine: verify your Windows or Office key.