Windows 8, like any other version of the Microsoft OS, should be activated using a product key in order to make use of its premium features. You might have already done that. But you lose the key somehow and no longer have the OS installed. In this scenario, you should recover the product key in order to start enjoying the full benefits of your Windows 8 license again. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the easiest methods you can follow to get your product key back.
Method 1. Manually check for the Key
This might sound silly, but there might be people who are not aware that Windows 8 product keys will be displayed in several places. For example, are you aware that some of the laptop manufacturers note down the product key in the form of a sticker at the bottom of the product? If not, look under. Mainly there are three places you can look for the windows 8 product key.
A sticker on your laptop or PC
With certain laptops and PCs, you may find the product key of your operating system in the form of a sticker somewhere on the product especially underneath. So search for it, if you were able to find it, you can save a ton of time.
This is what a Windows 8 product key sticker would look like –
The Windows 8 installation media
If you used an installation media to install the product, you might have also received a label or paper with installation instructions and your product key.
Microsoft order history
If you purchased the Windows 8 license digitally, be sure to check the order history on the Microsoft website. There are chances that you may be able to recover the key that way.
Method 2. Retrieve the product key from a digital purchase confirmation email
There is a simple method by which you can easily get your Windows 8 product key back, and the method is just checking your mail. While you purchased Windows 8, you received an email from Microsoft about your order summary, and that’s the destiny you are seeking. Given below are the easiest ways to get into it:
Step 1: Go to your Inbox
- First, head toward your email client; in the majority of cases, it is Gmail or Outlook.
- Tap on the “Search” bar.
- Now search for the terms “Windows 8 product key” or “Purchase Confirmation”.
- Look for any emails related to the Windows 8 purchase.
Note: Don’t move forward, as the steps given below are applicable only if you find that mail.
Step 2: Analyze the Email
If your luck is winning the race and you found the Product key’s email, here’s what you have to do next:
- Analyze the email carefully.
- You will find the Product key and some other crucial information, like the order number.
Now that you are so close to victory, note down the product key carefully and put it in a safe vault. My suggestion is: Create a secured document to protect against any unauthorized access.
Also, one thing to keep in mind in this process is that this method does not guarantee success because the subject line and the content of the email would be different depending on the retailer or Microsoft Store you purchased Windows 8 from. So if you have not found the product key using this method, don’t worry; there are several effective methods shared in this article that, by applying, you will achieve positive results.
Method 3. Recover Windows 8 Product Key with CMD
Time needed: 30 minutes
CMD can be used for a lot of things. To recover your product key as well. Just carefully do the steps mentioned here. Follow these steps to recover Windows 8 product key using CMD.
- Open CMD
CMD allows us to recover the Windows 8 product keys using the commands. You can open it from the Start menu by searching CMD and choosing the Command Prompt option. You can also open CMD by pressing Win + R keys together and typing in “CMD” in the Run prompt, then pressing Enter.
- Enter the command
Once CMD is opened, type the following command in the console and press Enter.
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey - Copy the product key
Once you enter the above command, it will show you the product key of your Windows 8 installation if it has one. Just copy it by selecting the product key, then right-click on it, and choosing “copy” from the context menu.
Method 4. Use a Third-Party tool
There are several third-party tools that allow recovering Windows 8 product key. You can simply download one of them and use them to get access to your lost key. Here are some of the most used tools that can recover Windows 8 product keys.
Be sure to use them in the same order listed above so that you will always use the best tool first before going to the less popular ones.
Method 5. Use the Registry to Recover Windows 8 Product Key
Windows registry is a powerful tool that contains very important information regarding our operating system and allows it to work smoothly. Did you know that you can also use it to find out information about the Windows 8 product key? If not, have a look at the 3rd method we mentioned in our article on recovering Windows 7 product key. Follow the same steps on your Windows 8 PC in order to recover your product key using the Windows 8 registry.
Method 6. Reach out to Microsoft Support
The last thing you can do if you were not able to find out your lost key even after following any of the above-listed methods is reaching out to Microsoft support. If there are any chances for you to get back your product key, it depends on Microsoft support. If you were able to prove that you are a genuine customer and provide the information regarding your Windows 8 installation, they might be able to help you. Give it a try.
