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This article is the ultimate source of information about Windows 7 serial key or product key. Get you free Windows product key below. You will find updated and genuine Windows 7 key here along with everything you need to know about using these keys to activate your operating system. You can also learn how to activate Windows 7 without serial key and where to find it in your system.
How to Find and See the Windows 7 Product Key Number
The Windows 7 product key number is a sequence of 25 letters and numbers divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each (ex: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) that is used to activate either the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 edition that you purchased and installed.
This will show you how to find and see your product key number in Windows 7 or on the retail or OEM product license key Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker.
This will show you how to find and see your product key number in Windows 7 or on the retail or OEM product license key Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker.
- A Windows 7 product key number can only be used to activate the same edition of Windows 7 that it was for, and cannot be used to activate a different edition of Windows 7.
- A Family Pack Windows 7 product key number can be used to activate the Family Pack Windows 7 copy on up to 3 computers at any one time.
- A OEM Windows 7 product key number can only be used to activate a OEM Windows 7 copy on the same computer that it was first activated on, and no other computer.
- A retail Windows 7 product key number can be used to activate a retail Windows 7 copy on any computer, but only on up to one computer at any one time.
For more information about the product key number authenticity, see: How to Tell
A Product Key and Product ID are two completely different things, despite the similarity of the terms.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation process and is prominently displayed under the Windows activation section at the bottom of the Control Panel (icons view) -> System window. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft; it is of no use during the installation process.
The 25 character Product Key is used to 'prove' ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the installation to activate Windows with.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation process and is prominently displayed under the Windows activation section at the bottom of the Control Panel (icons view) -> System window. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft; it is of no use during the installation process.
The 25 character Product Key is used to 'prove' ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the installation to activate Windows with.
Find Windows 7 Product Key Number on Product Key Sticker
1. For a OEM Product Key on COA Sticker
NOTE:These will be store bought computers that came with Windows 7 preinstalled on them. The product key sticker will usually be on the back of a desktop, and on the bottom or under the battery of a laptop and notebook. The sticker key number may be different than the key number reported in one of the programs below. If so, the key number on the sticker is the one that's unique to your computer, and that's the one you'll need to input should you ever clean install Windows. The different extracted key is just a master key used at the OEM factory.2. For a Retail Product Key on COA Sticker
NOTE:These will be computers that a retail copy of Windows 7 has been installed on. The product key sticker will be in the included paperwork in the retail Windows 7 box.
To Use 'ShowKeyPlus' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
Installed Key = This is the product key that Windows is currently activated with.
OEM Key = This is the key stored in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard. This key will not always be the same as the installed key. For example, when the PC came with Windows 8.1 originally installed.
OEM Key = This is the key stored in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard. This key will not always be the same as the installed key. For example, when the PC came with Windows 8.1 originally installed.
1. Download and run ShowKeyPlus. See: 'ShowKeyPlus' Information and Download Page
To Use 'Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option shows you how to use the free program Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download and run the free Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinderprogram towards the bottom of the link.
2. In the left pane, click on Windows 7 (your edition). You will see CD Key in the right pane displaying the Windows 7 product key number.
To Use 'Speccy' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option shows you how to use the free program Speccy to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). Speccy will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download, install, and run the free Speccy program.
2. In the left pane, click on Operating System. In the right pane, you will see the product key number to the right of Serial Number.
To Use 'ProduKey' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option shows you how to use the free program ProduKey to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). ProduKey will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download, extract, and run the free ProduKey program.
2. You will now see Windows product key listed.
To Use a VBS Download to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option was provided by our member Konst at this link.
There you can see that the encrypted key is stored in registry key:
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionDigitalProductId
at Offset = 52
And that the key only includes this letters and numbers
BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789
And no 'AEILNOSUZ015 allowed.
There you can see that the encrypted key is stored in registry key:
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionDigitalProductId
at Offset = 52
And that the key only includes this letters and numbers
BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789
And no 'AEILNOSUZ015 allowed.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.See_Windows_Product_Key.vbs2. Save the VBS file to your desktop, run it, and approve running it.
NOTE:The .vbs file does not install anything on your computer. You can also right click on the .vbs file and click on Edit to see what the script contains.
3. You will now get a pop-up dialog box displaying the product key number used to activate your current Windows installation. Click on OK to close the pop-up when ready. (see screenshot below)
Find Windows 7 Product Key with 'Belarc Advisor'
You must be signed in as an administrator to run this program. This program will not find the product key of Windows 7 Enterprise since it's a volume license.
1. If you have not already, download and install the free Belarc Advisor program.
2. Run the program. When it displays the results in your default web browser, scroll down until you see your Windows 8 product key like below.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over–or is it? There’s still a way to activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key, in addition to Microsoft’s accessibility offer.
Update: We tested this upgrade method once again on January 5, 2018. It still works!
You Can Still Use an Old Key with the Anniversary Update
RELATED:You Can Still Get Windows 10 for Free from Microsoft’s Accessibility Site
As part of Windows 10’s November update, Microsoft changed the Windows 10 installer disc to also accept Windows 7 or 8.1 keys. This allowed users to perform a clean install Windows 10 and enter a valid Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key during installation. Windows 10 would then report that key to Microsoft’s servers, and Windows 10’s activation servers would give your PC a “digital entitlement” (now a “digital license”) to continue using Windows 10 for free, just as if you had upgraded.
This also works from within Windows 10. Even if you don’t provide a key during the installation process, you can head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and enter a Windows 7 or 8.1 key here instead of a Windows 10 key. Your PC will receive a digital entitlement.
Now, even though the free upgrade offer is technically over, this method still works in the Anniversary Update, either when installing Windows 10 with Anniversary Update media or by entering the key after installing Windows 10. Enter any Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key that hasn’t previously been used to upgrade to 10, and Microsoft’s servers will give your PC’s hardware a new digital license that will allow you to continue using Windows 10 indefinitely on that PC.
Microsoft hasn’t released any sort of statement about this upgrade method at all. It’s possible that Microsoft will disable it soon, but it’s also possible Microsoft will look the other way and keep this trick around to encourage more Windows 10 upgrades for a long time to come.
How to Use a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Key to Get Windows 10
RELATED:How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys
This process is easy. First, you’ll need a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key. If you have one of those lying around, great. If you don’t, you can use a tool like NirSoft’s ProduKey to find the key currently in use on your Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 PC. Write it down.
Be sure you have backups of your important files before continuing. Even if you plan on performing an upgrade install, something could go wrong. It’s always a good idea to have backups, especially when installing a new operating system.
Create Windows 10 installation media if you don’t already have it lying around. You can do this with Microsoft’s Windows 10 media creation tool. Select “Create installation media for another PC” and the tool will offer to create a bootable USB flash drive or burn a bootable DVD.
Insert the installation media into the computer you want to upgrade, reboot, and boot from the installation media. Install Windows 10 normally. You can perform an upgrade installation that keeps your existing files or a clean installation that wipes your system drive.
When you’re asked to enter a key, enter the Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key. The installer will accept this key and the installation process will continue normally.
(If you’re using a Windows 8 or 8.1 system with the product key embedded in your systems UEFI firmware or BIOS, you may also be able to click “I don’t have a product key.” Windows 10 should automatically find the key in your UEFI firmware later and activate your system.)
After you’ve installed Windows 10, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and you should see that your PC has a digital license.
If you didn’t enter a key during the installation process, you can enter a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key right in this window when you’re asked to provide a Windows 10 key. Windows will check in with Microsoft’s servers and give your PC a digital license for Windows 10.
It’s that simple. If you ever want to reinstall Windows 10 in the future, you should be able to use the same Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key you entered here. That key will be associated with a “digital license” on Microsoft’s servers, allowing you to continue reinstalling Windows 10 even if Microsoft disables this method of acquiring Windows 10.
You can also sign in to your new PC with a Microsoft account and that key will be associated with your Microsoft account, making it easy to reactivate your digital license if you ever need to reinstall Windows 10 later.
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