If you have ever had to reinstall Windows on your computer and you realized that you don't have the activation key at hand, don't panic! Especially on newer computers, the license key for Windows is stored safely in the BIOS o UEFI of the system. That is, you won't need to look for an old sticker or a physical box of your operating system.
La BIOS (or UEFI) is a space where some manufacturers store the product key. This prevents problems such as losing the original key and any damage to physical labels that were previously used. If this is your situation, don't worry, in this article we will explain all the possible ways on how you can recover that license directly from the BIOS. Keep reading!
Recover license from CMD
A simple and quick method to obtain the activation key that is stored in the BIOS is to use the command prompt, known as CMDThis process is ideal because you don't need to install any additional software. Just follow these steps:
- press Windows + Q and writes "CMD".
- Right click on the result and select Run as administrator.
- In the opened window, type the following command: WMIC Path SoftwareLicensingService Get OA3xOriginalProductKey.
- After pressing “Enter”, the product key will appear on the screen.
Once the key is displayed on your screen, we recommend that you write it down somewhere safe or save it in a text file for future reference. This way, when needed, you will have it at hand.
Recover license from PowerShell
If you prefer to use PowerShell instead of CMD, you can also do it. It is an equally valid option to recover the license Windows saved in the BIOS. Follow these steps:
- Right click on the Start menu and select Windows PowerShell (Administrator).
- Type the following command: (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey.
- Press “Enter” and you will see the activation key.
The process is quite similar to that of CMD And just like before, once the key appears, make sure to store it somewhere safe.
Use specialized tools
In some cases, if the above commands do not work or you simply prefer to use third-party software, there are several free tools that you can use to obtain the password. BIOS without complications. Below we explain some of them:
Windows Keyfinder
This application is easy to use and allows you to recover the product key of Windows directly from the BIOS without much hassle. Just download, install and run it. When it starts, it will show you what your password is. Windows, which you can save or even print.
OEM Product Key Tool
An interesting option if you don't want to install programs is this portable utility. As it doesn't require installation, you can carry it on a USB stick and use it to recover the product key of any computer just by running it. It will quickly show you the license key of the computer. Windows stored in the BIOS.
ProduKey
ProduKey is very useful not only to see the key of Windows saved in the BIOS, but also to obtain keys for other programs installed on your computer, such as, for example, Microsoft Office. You just have to download the application, run it and look for the key that corresponds to the label (OEM BIOS Key).
ShowKeyPlus
This is another portable tool that you can use without installing it on your computer. When you run it, it will show you the product key saved in the BIOS in the “OEM Key” field. If you do not have a key saved in your BIOS, you will see the option “installed key”, which indicates that you probably entered the key manually when installing Windows.
Recover the key from Linux
If you use Linux or you just have a distribution Linux available, you can also recover the activation key from Windows saved in the BIOS. Although it may seem more technical, it is quite simple. Just open a terminal and run one of the following commands:
- cat /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
- xxd /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
- hd /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
These commands will read the information contained in the BIOS and they will return you the activation key that is stored in the MSDM table.
These methods offer you multiple options to extract the license from Windows saved in the BIOS o UEFI, depending on your preferences and needs. It is recommended that, once the key has been extracted, you store it in a safe place so that it is available for future reinstallations.
Recover the activation key of Windows from the BIOS It is a fairly simple process, whether using CMD, PowerShell or specialized tools. These methods allow you to securely access the embedded key to keep your operating system activated, even after a reinstallation or hardware change.
I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.
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