How To Find Your Windows 8 or 8.1 Product Key

As you may be finding out, probably half way through reinstalling Windows 8, you must have your product key to continue the installation.

Download Belarc Advisor, a free PC audit program with full Windows 8 support that also functions as a key finder tool. Unfortunately, manually locating the Windows 8 product key in the registry isn't possible so you'll need to use a program like this.

Note: Any product key finder that advertises support for Windows 8 will work for either edition: Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, as well as both editions of Windows 8.1.

Install Belarc Advisor, following whatever instructions are given during the installation.

Note: If you choose a different keyfinder, please know that some are supported by optional add-on programs so be sure to uncheck those options during the program's installation if you don't want them. A few of them require no installation at all.

Run Belarc Advisor (the initial analysis may take a little while) and note the Windows 8 product key displayed in the Software Licenses section.

The Windows 8 product key is a series of 25 letters and numbers and should look like this: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

Write down the Windows 8 key exactly as shown for use when reinstalling Windows 8.

Important: Make sure each and every letter and number is written exactly as shown. If even one digit isn't transcribed correctly, the key won't work to reinstall Windows 8.