Finding the Product Key for Windows Server 2016 To locate the product key for Windows Server 2016, follow these steps: 1. **Using Command Prompt:** - Press `Win + X` and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)". - Type the following command and press Enter: ``` wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey ``` - If the key is present, it will be displayed in the output. 2. **Using Third-Party :** - There are several third-party applications, like "ProduKey" by NirSoft, that can retrieve product keys from your system's registry. Download and run such a tool, and it should display the product key for Windows Server 2016. 3. **Original Installation Media:** - Check the original installation media or the documentation that came with it. The product key might be printed on the packaging or provided in an email if you purchased it online. 4. **Purchase Records:** - If you bought the license through an official channel, you might find the key in your purchase history or in the confirmation email. Remember that the product key may not be visible for activated Windows installations due to Microsoft's licensing changes. In such cases, the key is stored securely within the system and tied to your Microsoft account or digital license.

A Windows Server product key is a crucial digital key consisting of a sequence of 25 characters in total. This is vital because the key is used to activate Windows. Without this key, users may not have full control over their Windows Server, and they might also be unable to use various built-in Windows programs that require a Windows Server key for activation. In this article, we'll explore some methods to find your Windows Server key. So, let's get started without further ado.

Solution 1: Check the Windows Server 2016 product key in the registry

Find the product key via Registry Editor:

The Windows Registry is primarily a database containing system software and hardware information, which exists in the form of values and other options. There is a way to find the product key for your Windows Server system within the Registry, which is what we will discuss in this section.

Here are the steps to find the product key for your Windows Server from the registry:

Step 1: Click the Start button in Windows and select Run. In the dialog box that appears, type Regedit and press Enter or click OK to continue.

Step 2. Next, you need to browse to the folder that contains your Windows server product key. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion.

Step 3: Scroll down and look for the ProductId. Right-click it and select Modify. The number that appears is your Windows Server product key. Write it down, and then click Cancel without making any changes.

The above steps are the guide to correctly find the Windows Server product key in the Registry. Now, let's look at other possible fixes we can try.

Solution 2: Find the Windows Product Key using PowerShell

Find Windows Product Key with PowerShell

PowerShell is an updated and more powerful application that looks similar to the Command Prompt. Using PowerShell to find your Windows product key works much the same as it does with the Command Prompt.

Please follow these steps to find your Windows product key using PowerShell:

Step 1: Press Windows + X. Navigate to "Windows PowerShell (Admin)."

Step 2: In the new PowerShell window, type and enter: (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey

Step 3: Press "Enter," and your Windows product key will appear on the screen.

Fix 3: Retrieve product key via Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is a very useful tool for all Windows users, and can also be used to find your Windows product key. To use the Command Prompt to find your Windows product key, do the following:

Step 1: In the Windows search bar, type CMD or Command Prompt, hit Enter, and open it.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the following: SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Step 3: Press "Enter." You'll see a 25-character code appear on the screen – this is your Windows product key.

The Command Prompt is one of the simplest ways to find your Windows product key. However, you can also use Windows PowerShell to do this.

Recommendation: Use a Key Finder tool to locate your Windows Server 2016 product key.

Use Todo PCTrans to find the product key:

You might be wondering why we're mentioning this after discussing three different ways to find your Windows product key. Hear us out – it's worth it.

The Key Finder tool is an app that makes it easy to transfer your data, including accounts and apps, but its specialty is finding product keys. It works with all versions of Windows, including Windows 10/8/7 and Windows Server.

Step 1. Click on the “Windows” key under the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Look for the Windows product key on the right. Click on “Copy” to paste it, or choose one of the other two options:

"Save" - Saves as a local PDF file.

“Print” – click to print key documents.

All the methods listed in this article are presented in simple, easy-to-follow steps that allow you to easily access your Windows Server product key using any of them. However, the KeyFinder software does this in a much easier and quicker way. Just click on “Product Key,” scan, and it displays all the keys on your Windows Server, including the Windows key. You also have the option to save it elsewhere.

Conclusions

In this article, we've looked at some quick ways to find your Windows Server product key. However, they all require built-in Windows programs and features that might crash on older computers. This is why it's good to have a Key Finder tool when you need it. A Key Finder tool ensures that you can successfully find, export, and save your Windows product key.