Can I retrieve my product key if I lose it? [Complete Guide for 2024]

Product keys are a necessary evil for any software these days. But what if you lose yours?

Every tool and program you use on your computer, including the operating system, comes with an activation key. This key unlocks the premium and paid features of the tool, enabling users to make extensive use of the programs.

The Windows activation key as displayed in System Information in Windows

That is why you need keys to unlock the operating system and advanced features in productivity tools like Adobe and Microsoft Office, as well as a host of other devices. And yet, people lose their software keys all the time.

So what happens next? Are their tools irrelevant now? Or can they recover? And are the tools still usable? Let's find out all the answers:

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What happens if I lose my product key?

Losing a product key can have a lot of negative consequences. From being unable to reactivate your tools to not being able to apply for a new registration, you can suffer from a range of inconveniences, big and small. This is why keeping your keys secure is crucial.

So, to give you an idea of how important it is to keep track of your product keys, here's what can happen if you lose them:

• You won't be able to get past the software's trial period
• You won't be able to reactivate the program after reinstalling it
• If you reinstall Windows, you won't have an activation key to access all its main features
• You can't use a single-user, multi-computer license on multiple computers

Furthermore, if your software is updated, you may be required to enter the product key again; so if you lose it, you will be unable to reactivate your copy.

What should I do if I lose my product key? Try using a product key finder.

Just because you lost your key doesn't mean that all is lost. There are ways to rediscover your lost activation code. However, you can choose the easy way or the hard way. The easiest method is to use a Key Finder utility.

This is a powerful tool that scans your computer for the most hidden program keys. This includes things like Adobe, Office, and even Windows itself. You can use it to find all sorts of things, including:

• Product keys for Windows and installed software
• Product keys for a bricked computer
• Windows credentials
• Other information, such as Wi-Fi names and passwords
• Recovering saved passwords from web browsers like Chrome and Firefox

So how does this work? There's a little demo here that shows you how to recover the key.

1. Download and install the Key Finder tool.

First, head over to the Key Finder download page. Alternatively, you can download it directly from here:

As you can see, here you have the basic information about the product. You can choose to buy it or download a free trial version. Both of these download options are less than 1.5 mb in size, so the download will take less than a second.

When it's done, you just install the tool as instructed on-screen – also in less than ten seconds.

2. Run it after installation.

When you run the installer, it will display the following screen:

As you can see, the tool introduces itself again, listing all the applications it can detect and the external drives from which it can extract information. But how does it do that?

By accessing the necessary program files, Scanning the Windows Registry, And configuration and other system files within these programs.

This tool takes just a few seconds to gather all this important information.

3. Allow the tool to scan your PC and look for the Windows key

The tool will scan all the aforementioned aspects of your computer. The main screen displays the major Windows keys. However, if you look to the left, the toolbar shows the Windows product key detected.

Find product keys for Windows, Office, and installed programs

"Tools is an excellent utility for helping you find your product keys, that much is clear. However, in addition to detecting obvious keys, it offers several other benefits, such as:"

"Windows key"

If you have this tool, you can access each key accordingly. To access the Windows key, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the "Windows" option under the registry entry.

Step 2. On the right, you'll see your Windows product key. Click on "Copy" to paste it somewhere. Alternatively, choose one of the other two options:

"Save" - Save as a local PDF file.

"Print" – click to print key documents.

As you can see, the tool successfully detects the Windows key. From here on, you just need to click on the 'Show Full Key' icon to access it.

"Office Key"

If you lost the product key for Microsoft Office, you can try these steps:

Click the “Applicatons” tab under “Registry Keys.”

Step 2: On the right panel, you will see the registry keys of the application. Key Finder will display the keys of all installed software. Copy the serial number you need. You can also click on “Print” or “Save.”

Here, you can see the same “Show the full license key” option, which reveals and lets you copy the activation key for MS Office.

Additional tip: Look for your Office key in the Registry

If you don't have this tool, you can look up your MS Office key in the Windows Registry, as shown:

1. Press the Windows key + R, then type "Regedit" in "Run."
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
3. After that, proceed to click on:

All you have to do is copy the answer from the side.

The Internet and the Web

In addition to the keys for your operating system and applications, this tool can help you find stored passwords, like these:

Step 1. Click on “Internet & Network” under “Passwords.”

Step 2. Check your saved passwords in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

"Copy" - click it, and then paste directly.

"Save" - Save as a PDF file.

"Print" - Connect to a printer for printing.

As you can see here, the tool detects passwords saved in multiple browsers on this computer.

Conclusions

Here's how to use the Key Finder tool and Regedit to recover your lost keys. So, make sure you follow these steps carefully to find the keys of your important tools and programs.