If you're preparing to reinstall a program or an operating system (like a clean install of Windows), you will need to find your unique product key (CD key) or serial number.Normally this product key is located with the original CD or DVD. If you've lost your product key you can often find it in the Windows Registry but this can be very difficult to do. Luckily, there are many free key finder programs available to help.
Important: Please read my Key Finder Programs FAQ for more information.
Below are the top 14 free key finder programs. I keep an updated list of commercial key finder programs too.
1. Belarc Advisor
Belarc
Advisor is the standard when it comes to system information software.
I've been using this program for many, many years. One small aspect of
Belarc Advisor is its ability to extract product keys for many software
programs, including the one for Windows.
Advantages include display of information in your browser window, no adware/toolbars to worry about, and an extensive list of other important computer data.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2012/2008/2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2013, 2010, (plus all previous versions), Microsoft enterprise products, most programs from Adobe, Nero, Corel, and more, as well as keys for popular video games.
Please try Belarc Advisor for your software and Windows key finding needs before any other program. It's likely to provide you with the best results.
Advantages include display of information in your browser window, no adware/toolbars to worry about, and an extensive list of other important computer data.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2012/2008/2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2013, 2010, (plus all previous versions), Microsoft enterprise products, most programs from Adobe, Nero, Corel, and more, as well as keys for popular video games.
Please try Belarc Advisor for your software and Windows key finding needs before any other program. It's likely to provide you with the best results.
2. Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
The
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder program is a free utility that retrieves
product keys from the registry. It also has the ability to find product
keys for Microsoft Office programs, along with product keys from many
other non-Microsoft programs.
Advantages include very small size, ease of use, instant display of product keys and multiple product key saving options.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, and several non-Microsoft programs.
The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder website says that this free key finder will not find your Windows 7 product key but in fact it does (as of v2.0.9.5). However, the Windows 8 product key found with this free version of MJBK is not correct.
Advantages include very small size, ease of use, instant display of product keys and multiple product key saving options.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, and several non-Microsoft programs.
The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder website says that this free key finder will not find your Windows 7 product key but in fact it does (as of v2.0.9.5). However, the Windows 8 product key found with this free version of MJBK is not correct.
3. Winkeyfinder
The Winkeyfinder program is another free utility that retrieves product keys from the Windows registry.
Advantages include small program size, no installation required, and additional features such as a password generator, the ability to change registered user information, and activation backup capabilities.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows 98.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP and Office 2000 SP2, and Office 97.
Advantages include small program size, no installation required, and additional features such as a password generator, the ability to change registered user information, and activation backup capabilities.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows 98.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP and Office 2000 SP2, and Office 97.
4. Keyfinder Thing
Keyfinder Thing is another free, easy to use utility that finds product keys and serial numbers hidden in the Windows registry.
Advantages include small program size, nothing to run, and support for a large list of non-Microsoft programs.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows ME. Keyfinder Thing does not work with Windows 7 or Windows NT.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, Microsoft Money, Nero, Corel Suite, The Sims, and many more programs.
Advantages include small program size, nothing to run, and support for a large list of non-Microsoft programs.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows ME. Keyfinder Thing does not work with Windows 7 or Windows NT.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, Microsoft Money, Nero, Corel Suite, The Sims, and many more programs.
5. LicenseCrawler
LicenseCrawler is another well put together free key finder tool.
LicenseCrawler differs from other key finder programs in its almost full-text interface, which I like. I found LicenseCrawler to be very effective at finding serial numbers for the many programs on my PC.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, most Adobe products, and many more.
LicenseCrawler differs from other key finder programs in its almost full-text interface, which I like. I found LicenseCrawler to be very effective at finding serial numbers for the many programs on my PC.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, most Adobe products, and many more.
6. ProduKey
ProduKey is another completely free and easy to use key finder tool.
The thing I liked best about ProduKey is how easy it is to do advanced key finder tasks like loading product keys from remote registries.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2010, Office 2007, Office 2003, Exchange Server, and SQL Server.
The thing I liked best about ProduKey is how easy it is to do advanced key finder tasks like loading product keys from remote registries.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2010, Office 2007, Office 2003, Exchange Server, and SQL Server.
7. Product Key Finder
The not-so-originally-named Product Key Finder tool is actually a pretty good key finder program.
After executing Product Key Finder, a simple window opens displaying your Windows product key along with other product keys and serial numbers that Product Key Finder can locate.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 & 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Windows NT.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Most Microsoft and Adobe applications, more than 200 in all according to the Product Key Finder website.
After executing Product Key Finder, a simple window opens displaying your Windows product key along with other product keys and serial numbers that Product Key Finder can locate.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 & 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Windows NT.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Most Microsoft and Adobe applications, more than 200 in all according to the Product Key Finder website.
8. KeyFinder Pro 2007
Gear
Box's KeyFinder Pro 2007 is another fantastic utility that can find
your Windows product keys. It can also find product keys for several
Microsoft Office programs.
Advantages include a very small download size, no installation required, no compressed files to extract, and nothing to run. KeyFinder Pro 2007 instantly displays product keys and allows you to save or print them for safe keeping.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
Advantages include a very small download size, no installation required, no compressed files to extract, and nothing to run. KeyFinder Pro 2007 instantly displays product keys and allows you to save or print them for safe keeping.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
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9. WinGuggle
WinGuggle
is a very simple key finder program. WinGuggle easily finds product
keys for popular Microsoft Windows operating systems and several
Microsoft Office programs.
Major advantages include a quick download size, no installation required, access to a few advanced tools, and a very simple interface. WinGuggle instantly displays your Windows and Office product keys.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2010, Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
Major advantages include a quick download size, no installation required, access to a few advanced tools, and a very simple interface. WinGuggle instantly displays your Windows and Office product keys.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2010, Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
10. RockXP
Advantages include small program size, no installation required, and additional features such as a password generator and password retriever.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP (officially) and also Windows Vista, Server 2003, 2000, ME, and 98.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007 and Office 2003.
RockXP v4.0 Review and Free Download
11. Product Key Finder (OTT Solutions)
Product Key Finder won't win any creative name contests but that's not important - it's a very good key finder program.
I like Product Key Finder because it's designed very well, instantly finds product keys, allows an easy XML or CSV backup of keys found, and also lets you change your Windows registration or product key right from the tool.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 & 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Most Microsoft Office and other Microsoft programs, and many non-Microsoft applications.
I like Product Key Finder because it's designed very well, instantly finds product keys, allows an easy XML or CSV backup of keys found, and also lets you change your Windows registration or product key right from the tool.
Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 & 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
Finds Keys for Other Software: Most Microsoft Office and other Microsoft programs, and many non-Microsoft applications.
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