The 20 best free product key finder software

Product key finder programs are invaluable tools for retrieving lost or forgotten product keys for software installed on your computer. Whether you’ve misplaced your key or need to reinstall software, these programs can save you time and money. Here’s a list of the 20 best free product key finder programs and what we like and don’t like about each one.

1. Belarc Advisor

Pros:

• Finds keys for newer Windows versions.
• Also locates MS Office keys.
• Displays comprehensive system information.
• Small download size.
• Allows copying information to the clipboard.

Cons:

• Requires installation (not portable).
• May list keys for programs like Internet Explorer that don’t use product keys.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019), some third-party applications.

Summary: Belarc Advisor provides extensive system information and key retrieval for a range of Windows versions and MS Office products but is not portable and may list unnecessary information.

2. Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

Pros:

• Simple, user-friendly interface.
• Finds keys for Windows 10 and older OSs.
• Automatically lists product keys.
• Allows saving or copying keys.
• Includes remote key viewing features.

Cons:

• Doesn’t find keys for newer MS Office programs.
• Sometimes flagged as a virus by antivirus software.
• Installation may include unwanted programs.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2013), some third-party programs.

Summary: Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is effective for retrieving keys for Windows OS and older versions of MS Office but may come with additional software and has limited support for newer MS Office versions.

3. Winkeyfinder

Pros:

• Easy to use.
• Finds keys for Windows and Microsoft Office.
• Portable application.
• Allows saving or printing results.
• Shows results instantly.

Cons:

• Cannot locate keys for MS Office 2016 or newer.
• Some advanced options might be confusing for beginners.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2013).

Summary: Winkeyfinder is a user-friendly, portable key finder suitable for Windows and older MS Office versions but lacks support for newer MS Office releases.

4. Keyfinder Thing

Pros:

• Quick installation.
• Minimal and clear interface.
• Shows keys for Windows, MS Office, and other programs.
• Exports keys to files.

Cons:

• May display incorrect keys for Windows 10 and 8.
• Installation may attempt to add unnecessary software.
• Slower performance compared to other tools.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2016), some third-party applications.

Summary: Keyfinder Thing is a straightforward key recovery tool with the ability to export results but may have issues with newer Windows versions and performance.

5. Product Key Finder

Pros:

• Finds keys for Windows 7 and older OSs.
• Uncluttered and easy-to-use interface.
• Allows exporting keys to files.
• Can find keys from registry files.

Cons:

• Doesn’t support Windows 10/8 keys.
• Set-up might include unwanted additional programs.
• Lacks advanced features and hasn’t been updated since 2015.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010), some third-party software.

Summary: Product Key Finder is suitable for recovering keys for older Windows versions and some third-party applications but lacks support for newer systems and features.

6. ProduKey

Pros:

• Includes all expected features for a Microsoft-based key finder.
• Displays keys for Windows 10, MS Office, and other Microsoft programs.
• Can show keys from registry files or remote computers.
• Portable.
• Allows key export.

Cons:

• Doesn’t find product keys for non-Microsoft programs.
• May be confusing for novice users due to multiple columns.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019), other Microsoft products.

Summary: ProduKey is effective for finding product keys for various Microsoft products, including Windows and Office, but does not support non-Microsoft software.

7. Windows Product Key Finder Pro

Pros:

• Finds keys for Windows 7 and older versions, plus MS Office.
• Small size and portable.
• Instantly displays keys with no installation required.
• Keys can be saved or printed.

Cons:

• Claims support for Windows 10 and 8 but may not work.
• Hasn’t been updated since 2013.
• The download page may be confusing.
• Only finds keys for Microsoft programs.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010).

Summary: Windows Product Key Finder Pro is compact and portable, suitable for older Windows and Office versions but lacks support for newer systems and updates.

8. WinGuggle

Pros:

• Locates keys for Windows 7 and older versions.
• Quick, automatic key recovery.
• Portable and supports OEM editing.
• Functions as a system information tool.

Cons:

• May provide incorrect keys for Windows 10 and 8.
• Doesn’t support non-Microsoft applications.
• Each startup opens a web page.
• Outdated.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2013).

Summary: WinGuggle is effective for older Windows versions and includes additional features but may not provide accurate results for newer systems since it is outdated.

9. LicenseCrawler

Pros:

• Finds keys for Windows 10 and older OSs.
• Easy to use.
• Also locates Microsoft Office and non-Microsoft software keys.
• Portable with remote scanning capability.
• Keys can be copied or saved to files.

Cons:

• Results include extra, potentially unnecessary information.
• Lists product keys for software that doesn’t use them, like Internet Explorer.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019), various third-party applications.

Summary: LicenseCrawler is versatile, supporting a range of software and remote key recovery but may present cluttered results and unnecessary information.

10. SIW

Pros:

• Finds keys for Windows 7, Vista, XP, and older OSs.
• Supports MS Office and many non-Microsoft programs.
• Provides extensive system information.
• Small download size.

Cons:

• No support for Windows 10/8.
• No longer updated.
• Overwhelming amount of extra information.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010), various third-party applications.

Summary: SIW provides detailed system information and key recovery for older software but lacks support for newer Windows versions and is no longer updated.

11. RockXP

Pros:

• Finds product keys for Windows Vista, XP, and older versions.
• Locates MS Office keys for some versions.
• Portable with additional features like a password generator.
• Can retrieve user passwords for some accounts.

Cons:

• Limited to very old Windows versions.
• Outdated and may be flagged as malware by antivirus software.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010).

Summary: RockXP is suitable for older Windows versions and includes additional tools but is outdated and flagged as malware by some antivirus programs.

12. SterJo Key Finder

Pros:

• Finds keys for MS Office and many other software programs.
• Supports Windows 10 and other versions.
• Easy-to-read results.
• Searchable key list.
• Free for personal and business use.

Cons:

• The key list can become cluttered.
• May show multiple keys for the same software.
• Installation may include unwanted programs.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019), various third-party applications.

Summary: SterJo Key Finder is effective for finding a wide range of product keys with a user-friendly interface, though it may present cluttered results and extra software.

13. MSKeyViewer Plus

Pros:

• Finds keys for numerous software programs.
• Supports Windows 7 and older versions.
• Includes additional Windows information.
• Portable and easy to use.

Cons:

• Likely to provide incorrect keys for Windows 10/8.
• Outdated and lacks advanced features.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010), some third-party software.

Summary: MSKeyViewer Plus is a simple and portable tool for older Windows versions and various software but is outdated and may provide incorrect keys for newer systems.

14. Free PC Audit

Pros:

• Automatically scans for keys.
• Portable with no installation needed.
• Shows keys for Windows 10 and other versions.
• Includes Microsoft Office and some non-Microsoft keys.
• Provides extensive hardware information.

Cons:

• Can be cluttered with additional information.
• Initial scan may take time.
• Cannot export only product key information.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019), various third-party applications.

Summary: Free PC Audit is a versatile tool for key recovery and system information but may be overwhelming due to the extensive data it provides and it lacks export options for product keys only.

15. Windows Product Key Viewer

Pros:

• Supports both recent and older Windows versions.
• Clear and easy-to-read results.
• Provides additional information beyond the product key.
• Portable with clipboard copy functionality.

Cons:

• Printing or exporting includes all information, not just the product key.
• No updates since 2015.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: Limited to Windows OS; not effective for MS Office or third-party software.

Summary: Windows Product Key Viewer is portable and straightforward for various Windows versions but may include extra information in exports and lacks updates.

16. Lazesoft Windows Key Finder

Pros:

• Finds keys for Windows 10 and other versions.
• Supports Microsoft Office keys.
• Portable with a user-friendly interface.
• Allows saving or copying keys.

Cons:

• Some MS Office keys may not be found despite being listed as supported.
• Does not find keys for non-Microsoft programs.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2019).

Summary: Lazesoft Windows Key Finder is effective for Windows and MS Office keys but may not always locate all supported Office keys and it lacks support for non-Microsoft software.

17. Wise Windows Key Finder

Pros:

• Instantly works upon opening.
• Completely portable and easy to use.
• Finds keys for Windows and Office.

Cons:

• Less comprehensive compared to other key finders.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2013).

Summary: Wise Windows Key Finder is a basic, portable tool for quickly finding and exporting Windows and Office product keys with a user-friendly design.

18. Product Key Informer

Pros:

• Finds keys for some Windows and MS Office versions.
• Easy-to-read results.
• Supports clipboard copying.
• Can search network computers for keys.
• Portable.

Cons:

• Limited to older software.
• Does not support newer Windows versions.
• Cannot export keys to a file.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP.
• Other software: MS Office (2000 to 2010).

Summary: Product Key Informer provides an easy-to-read interface for older software and network key searches but lacks support for newer Windows versions and export options.

19. Game Key Revealer

Pros:

• Finds keys for a wide range of video games, including popular titles.
• Allows exporting of product keys to a file or printing them.
• Portable and takes up minimal space.
• Supports changing keys for certain games.

Cons:

• Does not find keys for non-game software.
• Last updated in 2014, so it may not support newer games.
• Limited to a specific focus on games, not broader software needs.

What keys can it retrieve?

• Games: Half-Life, Battlefield 2, Counter-Strike, Mirror’s Edge, Halo, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Crysis, Harry Potter, and many more.

Summary: Game Key Revealer is an excellent tool for gamers looking to recover keys for a vast number of video games. Its portability and export features make it a convenient option, but its lack of updates and focus on games alone limit its broader software utility.

20. Abelssoft’s MyKeyFinder

Pros:

• Compatible with Windows 10 and older versions.
• Retrieves keys for MS Office programs and some other non-Microsoft applications.
• Offers multiple ways to save keys, including PDF and clipboard.
• Allows searching through results and adding registry keys to a blocklist.

Cons:

• May display keys for programs that don’t use product keys.
• Some features are not free; additional features require payment.
• Frequently asks for donations upon closing the software.

What keys can it retrieve?

• OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7.
• Other software: VMware, some Microsoft Office products, and other applications.

Summary: Abelssoft’s MyKeyFinder provides a versatile tool for finding product keys across various Windows versions and applications. Despite its ability to save keys in multiple formats and its search functionality, it may list incorrect keys and prompt frequent donation requests.

Conclusion

Choosing the right product key finder can save you from the hassle of losing access to your software. Each of these programs has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and technical proficiency. Whether you’re looking for a simple, straightforward solution or a more comprehensive tool, this list provides a variety of options to help you recover your lost product keys.

aaritmusilannagari

12 Aug 2024, 11 min read