The easiest way to grab those product keys is from the product box or in the case of Windows, from a sticker on your PC itself. So, having the product keys for your Microsoft products is generally a good idea. If you have a digital or physical copy of Office, any version, you have a product key that would need to be entered. You just install Office 365 on your new hard drive as part of your subscription (though you might need to contact Microsoft to activate it).

Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 both require a product key for activation as well, as detailed in another Microsoft support document (Opens in a new window).Īnd what of Microsoft Office? If you have a subscription to Office 365, you don't need a product key.

If you purchased Windows 10 from a retail store or on a new device as opposed to upgrading from a previous version, then you have a product key and would need that to reactivate the OS. However, there are exceptions, as described in this Microsoft support document (Opens in a new window). Windows 10 typically does not require a product key. Okay, so let's first go through the scenarios in which you would or would not need a product key to reinstall and reactivate certain Microsoft software. What if you need the key for Windows or Office? You can use a third-party utility to display the keys on your PC before a crash occurs, save those key numbers, and then have them squirreled away just in case. But with older versions of Windows and with Microsoft Office, a product key is required. With Windows 10, the OS should automatically activate as the license is usually digital and doesn't require a product key. How can you do this without the product keys for your software? There are some tricks, but you'll have to use them while your current hard drive is still alive and well. You just replaced your PC's hard drive, but now you have to reinstall and reactivate Windows or Office on your new system. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.

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