What is a product key?

Product keys are a unique alphanumeric code that is usually of any length required by many software programs during installation. They help software manufacturers ensure that each copy of their software is legally purchased.
Most of the software, including some operating systems and programs from the most popular software manufacturers, require product keys. As a general rule these days, if you pay for a program, it may require a product key during installation.
In addition to product keys, some software manufacturers, including Microsoft office 2010 product key, often require product activation to help further ensure that software is legally available.
Free and open source software programs usually do not require a product key unless the manufacturer deploys it for statistical purposes.
Note: Product keys are sometimes also called CD keys, passwords, licenses, software locks, product keys, or installation keys.
How to use the product key
The product key is the same as the password for a program. This password is provided when purchasing the software and can only be used with that specific application. Without a product key, the program will most likely not open through the product key or the program can run but only the full version trial.
Product keys can usually only be used by a program installer, but some product key servers allow the same key to be used by any number as long as they are not used at the same time.
In these cases, there are a limited number of product keys, so if the program uses the key is off, another program can be opened and used in the same location.
Microsoft Product Key
All versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system require that you enter a unique product key during installation, as well as all versions of Microsoft Office and most other Microsoft retail programs.
The Microsoft product key is usually located on the main product label, for example, you can see on this page.
In most versions of Windows and other Microsoft software, the product key is 25 characters long and contains both letters and numbers.
In all versions of Windows since Windows 98, including Windows 10 product key, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, product keys have the form of 5x5 (25 characters) as in xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx. -xxxxx-xxxxx
Older versions of Windows, such as Windows NT and Windows 95, have 20-character product keys in the form of xxxxx-xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxx.
See our Windows product key FAQ for more information about Windows product key.