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How to Find Office 2013 Product Key (5 Ways)

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How to Find Office 2013 Product Key (5 Ways)

If you have a Microsoft Office 2013 installation that you need to reinstall or move to a new computer, you will need its 25-character product key. This guide shows you several reliable methods to locate that key, whether it is still installed on your PC, stored in your Microsoft account, or hidden in the original packaging.

What You’ll Need

  • Access to the computer where Office 2013 is (or was) installed
  • Your Microsoft account login details (if you bought Office online)
  • Optional: a USB flash drive if you need to run a key finder tool on another machine

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Check Your Microsoft Account (If You Bought It Online)

  1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Microsoft account you used when purchasing Office.
  2. Click on Services & subscriptions in the top menu.
  3. Find Office 2013 in the list of your products.
  4. Click Install or View details. The product key is usually displayed here, sometimes under a button labeled Show key.
  5. Write the key down or copy it to a secure note before closing the page.

Method 2: Look at the Physical Packaging or Email Receipt

  1. Check the white or silver sticker on the DVD case or the cardboard sleeve that came with your Office 2013 disc. The key is printed there as a 25-character code in groups of five.
  2. If you bought a digital download, search your email inbox for the receipt from Microsoft or the retailer. The key is often in the order confirmation email.
  3. Look for the subject line containing Office 2013 or product key.

Method 3: Use the Command Prompt (Built-in, No Extra Software)

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  2. In the command prompt window, type the following and press Enter:
    wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
  3. If a key appears, that is your Office 2013 key (this method also works for Windows).
  4. If it returns blank or No Instance(s) Available, try the next method.

Method 4: Use a Free Key Finder Tool

  1. Download a reputable free utility like ProduKey or Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder from the developer’s official website.
  2. Run the downloaded file. Most of these tools are portable and do not require installation.
  3. Look for the entry labeled Microsoft Office 2013 in the list.
  4. Right-click the entry and choose Copy to save the key to your clipboard.
  5. Paste it into a text file or note app and store it safely.

Method 5: Check the Registry (Manual, for Advanced Users)

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to this path:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Registration
  3. You may see one or more subfolders with long names. Click each one.
  4. Look for a value named DigitalProductID or ProductKey on the right side. The key is often encoded, so you may need a script to decode it, but some versions show it in plain text.
  5. If the value is gibberish, use Method 4 instead — the registry method is rarely straightforward.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the Windows key with the Office key. These are different. The command in Method 3 sometimes returns the Windows key, not Office. Verify by checking if the key starts with a typical Office prefix like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX and try it during Office setup.
  • Using a key from a different Office version. Office 2013 keys will not work for Office 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365. Make sure you have the right version.
  • Looking only in the registry. The registry often stores a hashed or partial key, not the full one. Use a dedicated tool instead.
  • Checking the Microsoft account with the wrong email. Use the exact email address you used at purchase, not a secondary one.

Tips

  • Save the key now. Even if you are not reinstalling, write it down or store it in a password manager. Keys get lost when hard drives fail.
  • Use the official Microsoft account first. It is the most accurate and safest method, and it also shows your license type (retail vs. volume).
  • Run key finder tools as administrator. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator to ensure it can read all software licensing data.
  • Take a screenshot of the key after finding it, but keep the image in a secure folder, not on your desktop.
  • If you have a volume license key (from a workplace), it may be on your company’s internal software portal — check with your IT department.

Troubleshooting

The command prompt returns nothing. This means the OA3xOriginalProductKey is not present. This happens on older installations or when Office was installed with a volume license. Use a key finder tool instead.

The key finder shows a key, but it is rejected during installation. The tool may have picked up a leftover key from a previous Office trial or a different edition. Try the Microsoft account method, or if you have the original disc, check the sticker again.

You cannot sign in to your Microsoft account. Use the Forgot password link. If you no longer have access to the recovery email or phone, you may need to answer security questions. If that fails, the key is likely only on the physical media.

Office 2013 is not listed in Services & subscriptions. This can happen if you bought a retail box (physical disc) rather than a digital download. In that case, the key is on the packaging, not in your account.

The registry path does not exist. This is normal for some installations. Skip Method 5 entirely and use a third-party tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I find the product key if Office 2013 is already uninstalled?
A: Not from the registry or command prompt. Your best bet is the Microsoft account, the original packaging, or your email receipt. A key finder tool will not work after uninstallation.

Q: Is it legal to use a key finder tool?
A: Yes, for your own licensed copy. These tools simply read the key that is already on your system. They do not generate or steal keys.

Q: My Office 2013 came preinstalled on a used laptop. Where is the key?
A: It may be embedded in the firmware (for Windows) but not for Office. Check the Microsoft account of the original owner, or look for a sticker on the bottom of the laptop. If neither exists, you may need to purchase a new license.

Q: Can I use the same product key on two computers?
A: Only if you have a multi-license (volume) version. A standard retail key is for one installation at a time. You can transfer it, but you must uninstall it from the first machine.

Q: Does the product key expire?
A: No, the key itself does not expire. However, Microsoft may stop activating Office 2013 eventually, as support ended in April 2023. The key will still work for installation but may not receive security updates.

Q: What if the key has a typo when I type it in?
A: Office setup will usually reject it with an error. Double-check characters that look similar, like 0 (zero) and O (letter), or 8 and B. Most keys do not use the letters A, E, I, O, U, L, S, N, Z, or the digit 0 to avoid confusion.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.