How do I find the product key for Windows 8.1

Once again the useful answer is shot down and you've not answered the question. A product key is most certainly needed to upgrade the OS. I just upgraded to win 10 and once again the product key must be entered to complete the upgrade.

And you have just made my point exactly. Reposting new questions on 3 year old posts which have already been marked as answered and runs to 14 pages does not give reliable further answers

This thread is titled How do I find my key for Windows 8.1

You answered a question about Windows 7

You have now referred to Windows 10

All three of these operating systems used different mechanisms for managing licensing, there is no one answer for these questions

Yes Windows 10 now needs a key because the free upgrade program has ended. When the thread was opened the free program had not started, Windows 10 had not been RTM. I was referring to Windows 7 in my last post and it still stands that a keyfinder may NOT find the key as printed on the label as you have stated in your last post. Neither did I say that a key was not required for Windows 7, only preinstalled images do not require a key to be entered.

More blah blah.Each and every upgrade that I have done from win 7 and probably before since I was a Beta tester for Windows 95 has required the product key.Each and every time that question has been asked in the 3 years of this thread you have replied it's not needed for anything. Pretty amazing for a so called 'insider'.Please stick with the facts and not opinion.

The ONLY key I have ever said is of no use is the manufacturers installation key so what can it be used for? It will not activate a disk based install, cannot be used to download recovery media from Microsoft so please tell me where you have used this key, I would love to know.

Early Windows 8 keys were much the same, the manufacturer key was of no specific use, that is one reason why Microsoft did not include a label with the key on it. Circumstances have changed slightly but its value is still limited.

I can trump your Windows 95 with DOS, Windows 3.1, GEM, Windows NT, OS2, NeXT but what's the point, the mechanisms have changed, that's history.

I am not talking about upgrades, they have always require authentication.

downloaded Windows 8.1 (free) from the Microsoft web site. My understanding was that in doing so, a new product key would be generated. I do not know where/how to find the new product key. Can someone help me out with this? Was I mistaken and do I use the product key I have for Windows 8?