produkey.exe

NirSoft ProduKey

Utility ProcessSafeLicensing/Inventory

CPU Usage

0-5%

Memory

1-50 MB

Location

Portable or Program Files (NirSoft) depending on setup

Publisher

NirSoft

Quick Answer

produkey.exe is safe. It's a small NirSoft utility that reveals Windows and Office product keys by reading registry data and software configuration.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be downloaded from NirSoft and not renamed

Warning

Key retrieval only reads data

Does not modify system files; relies on registry and licensing data

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close the tool when not in use; it does not run in the background by default

What is produkey.exe?

ProduKey.exe (ProduKey) is a small NirSoft utility that reveals product keys for Windows, Microsoft Office, and many other installed programs by scanning the Windows registry and software configuration data. It runs as a portable executable, doesn't require installation, and can export results for backup, recovery, or license auditing.

ProduKey reads Windows product keys and Office licenses by querying registry hives and licensing data. It is a lightweight, portable tool that does not modify your system and can export keys to clipboard, text, HTML, or CSV for recovery, inventory, or IT audits.

Quick Fact: ProduKey supports Windows and Office licenses and can export results to multiple formats for easy record-keeping.

Types of Key Discovery

Windows Product Key: Windows license key retrieved from registry/Software Licensing subsystem
Office Product Key: Office activation key retrieved from Office licensing data
Product IDs: Software Product IDs for installed programs
Export Options: Export results to clipboard, text, HTML, or CSV for recovery and inventory

Is produkey.exe Safe?

Yes, produkey.exe is safe when downloaded from the official NirSoft site. It does not modify system files.

Is produkey.exe a Virus or Malware?

The legitimate ProduKey is not a virus. Malware masquerades as ProduKey; verify the file location and digital signature.

How to Tell if ProduKey is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\NirSoft\ProduKey\ProduKey.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\NirSoft\ProduKey\ProduKey.exe. Any ProduKey.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click the file -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "NirSoft" as the signer.
Resource Usage: Normal usage is minimal CPU/memory when not actively reading keys. Excessive resource usage while idle is suspicious.
Behavior: ProduKey should only read data and not modify registry or system settings. Unexpected network activity or registry changes indicate potential tampering.

Red Flags: If ProduKey.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Windows starts without user action, has no digital signature, or uses unexpected resources, scan your system with antivirus software. Be wary of similarly named files such as 'produkey64.exe' from untrusted sources.

Why Is produkey.exe Running on My PC?

produkey.exe runs when you launch the utility to read licensing data from Windows and Office installations. It does not install itself and typically runs briefly to display keys.

Reasons it's running:

Active License Discovery: You launched ProduKey to retrieve Windows and Office product keys from the registry and licensing stores.
License Inventory for IT: IT admins use ProduKey to maintain an inventory of licenses during audits or asset management.
Post-Install or Reinstallation: After OS or Office reinstallation, you may run ProduKey to recover existing activation keys.
Administrative Troubleshooting: Techs run ProduKey to verify that licenses are present and correctly registered during troubleshooting.
Portable/Temporary Tool Use: ProduKey often runs from a USB or portable folder for quick checks without installation.

Can I Disable or Remove produkey.exe?

Yes, you can disable produkey.exe. It's a read-only utility that runs when opened; you can remove it or stop using it if you no longer need license retrieval.

How to Stop producing results

Close the Tool: Close the ProduKey window to stop any current read operation.
Delete the Executable: Delete ProduKey.exe from its folder. If you downloaded a ZIP, remove the extracted folder.
Remove from Startup: Ensure it is not placed in Startup scripts or scheduled tasks.
Antivirus Exclusions: If antivirus flagged it, remove any exclusions you added once uninstalled.

How to Uninstall ProduKey

✔ If installed via a NirSoft installer: use Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program > NirSoft ProduKey
✔ If using a portable ZIP: simply delete the ProduKey folder from your drive
✔ Consider alternatives: If you need licensing info, use official vendor tools provided by Microsoft or your software vendors

Common Problems: License Keys Not Displayed

If ProduKey does not show Windows or Office keys, use these checks and fixes.

Common Causes & Solutions

Insufficient permissions: Run ProduKey as Administrator or copy the executable to a location with proper permissions.
Running from an unsupported location: Move ProduKey to a writable folder such as C:\NirSoft\ProduKey and run from there.
Antivirus/EDR blocking access: Temporarily disable protection or add an exception for ProduKey, then re-scan.
Office licensing data not present: Ensure Office is installed and activated; keys may only appear if Office activation data exists.
64-bit vs 32-bit mismatch: Use the appropriate ProduKey binary for your environment (try both 32-bit and 64-bit if available).
OS privacy/registry protections: Some systems restrict registry read access; run in an elevated session or consult an admin.

Quick Fixes:
1. Open ProduKey with Administrative privileges and re-scan
2. Ensure Windows/Office licensing data is present and active
3. Export results to clipboard or file for backup
4. Update to the latest NirSoft ProduKey release if available
5. Check antivirus logs for blocked actions and whitelist the tool

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ProduKey safe to use?

Yes. ProduKey is a legitimate NirSoft utility designed to read Windows and Office licenses from the registry. Download from NirSoft's official site and verify the digital signature.

What keys can ProduKey display?

ProduKey can display Windows product keys and Office activation keys. It may also show software IDs and related licensing data from installed programs.

Can ProduKey read keys from a locked or encrypted system?

ProduKey typically requires access to the registry and licensing stores. If registry access is restricted, you may need administrative rights or offline methods to recover keys.

Is ProduKey free and portable?

Yes. ProduKey is free to use and is distributed as a portable executable; it does not require installation.

Where can I download ProduKey safely?

Download from the official NirSoft website. Verify the digital signature and avoid third-party mirrors to reduce risk of tampered copies.

Can I export the recovered keys?

Yes. ProduKey supports exporting results to clipboard, text, HTML, or CSV formats for backup and inventory purposes.