SterJo Key Finder — Free Windows & Software Product Key Recovery Tool

Lost your Windows product key or an Office product key? SterJo Key Finder is a free, lightweight Windows utility that quickly locates and recovers product and serial keys stored on your system — including local and external drives. No installation is required for the portable build.

Fast, portable product-key recovery

SterJo Key Finder scans your Windows registry and application metadata to locate saved product keys for Windows, Microsoft Office and hundreds of popular programs. It is designed for speed and simplicity: run the tool, wait a few seconds while it scans, then save the results as a text file for safe keeping. The recovered keys can help you reinstall software or preserve license details before formatting or hardware changes.

How SterJo Key Finder works

Example: SterJo Key Finder lists installed products and their serial keys

After launching the program, SterJo Key Finder reads registry locations and known storage formats to retrieve product keys previously present on the machine. It does not generate or brute-force keys — only keys that were actually stored on the scanned system will be shown. Use the Save option to export the recovered keys as a plain text file for backup.

Supported items: Windows product keys (including BIOS/OEM keys where available), Microsoft Office keys, and many common commercial applications (WinZip, Corel, Nero, CyberLink, Camtasia, AutoCAD variants in some cases, and more). Support depends on how the vendor stores the key. Check our supported list page for products and games that are included.

Download & install

Installing is simple: download the installer or portable ZIP, extract (if applicable) and run KeyFinder.exe. The portable version runs without modifying system files. For a complete list of other tools, visit Products. If you need help, see our FAQ page.

Current Version: 2.0

Download Portable Version

System Requirements

SterJo Key Finder works on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and Windows 11 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions).

Recover keys from an unbootable Windows drive

1. Attach the unbootable drive to a working Windows PC (via SATA, USB adapter, or enclosure).
2. Run SterJo Key Finder on the working PC.
3. Open the File menu and choose Recover keys from external drive.
   
4. Select the Windows folder on the external drive (for example F:\WINDOWS) and start the scan.
   

Version history

v2.0 — Multi-language support, UI refresh, removed .OCX dependency.
v1.9 — Deep registry scan for local and external drives.
v1.8 — Added BIOS OEM key support.
v1.2–1.7 — Bug fixes and improvements.
v1.1 — Major update.
v1.0 — First public release.

Office 2013 & 2016 — special cases

Modern Office versions may store keys differently. In some cases SterJo Key Finder cannot recover the full key; we provide a small helper tool that can reveal the last five characters of some Office licenses. Download the helper from below if needed.

Download Office 5-digit helper

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SterJo Key Finder safe to use?

— Yes. SterJo Key Finder reads system registry data and displays stored license keys — it does not upload keys to external servers by default. Always download from the official SterJo site and scan installers with your antivirus if you have concerns.

Can I run SterJo Key Finder from a USB stick?

— Yes. The portable build is available and runs without installation. It is ideal for technicians and recovery tasks on multiple machines.

What if SterJo Key Finder doesn't show my application's key?

— Some applications store keys in proprietary formats or remote activation servers; in those cases the key may not be recoverable. Check our supported list page for compatibility notes or contact support via Contact.

Can I recover keys from a drive that won't boot?

— Yes. Attach the drive to a working PC and use the "Recover keys from external drive" option. See the instructions above for the required Windows folder path.

Can SterJo Key Finder recover keys for all software installed on my PC?

— SterJo Key Finder attempts to read product keys stored in the Windows registry and known formats, but it can't recover every product key. Some software stores activation information in proprietary or encrypted locations, or uses online activation services, so the key may not be recoverable. For a list of supported products, please check the supported list page or contact support.

Does SterJo Key Finder generate new product keys?

— No. SterJo Key Finder only retrieves keys that were previously stored on your system. It does not generate new or valid keys for software you have never installed.

Can I save the recovered keys for future use?

— Yes. After the scan completes, you can save the list of recovered product keys to a text file. This is useful when you plan to reinstall Windows or other applications.

Does SterJo Key Finder work on non-Windows operating systems?

— No. SterJo Key Finder is designed specifically for Windows and works on versions including Windows XP up through Windows 11. It does not work on macOS, Linux, or mobile platforms.

Is there a size or system requirement to use SterJo Key Finder?

— There are no heavy system requirements for SterJo Key Finder — it is a lightweight tool. It runs on Windows systems with minimal disk space and RAM needed, and the portable version can run directly from a USB drive without installation.

Will running SterJo Key Finder modify my registry or system files?

— No. SterJo Key Finder doesn’t change registry entries or system settings. It only reads data needed to locate stored product keys.

Can I use SterJo Key Finder to recover keys from another PC on my network?

— No. SterJo Key Finder cannot scan remote or networked computers directly. To recover keys from another machine, you'd need to connect its drive to your PC and use the "Recover keys from external drive" feature.

What should I do if my antivirus flags Key Finder as suspicious?

— Some security tools may give false positives. Make sure you download SterJo Key Finder only from the official SterJo website. Scanning the installer with an up-to-date antivirus first can reassure you the file is safe.

Can I run SterJo Key Finder on a PC without admin privileges?

— For best results, run SterJo Key Finder with administrator privileges. Without them, it may not access all areas of the registry where product keys are stored.

What formats can I export recovered product keys to?

— You can save recovered keys as plain text (.txt), (.csv), or (.html) files. This ensures easy backup and retrieval during future installations.