Press Win + R, type cmd, press Enter, then run slmgr /dli. A small window opens. Read the Description line: RETAIL channel means a retail licence you can move to another PC; OEM_DM, OEM_SLP or OEM_COA means an OEM licence tied to the computer it was first activated on; VOLUME_MAK or VOLUME_KMSCLIENT means an organisation’s volume licence. It takes about ten seconds and works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Whether your Windows licence is OEM or Retail decides what you can do with it: move it to a new PC, keep it after a motherboard upgrade, or sell it with the computer. Windows doesn’t show this in Settings, but you can check it in seconds with a built-in command.
This guide shows five ways to check, explains every result you might see (including the confusing ones like OEM_DM and VOLUME_KMSCLIENT), and tells you what each licence type lets you do next.
Name: Windows(R), Professional edition Description: Windows(R) Operating System, RETAIL channel Partial Product Key: 3V66T License Status: Licensed
Why It Matters Whether Your Windows Key Is OEM or Retail
Both licence types run exactly the same Windows, with the same features and updates. The difference is in the licence rights:
- Moving to a new PC. A retail licence can be moved to another computer you own, as long as it’s removed from the old one. An OEM licence stays with the PC it was first installed on.
- Replacing the motherboard. Windows sees a new motherboard as a new PC. A retail licence can be reactivated; an OEM licence may not be, except when the board is replaced under warranty or repair.
- Selling or giving away a PC. An OEM licence goes with the computer. A retail licence can stay with you if you remove it first.
- Buying a used PC or a cheap key. Knowing the type tells you whether the licence is legitimately yours to use.
The exact rules are set out in the Microsoft Software License Terms for your edition, which you can look up on Microsoft’s licence terms page.
| Method | What it shows | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
1. slmgr /dli | Licence channel (Retail, OEM, Volume) | 10 sec | Everyone: the fastest check |
2. slmgr /dlv | Channel plus activation details | 15 sec | When you want more detail |
| 3. PowerShell | Channel as text you can copy | 20 sec | IT admins, scripts, remote PCs |
| 4. BIOS key check | Whether the PC shipped with an OEM key | 15 sec | Checking a new or used PC |
| 5. Settings & clues | Activation status only, not the type | 30 sec | A quick sanity check |
Method 1: Check With slmgr /dli (Fastest)
slmgr is Windows’ built-in Software Licensing Management Tool. The /dli option displays basic licence information, including the channel.
- Press Win + R, type cmd and press Enter. You can also use PowerShell or Windows Terminal.
- Type
slmgr /dliand press Enter. - Wait a few seconds for the Windows Script Host window to appear.
- Read the Description line. The word before channel is your licence type.
slmgr /dliIf nothing happens, wait up to ten seconds: the window can be slow to appear. If you get an error, run Command Prompt as administrator and try again.
Method 2: Check With slmgr /dlv (More Detail)
The /dlv option shows the detailed version of the same information. Look for two lines:
- Description, which shows the channel in the same format as
/dli, for example RETAIL channel. - Product Key Channel, which shows a short code such as Retail, OEM:DM, Volume:MAK or Volume:GVLK.
slmgr /dlv/dlv also shows the activation ID, licence status and, for volume licences, the KMS server details, which is useful if you’re troubleshooting activation at the same time.
Method 3: Check With PowerShell
PowerShell returns the same information as text you can copy, which is handy for documentation or for checking several PCs. Open PowerShell (right-click Start › Terminal) and run:
Get-CimInstance SoftwareLicensingProduct -Filter "PartialProductKey IS NOT NULL" |
Where-Object { $_.Name -like 'Windows*' } |
Select-Object Name, Description, ProductKeyChannel, PartialProductKeyThe ProductKeyChannel column shows Retail, OEM:DM, Volume:MAK and so on, and Description shows the full channel string. The filter skips the dozens of unused licence entries Windows keeps internally, so you only see the one actually in use.
Method 4: Check Whether the PC Has a BIOS-Embedded OEM Key
Most PCs sold with Windows since Windows 8 have an OEM key stored in the motherboard’s firmware. Windows reads it automatically during setup. To see whether your PC has one, run this in PowerShell:
(Get-CimInstance SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey- A key is shown: the PC came with an OEM Windows licence from the manufacturer. That licence belongs to this PC.
- Nothing is shown: there’s no firmware key. The PC was probably custom-built, or Windows was added later with a separate key.
On older Windows 10 builds you may see guides using wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey. Microsoft has deprecated WMIC and it is not installed by default on recent Windows 11 versions, so use the PowerShell command instead.
Method 5: Settings and Physical Clues
Go to Settings › System › Activation (Windows 11) or Settings › Update & Security › Activation (Windows 10). You’ll see one of these:
- Windows is activated with a digital licence, or a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account
- Windows is activated using your organisation’s activation service, which indicates a volume licence
- Windows is not activated
Settings confirms whether Windows is activated, but it doesn’t say whether the licence is OEM or retail. A digital licence can come from either. Physical clues can help:
- Pre-installed by a manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and so on): almost always OEM.
- Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the case: OEM (common on Windows 7 and 8 PCs).
- Boxed USB, or a key bought as “Retail” from Microsoft or a reseller: retail. Check the product name in your order email.
- Key labelled “OEM” or “System Builder”: OEM, even if you bought it separately.
What Every Result Means
Here’s every channel you might see in slmgr or PowerShell, and what it means for you.
| Description shows | Product Key Channel | What it means | Can you move it? |
|---|---|---|---|
RETAIL | Retail | Bought as a standalone retail licence | Yes, one PC at a time |
OEM_DM | OEM:DM | OEM key read from the PC’s firmware (Digital Marker) | No, stays with PC |
OEM_SLP | OEM:SLP | Older OEM pre-activation tied to the manufacturer’s BIOS | No, stays with PC |
OEM_COA_NSLP / OEM_COA_SLP | OEM:NONSLP | OEM key from a sticker or a System Builder licence | No, stays with PC |
VOLUME_MAK | Volume:MAK | Organisation’s Multiple Activation Key | Organisation only |
VOLUME_KMSCLIENT | Volume:GVLK | Activated by an organisation’s KMS server | Organisation only |
OEM vs Retail vs Volume Licences Compared
- Comes from
- Pre-installed by the PC maker, or a System Builder licence
- Tied to
- The first PC it’s activated on
- New PC
- Can’t be moved
- Motherboard swap
- Only like-for-like repair or warranty replacement
- If you sell the PC
- The licence goes with it
- Comes from
- Microsoft Store, retail box or an authorised reseller
- Tied to
- You, one PC at a time
- New PC
- Yes, after removing it from the old PC
- Motherboard swap
- Yes, via the activation troubleshooter or phone
- If you sell the PC
- Remove it and keep it
- Comes from
- Business, education or government agreements
- Tied to
- The organisation
- New PC
- Only within the organisation
- Motherboard swap
- Managed by IT
- If you sell the PC
- Can’t be transferred to you
Retail and OEM run identical Windows. There’s no difference in features, performance, security or updates. Windows 11 Home OEM and Windows 11 Home Retail are the same product with different licence rights.
Confusing Results Explained
“I bought a retail key, but slmgr says OEM_DM”
This is very common on laptops and branded desktops. During setup, Windows automatically uses the OEM key stored in the PC’s firmware, so your retail key was never applied. You’re running on the manufacturer’s OEM licence, and your retail key is still unused.
That’s fine if you’re happy for this PC to use its OEM licence: keep your retail key for another computer. If the firmware key is for a different edition (for example Home) and you want to use your retail Pro key, enter it in Settings › System › Activation › Change product key.
“Settings says digital licence. Is that retail?”
Not necessarily. A digital licence is a way of storing activation, not a licence type. It can come from a retail key, an OEM key or a free upgrade from Windows 7 or 8. A free upgrade keeps the rights of the original licence, so an upgraded OEM Windows 7 PC still has an OEM licence. Use Method 1 to see the type.
“It says VOLUME_KMSCLIENT on my home PC”
A home PC shouldn’t be on a volume licence. Either it was previously owned by a business, or Windows was activated with an unofficial KMS activator. Those can stop working at any time and may compromise security. Replace it with a genuine retail licence.
“Can I convert an OEM licence to retail?”
No. The licence type is set by the key. To get retail rights on that PC, you need to buy a retail key and enter it under Change product key.
What to Do Next
If you have a retail licence
To move it to a new PC, remove it from the old one with slmgr /upk and slmgr /cpky in an administrator Command Prompt, then enter the key on the new PC. If online activation refuses it, activate by phone with slui 4. Our guide to “This product key has already been used” walks through each step. Before a motherboard swap, link Windows to your Microsoft account so you can use Microsoft’s reactivation troubleshooter afterwards.
If you have an OEM licence
Keep it with the PC. It’s fully genuine for that computer and will reactivate automatically after a reinstall. For a new PC or a new custom build, you’ll need a new licence, such as a retail Windows 11 Pro or Windows 11 Home key.
If you have a volume licence
If it’s a work PC, leave licensing to your IT team. If it’s a personal PC, replace it with a genuine licence. Server licensing works differently again; see our guide to Windows Server 2025 Standard vs Datacenter.
Every key is delivered instantly by email with activation instructions. Also available: Windows 10 Pro. Browse all Windows licences, see our FAQ, or contact support if you’re not sure which licence you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my Windows key is OEM or Retail?
Open Command Prompt, run slmgr /dli and read the Description line. RETAIL channel means retail; OEM_DM, OEM_SLP or OEM_COA means OEM; VOLUME_MAK or VOLUME_KMSCLIENT means a volume licence.
Can I see the licence type in Windows Settings?
No. Settings › System › Activation only shows whether Windows is activated and whether the digital licence is linked to a Microsoft account. Use slmgr /dli or PowerShell to see the type.
What does OEM_DM mean?
OEM_DM means Windows is activated with an OEM key stored in the PC’s firmware (the Digital Marker). It’s a genuine licence tied to that PC, typically from the manufacturer.
Can I transfer an OEM Windows licence to a new PC?
No. An OEM licence is tied to the first computer it’s activated on and goes with that computer if you sell it. A new PC needs a new licence.
Can I transfer a retail Windows licence?
Yes, to another PC you own, as long as it’s removed from the old one first. It can only be active on one PC at a time.
Is there any difference in features between OEM and Retail Windows?
No. They are the same Windows with the same features, performance and updates. Only the licence rights differ.
Why does my retail key show as OEM after a reinstall?
Windows setup automatically used the OEM key stored in your PC’s firmware. Your retail key hasn’t been used. Enter it under Change product key if you want this PC to use it instead.
Is a digital licence the same as a retail licence?
No. A digital licence is how activation is stored. It can come from a retail key, an OEM key or a free upgrade, and it keeps the rights of the original licence.