Where Is My VMware Workstation License Key Stored ?

This is a simple trick that may be of some use in the future. If you happen to forget your license key and don’t want or can’t login to the VMware site to retrieve it you can simply use Regedit the Windows Registry Editor, don’t worry we wont change anything. No need for third party tools, Regedit can do the job.

Windows XP and Windows 7 store the information in different places follow the instructions according to the operating system you are using.

Windows XP Instructions

Begin by going to Start > and typing regedit in the Run box. Once the editor starts browse the path below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREVMware, Inc.VMware WorkstationLincense.ws.x.x.xx.xxxxx

Search for columm that starts with the name Serial, this is the location of the key its 25 characters long.

Windows 7 Instructions

Begin by going to Start > and typing regedit in the Run box/Instant Search Menu.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeVMware WorkstationLicense.ws.x.x.xx.xxxxx

Search for columm that starts with the name Serial, this is the location of the key its 25 characters long.

Note: In Windows 7 at the time of this writing you are given 2 options License.ws.7.0.e1 and License.ws.7.0.e2, e1 is the one that holds the key we are looking for.

licensing, recovery, vmware — Jun 3, 2010