How to find the ProductCode GUID of an installed MSI
A ProductCode is made up of string GUIDs containing numbers and uppercase letters.
Since this code is specific to each Windows Installer package, you can't install two software products with the same ProductCode on the same machine – if that happens, you will get the following error message:
In this article, we will show you a few ways to find your ProductCode whenever you need it. Let's start with the ProductCode Property within the MSI.
How to find the ProductCode Property within the MSI
If you have access to the MSI, then probably the easiest way to find the ProductCode is by opening an MSI editor tool and heading to the Property table.
There, you will find the ProductCode property, which gives you the unique identifier of that Windows Installer package.
How to find the ProductCode using Uninstall Registry keys
We also have the option to find the ProductCode of a software product by going to the Uninstall Registry keys and searching for it. It may not be the most simple thing, so let's see how we can achieve that.
The Uninstall Registry keys could be located under one of the following registry hives:
x64 bit installer, per-machine based installation
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
x86 bit installer, per-machine based installation
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
x64 bit installer, per-user based installation
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
x86 bit installer, per-user based installation
HKCU\SOFTWARE\ WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
You will find the details of the software product stored in a subkey of the above registry hives – identified by the ProductCode.
Finding the ProductCode with VBScript
WiLstPrd.vbs is a VBScript file provided in the Windows SDK Components for Windows Installer Developers.
It uses an Installer object to retrieve the registered products and product information on the local device.
To retrieve the ProductCode of a specific software product, you need to run the following command line from a command prompt:
cscript "WiLstPrd.vbs" <ProductName> | findstr ProductCode
How to Use PowerShell to Find the ProductCode?
All Windows Installer packages, and their related information, can be accessed through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)’s Win32_Product class via PowerShell.
In the example above, we formatted the output as a table with the selected properties of the object in each column:
- IdentifyingNumber – represents the ProductCode
- Name – represents the ProductName
To retrieve the ProductCode of a specific software, you need to run the following command:
Get-WmiObject Win32_Product | Where Name -eq '<ProductName>' |Format-Table IdentifyingNumber, Name
Both VBScript and PowerShell commands should be executed with administrative permissions.
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Conclusion
And there you go! Now you have a few options to find the ProductCode GUID of your installed MSI setup whenever you need it.
We hope you found this article useful! Let us know if you have any questions.
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FAQ: How to find the ProductCode GUID of an installed MSI
What is the ProductCode in an MSI package, and why is it important?
The ProductCode is a unique identifier (GUID) assigned to each Windows Installer (MSI) package. It makes a product unique and is crucial for the installation, maintenance, and uninstallation processes. Having duplicate ProductCodes on the same machine can lead to installation errors, as Windows Installer uses this code to manage installed products.
How can I find the ProductCode if I have access to the original MSI file?
If you have the MSI file, you can use an MSI editor tool to open it and navigate to the Property table. Within this table, you'll find the ProductCode property, which contains the unique identifier for that installer package.
Can I retrieve the ProductCode from the Windows Registry?
Yes, you can find the ProductCode by looking at the Uninstall registry keys. Depending on the installation context (per-machine or per-user) and system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), the relevant registry paths are: For 64-bit installers, per-user and per-machine installations: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
For 32-bit installers on a 64-bit system, per-user and per-machine installations: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
Within these paths, you'll find subkeys named after the ProductCode GUIDs.
Is it possible to use PowerShell to retrieve the ProductCode of an installed application?
Yes, PowerShell can be utilized to retrieve the ProductCode using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Here's how you can do it:Get-WmiObject Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq 'YourProductName' } | Format-Table IdentifyingNumber, Name
Replace 'YourProductName' with the actual name of the installed application. The IdentifyingNumber field in the output corresponds to the ProductCode.
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