How to tell what Windows I have (11 ways)

How do you tell which Windows you have? The answer to this question is not rocket science. It is not even a complicated thing to do. However, it is a question you may have to answer so that you receive technical support with a problem you have. If you have handled Windows devices before, the answer is only a couple of clicks away. On the other hand, if you are like our parents, you may call your children or friends at 8 AM to ask them how to do it. This tutorial is mainly for everyone who wants to save the cost of a call and find out what version of Windows they have on their own. Let’s get started:

Quick Steps:

1. Press the Windows + R keyboard keys to launch the Run window.
2. Type winver, and press Enter.
3. This opens a window called About Windows. It shows you the operating system that you’re using.

IMPORTANT: If you already know that you have Windows 10 and you want to find out exactly what edition and type, read how to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type. Also, here’s how to validate whether Windows is activated and genuine.

1. How to tell what version of Windows you have just by looking at the sign-in screen

It may sound too easy to be true, but it is often enough to look at the Windows sign-in screen and find out whether your Windows is version 10, 7, or 8.1. Start your computer or device and wait for it to boot. When the sign-in screen shows up, check the way it looks.

If the sign-in screen on your PC looks similar to the screenshot below, then you are using Windows 10:

Windows 10 sign-in screen

If what you see when you sign in looks like the screenshot below, then you are using Windows 7. This version of Windows is all about lively blue colors. 🙂

Windows 7 sign-in screen

NOTE: Windows 7 also tells you its name and edition at the bottom of the sign-in screen. For instance, the Windows 7 edition in the screenshot above is the Ultimate one.

And if your sign-in screen looks like the one below, then you are using Windows 8.1. It looks boring, doesn’t it? 🙂

Windows 8.1 sign-in screen

2. How to check what Windows you have by pressing the Windows key

Windows 10, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 differ quite a lot in what their user interface looks like. Just by looking at your desktop, taskbar, icons, Start Menu, or Start screen, you can immediately tell which Windows you have.

If you have Windows 10, then your desktop and icons have a flat design, your taskbar has a search field or at least a search button on it. Press the Windows key, and the Start Menu shows up. If it has tiles on it, like in the screenshot below, then you are using Windows 10.

Windows 10 desktop and Start Menu

When you press the Windows key, if your Start Menu is transparent and has a search field inside, and the edges of the taskbar and icons are rounded, then you are using Windows 7.

Windows 7 desktop and Start Menu

If you have a Start button on the bottom-left corner of your screen, but it does not open a Start Menu but a Start screen filled with tiles, then you are using Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 desktop and Start Screen

3. How to tell what Windows you have by locking your PC

You can also tell what version of Windows you have just by checking how the lock screen looks. The fastest way to lock your PC is to simultaneously press the Windows + L keys on your keyboard. If you are using a Windows tablet, you can also press the Power button twice to do the same.

If the lock screen looks similar to the one in the screenshot below, with a beautiful wallpaper image, and the icons for network and battery on the bottom-right side, then you are probably using Windows 10.

Windows 10 lock screen

If the lock screen looks like the one below, it is evident that you are using Windows 7. Windows 7 even tells you what edition you have on the bottom of the screen.

Windows 7 lock screen

If your lock screen looks similar to the one below and the network and battery icons are shown on the bottom-left corner, then you are using Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 lock screen

4. How to check what Windows version you have by running the winver command

To find which Windows edition you have, you can also use the winver command. There are several ways in which you can run this command:

Press the Windows + R keyboard keys to launch the Run window, type winver, and press Enter.

winver command in Run

winver command in PowerShell

You can also use the search feature to open winver.

winver command in Search

Regardless of how you choose to run the winver command, it opens a window called About Windows. This shows you the operating system that you’re using, Microsoft’s internal version of the operating system, and the Windows edition that you own.

winver command: About Windows

5. How to find the Windows you have from the System page

All the specifications of the operating system that you are using are located on the System page. There are several ways to get there. The fastest way to get to the System window is to press the Windows + Pause/Break keys on your keyboard.

Win + Pause (Break)

If you’re using Windows 10, this brings up the Settings app and takes you to the System page. There, you can see details about your PC, including Windows specifications.

Windows specifications in the Settings app

If you’re using a different Windows version, like Windows 7 or 8.1, the Win + Pause keyboard shortcut brings up the System window from the Control Panel. Except for a few minor visual differences, the System window is identical and displays the same information, regardless of what Windows you have.

In the Windows edition section from the top of the window, you get to see what Windows version and edition you are using.

Windows information in the Control Panel

6. How to tell what Windows you have using the System Information app

The System Information app offers another easy way to find out what Windows you have. Open it and check the first line from the System Summary: it should tell you the name of the Windows operating system you use.

OS Name in System Information

The System Information tool offers a lot of details about the system, not just the name of the OS. If you want to learn more about it, read: How to see details about your PC’s hardware and software, using System Information.

7. How to tell what Windows you have using DirectX

Another tool that’s surprisingly useful if you want to find out what Windows you have is Microsoft’s DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Open it either by using the search or by running the dxdiag command in CMD or Run (Win + R). After it opens, check the System Information area from the System tab – it tells you what Windows you have, including its edition and build number.

Operating System information in DirectX Diagnostic Tool

8. How to check your Windows version in cmd (Command Prompt)

Another simple yet non-intuitive method of finding out what Windows you have is offered by Command Prompt, and it doesn’t even require you to run a command – you just have to open it. Before anything else, Command Prompt tells you the version of Windows you use. If it shows Version 10, then you have Windows 10.

Windows 10 is shown as Version 10 in Command Prompt

If you see cmd display Version 6.1, then you have Windows 7.

Windows 7 is shown as Version 6.1 in Command Prompt

If Command Prompt shows Version 6.3, then you’re using Windows 8.1. If it shows Version 6.2, you’re using Windows 8.

Windows 8.1 is shown as Version 6.3 in Command Prompt

9. How to find what Windows you use with the systeminfo command (in Powershell or Command Prompt)

One other way to check the Windows version in cmd is to take advantage of the systeminfo command. Although you could just run this command and look for the information you want, it would be easier to pipeline all that data to a search for the term “OS,” like this: systeminfo | findstr OS. That gives you only a few lines of data, and the first one tells you what Windows you have.

systeminfo | findstr OS

10. How to tell what Windows you have using Registry Editor

If none of the previous methods suits you, you might prefer using Registry Editor to find out what version of Windows you have. Open Registry Editor and follow this path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion. Then, on the right side of the window, the ProductName key tells you what Windows you use.

How to tell what Windows you have: ProductName in Windows Registry

11. How to tell what version of Windows is installed on a hard drive without booting it?

What if you have a hard drive on which there was a Windows operating system installed, but you don’t know what version? What if it can’t boot, but you need to know what Windows is on it. The easiest way to find out is to check the license.rtf file from the “Windows -> System32” folder.

license.rtf in Windows -> System32

Open it using WordPad or any other text editor you prefer. With the sole exception of Windows 10, license.rtf should tell you what Windows you have on its first page. In the screenshot below, you can see what it looks like if you’re using Windows 7.

license.rtf showing that you have Windows 7

If you’re using Windows 10, the license.rtf file doesn’t specify the Windows version you have. This lack of information is actually useful information: if it doesn’t say anything about the Windows version, you use Windows 10! 🙂 If you think about it, it kind of makes sense, as Windows 10 is the last Windows Microsoft will ever make, so the license terms apply forever and only get updated from time to time.

license.rtf showing that you have Windows 10

What Windows do you have?

Now you know quite a few different ways to find out what version of Windows you are using. Before closing this guide, share with us in a comment below the version of Windows that you use. We are curious to see which version is the most popular with our readers. Comment and let’s discuss.

How to check your PC’s full specifications on Windows 10

Source: Windows Central

On Windows 10, the ability to view a computer’s specs can come in handy in many situations. For example, it can be useful to determine if the device meets the minimum requirements to install a piece of software. If the computer is not working, and you have to troubleshoot a problem. Or, if you are noticing the device is getting slower over time, knowing the hardware specifications can help confirm whether you need to upgrade a component or it is time to replace the machine.

Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 has several ways to check the PC specs, such as processor, memory, motherboard, graphics card, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), device model number, drivers, updates details, and Windows version, using desktop applications or command-line tools. The only caveat is that depending on the method, the properties available could be slightly different.

In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps to check your device’s full hardware and software specifications.

How to find computer hardware specs using Settings

If you only need the basic system specifications, such as the processor, memory, and Windows details, you can find this information inside the «About» settings page.

To check the computer tech specs with the Windows 10 Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on About.

Under the Device specifications section, check the processor, system memory (RAM), architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and pen and touch support.

Source: Windows Central

Experience – Reveals the service feature pack installed on the device.

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, you will have a clearer understanding of the computer’s basic technical specifications.

While on the «About» page, you can also click the Copy button under each section to copy and share the specifications with other people, safe for future reference, or inventory.

1. ExpressVPN: The best VPN available right now

This is our top pick for anyone looking to get started with a VPN. It offers a great mix of speed, reliability, outstanding customer service, and affordability. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so give it a shot today.

How to find computer specs using System Information

On Windows 10, the System Information is a legacy application that is one of the best options to view a complete x-ray of the device’s technical specifications.

To view all the hardware specs of the computer, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msinfo32 and click the top result to open the System Information app.

Select the System Summary category from the left navigation pane.

Source: Windows Central

Select the Display option to view the graphics card technical information.

Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, you will have a detailed overview of the laptop or desktop specs.

If you need to check specific details about a component, the System Information tool offers a search option at the bottom of the page to quickly find the information you need. (This is not your regular search experience, which means you must use exact text queries to get the result you want.)

Create hardware specs report on Windows 10

The System Information app also includes an option to create a report with the hardware and software tech specs, which you can save to refer later, inventory, or share with technical support to troubleshoot an issue.

To create a report with the system specs on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msinfo32 and click the top result to open the System Information app.

Select the specifications to export from the left navigation pane.

Quick tip: Selecting System Summary will export everything. However, if you only need to export the graphics card details, you only need to select the Display item from the left navigation pane.

Click the Export option.

Source: Windows Central

Right-click the text file and select the open option to view the exported system information.

Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, the specifications will export into a text file, which you can then open with any text editor.

How to find computer specs using DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Windows 10 also includes the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) to view information about DirectX sound and video support to help you troubleshoot different system problems. However, you can also use it to determine many tech specs about the machine, like the information available through the «About» settings page.

To check the computer specs with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, use the steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for dxdiag and click the top result to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
3. Click on the System tab.

Under the «System information» section, check the computer tech specs, including processor, memory, BIOS or UEFI version, system model and manufacturer, Windows 10 version and edition, and more.

Source: Windows Central

Under the «Device» section, check the graphics card technical specs like name and manufacturer, graphics memory, and display details.

Source: Windows Central

(Optional) Click the Save All Information button.

Source: Windows Central

Right-click the text file and select the open option to view the exported system information.

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, you will end up with a text file, properly formatted, with all the computer hardware and software details.

How to find computer specs using PowerShell

Alternatively, you can also use PowerShell to determine the technical specifications of your device.

To use PowerShell to check the computer tech specs, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to determine your computer specs and press Enter:

Source: Windows Central

(Optional) Type the following command to view only the details of a specific component and press Enter:

Get-ComputerInfo -Property «PROPERTY-NAME»

In the command, change PROPERTIES-NAME for the details you want to review.

For example, the following command displays everything regarding the BIOS information:

Get-ComputerInfo -Property «bios*»

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: The asterisk * in the command syntax is a wildcard to match every property that starts with BIOS.

After you complete the steps, PowerShell will display a full list of Windows 10 and hardware information or the specific property you requested in the command.

How to find computer specs using Command Prompt

If you want to check the computer specs with Command Prompt, you can use the System Information (systeminfo) command tool, which allows you to view even more hardware and software details than the UI version of the app.

To find the computer specs with Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to find your device specs and press Enter:

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: Use the systeminfo /? command to see the available options using this tool in Command Prompt.

Once you complete the steps, the command output will return all the information about the computer’s hardware and software, including Windows 10 and update information, system architecture, whether the device uses BIOS or UEFI, RAM, and network details.

If you want to save the output received from PowerShell or Command Prompt commands to a text file, you can use these instructions.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Halo: MCC’s live service elements make it better, not worse

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is more popular than ever, but some fans don’t agree with the live service approach 343 Industries has taken with it. Here’s why those elements are, at the end of the day, great for the game and for Halo overall.

Microsoft’s Surface Duo is not ‘failing up’

Microsoft announced this week that it was expanding Surface Duo availability to nine new commercial markets. While Surface Duo is undoubtedly a work in progress, this is not a sign of a disaster. It’s also doesn’t mean that Surface Duo is selling a ton either. Instead, the reason for the expansion is a lot more straightforward.

Here’s what you can do if Windows 10 update KB5001330 is causing issues

In this guide, we’ll show you the steps to get rid of the update KB5001330 to fix profile, gaming, and BSoD problems with the Windows 10 October 2020 Update and May 2020 Update.

These are the best PC sticks when you’re on the move

Instant computer — just add a screen. That’s the general idea behind the ultra-portable PC, but it can be hard to know which one you want. Relax, we have you covered!