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I do not know which Windows version I have running on my laptop. How do I find this out? I need to know before telephoning my service provider.

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  • 10
    Hit Windows + Pause/Break or run system.cpl to view information about your windows SKU (version) and licensing status.
    – Frank Thomas
    Feb 26, 2016 at 12:52
  • system.cpl does not work in Windows 10. Instead you can visit this link, which gives you the steps to find out the OS for different Windows OS'es. windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows/which-operating-system
    – Prasanna
    Feb 26, 2016 at 12:55
  • don't you know how your desktop looks? Unless you install some GUI changer, it'll look different in each windows version
    – phuclv
    Feb 26, 2016 at 23:20
  • @FrankThomas: Why do you answer in the comments section?
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Feb 27, 2016 at 18:50
  • @FrankThomas: I'd argue that answering a low-quality question (be that in the answer section as intended, or in the comments section) only encourages further low-quality questions. Furthermore, doing so in the comments section breaks the Q&A model — if your response is incorrect then there should be a way to indicate that to others by downvoting it; posting something you think may be wrong as a comment just so people can't then downvote you to indicate that is dangerous! Have a nice day :)
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Feb 27, 2016 at 20:45

9 Answers 9

Reset to default
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Press Win + R, type winver and press Enter. You will see a dialog with your version of Windows that looks something like this:

enter image description here

Another way is to press Win + Pause/Break which will open System window that also has info on the version of your OS. It might look something like this:

enter image description here

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    I believe both methods you mention work on all versions since XP. Nice!
    – Ben N
    Feb 26, 2016 at 19:07
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    Since I have a Win 2000 machine powered up next to me, I decided to run a little test too. Both methods work on Windows 2000 Pro SP4 as well.
    – IT Bear
    Feb 26, 2016 at 19:59
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    winver works all the way back to Windows 3.1, and possibly even before that.
    – Michael Hampton
    Feb 26, 2016 at 22:21
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    and ver works all the way back to the old DOS days.
    – oldmud0
    Feb 26, 2016 at 23:00
  • Is there an equivalent for pause/break that usually works on laptops which lack that key?
    – hippietrail
    Sep 20, 2016 at 12:42
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If, for some reason, you wanted to do this from a command line:

systeminfo | findstr /b /c:"OS Name"

(Reference: Find Windows Version from CMD.) It has the added bonus of showing the OS edition. For me, it produces the following:

OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro

This works on all versions since XP. You can produce the command prompt with Win+R followed by cmd in the resulting dialog, as mentioned a couple times by other answers.

All versions before XP, if I remember correctly, clearly show the OS version and edition when booting up.

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  • You can also use this: wmic os get Caption which will also work remotely.
    – Abraxas
    Feb 27, 2016 at 0:35
  • @Abraxas Neat! One caveat is that wmic os isn't a thing in XP, if I remember correctly.
    – Ben N
    Feb 27, 2016 at 0:37
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If you will check your edition op your Windows pc, you can right click on start button and select system.

This opens a window where you can find your spec's (specifications) of your computer. You can also use this shortcut Win icon + X.

Comment by @BenN, works this for Windows 8 and newer (this are: Windows 8, 8.1 and 10). For older OS, please check other answers.

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  • 4
    The Windows button menu (Win+X menu) only appears on WIndows 8 and newer.
    – Ben N
    Feb 26, 2016 at 15:25
  • 2
    +1 for freehand things :D
    – cat
    Feb 26, 2016 at 18:54
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wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion

Along with the other answers you can run this in the commandline and get an output like:

c:\>wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion /value
Caption=Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
CSDVersion=Service Pack 1

CSDVersion may not return anything and isn't strictly needed but it can be useful if you want SP.

More detail here.

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  • This is a good option. winver just shows me Windows 8, only mentioning that it's actually 8.1 Pro in small text about the trademark. This clearly shows Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro.
    – user59659
    Feb 26, 2016 at 20:34
  • @flimbusakimbo Thanks! Feel free to edit out the csdversion if you don't think there is value in it, I was 50/50 on it
    – Abraxas
    Feb 26, 2016 at 20:35
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    Showing the service pack level is definitely useful, no worries there.
    – user59659
    Feb 26, 2016 at 20:37
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    and as it is wmi native, its accessible remotely.
    – Frank Thomas
    Feb 26, 2016 at 21:38
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Using a Run command Windows Key+R opens the run box, then enter:

control /name Microsoft.System

Hit the OK button.

enter image description here

This will show you the installed Windows version. This Run command works in Vista, W7, W8, W8.1, w10

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  • I think this even works in XP.
    – Ben N
    Feb 26, 2016 at 18:58
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    I cannot get it to work in XP, but "control sysdm.cpl" does.
    – Moab
    Feb 26, 2016 at 19:03
  • pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/a/…
    – Moab
    Feb 26, 2016 at 19:05
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    control sysdm.cpl also works in Windows 2000.
    – IT Bear
    Feb 26, 2016 at 20:04
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  1. Open the Windows command line
  2. Normally the Windwos version is already just by opening the "cmd"

enter image description here

  1. If not then you can see the version by using the command ver

enter image description here

  1. Now you can see the Windwos version by number! Just look at the table below to get the version by name!

enter image description here

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4

If you still can't find the version, you can use the keys:(windows) + (R) to open up a prompt.

enter image description here

Then Type: "dxdiag" (without "") It should ask if you want to view drivers that are not signed. Click "Yes"

It should return this picture. There's also a LOT of other useful information in this tool. I've pointed out where you can find your OS info.

enter image description here

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3

Up to Windows 7:

  • click on windows icon (bottom left corner)
  • right click on "computer" in the right column
  • select "properties"

From Windows 8: see Luis's answer.

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  • This does not work with Windows 10 (I suppose Windows 8 is also the same). From the start menu, you do not see "My Computer"
    – Prasanna
    Feb 26, 2016 at 12:52
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    The icon's name bas been changed in versions after Windows 7 but this method does work on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10
    – Ramhound
    Feb 26, 2016 at 13:19
0

Click this link: Microsoft - Which Operating System

By default, Windows reports it's version to the websites you visit.

Websites designed to take this info and report it back to you exist, like the one above.

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  • I didn't suggest that you were ignorant, merely asked as you downvoted, and suggested I do something irrelevant without investigating the link or even reading the question so that you could judge my answer's context. Doing so, you have found that this is one of the side-cases where a brief answer containing a link, can fully answer the question. Perhaps you should pay more attention to the content of the post and not the potential reputation gain. I apologize for calling you ignorant, there was no need to for it.
    – Hydranix
    Feb 27, 2016 at 15:15
  • Whatever, your comment was rude, mine was not (it was just not applicable to your answer). A screenshot or further explanation like you NOW provided would have avoided my comment.
    – Ramhound
    Feb 27, 2016 at 15:22
  • That link does not tell you whether your have home, pro, enterprise, etc.
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Feb 27, 2016 at 16:44
  • The question was which windows version, not which windows edition.
    – Hydranix
    Mar 2, 2016 at 11:10

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