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Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter. For Windows 10 and Windows 11, record the edition, version, and OS build. On older releases such as Windows 7, Vista, or XP, the same information may also include a service pack.
Check with winver
winver is the quickest way to identify the Windows release installed on a PC and normally works without administrator rights.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
winver. - Press Enter.
You can also open Start or the taskbar search box, type winver, and select the result. The About Windows dialog normally shows the Windows edition, version, and OS build. Microsoft documents this as a way to check Windows version and build information in its Windows Update Assistant guidance.
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Windows 11 Pro, version 24H2, OS build 26100.xxxxUse the values actually shown on your computer; the example is not a claim about the current build of every Windows 11 installation.
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Find it in Settings
On current Windows 10 and Windows 11 installations, open:
Settings → System → About → Windows specificationsRecord these fields:
- Edition: such as Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, or Windows 10 Enterprise.
- Version: the feature-update release, such as 22H2, 23H2, 24H2, or another label.
- Installed on: the date associated with the installation or feature update.
- OS build: the more precise build identifier used for troubleshooting and compatibility checks.
Under Device specifications, also look for System type. It identifies whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit and may indicate whether the processor is x64- or ARM-based. Microsoft’s device-information instructions cover these fields for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The exact layout can vary by release, edition, language, or Server product, so use winver if the menu is different.
What edition, version, build, and service pack mean
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Edition | The product variant, such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, Professional, or Server Standard. Editions can differ in features, licensing, management, and compatibility. |
| Version | On modern Windows, usually the feature-update release, such as 22H2 or 24H2. It is not necessarily the same as the internal Windows version number. |
| OS build | A more precise identifier for the installed operating-system state. It is useful when checking compatibility or investigating an update-related problem. |
| Service pack | A named bundle of updates used by some older Windows releases, such as Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows XP Service Pack 3. |
Windows 10 and Windows 11 generally identify servicing through feature-update versions, cumulative updates, and OS builds rather than traditional service-pack labels. A blank service-pack field on a modern PC is therefore normally expected; it does not prove that the computer has no updates.
Check from PowerShell
PowerShell is useful when you need a repeatable result or are collecting information from multiple computers. Open PowerShell, not Command Prompt, and run:
Get-ComputerInfo -Property WindowsProductName,WindowsVersion,OsVersion,OsBuildNumber,OsCSDVersionFor more detailed operating-system information, use the CIM query:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_OperatingSystem |
Select-Object Caption,Version,BuildNumber,CSDVersion,ServicePackMajorVersion,ServicePackMinorVersion,OSArchitectureMicrosoft documents Get-ComputerInfo and Get-CimInstance queries for these operating-system properties.
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OsVersionorVersionmay appear as an internal value such as10.0.26100.OsBuildNumberorBuildNumberidentifies the build.OsCSDVersionorCSDVersionmay be blank on current Windows.- Service-pack major and minor values may be
0when no traditional service pack is reported.
Do not confuse the version of Windows PowerShell or PowerShell 7 with the Windows operating-system version. They are separate products with separate version numbers.
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The version and build screen identifies the operating system; it does not list every update installed. If support asks whether a particular update or KB is present, use:
Settings → Windows Update → Update historyPowerShell can list installed hotfix records:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_QuickFixEngineering |
Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descending |
Select-Object -First 20 HotFixID,Description,InstalledOnThis can show identifiers such as KB..., descriptions, and installation dates. A build number alone does not necessarily answer every question about an individual patch, so use update history or hotfix data when the issue concerns a specific update.
Older Windows: finding the service pack
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and some older Windows Server releases may explicitly display text such as Service Pack 1, Service Pack 2, or Service Pack 3 in the system-properties or system-information window. Run winver first, then check the system-properties screen if the service-pack label is not visible.
On legacy systems, standard alternatives included WINVER.EXE, System Information, WINMSD.EXE, and the Windows Explorer Help/About screen. Historical Windows guidance also describes the registry location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionThe legacy CSDVersion value may contain a string such as Service Pack 4. Registry inspection is best reserved for legacy administration, scripts, remote checks, or systems where the normal interface is unavailable; it is not the preferred Windows 11 workflow. See the historical service-pack identification reference for those older methods.
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Use System Information for a full report
When troubleshooting requires more than the Windows release, open Microsoft System Information:
- Open Search.
- Type
msinfo32. - Open System Information.
For the most complete report, run it as administrator. It can run without elevation, but some information may be incomplete or stale. Useful fields include:
- OS Name
- Version
- System Type
- Installed Physical Memory
- BIOS information
- Windows directory
- Hardware abstraction layer
- Boot device
Microsoft describes Msinfo32.exe as a built-in tool for hardware, system-component, and software-environment information.
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If the result is confusing
Only “Windows 10” or “Windows 11” is shown
That is not enough for most support or compatibility questions. Open winver or Settings and include the edition, feature-update version, and OS build.
The service-pack field is blank
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, this is generally normal. Report the feature-update version and OS build instead. On older systems, a blank result can mean that no service pack is installed or that the particular tool does not expose it.
Get-ComputerInfo is not recognized
You may be using Command Prompt, an unusually restricted environment, or an older PowerShell version. Use PowerShell rather than Command Prompt, or fall back to winver, Settings, or the Get-CimInstance command. Microsoft notes that Get-ComputerInfo was introduced in Windows PowerShell 5.1.
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The PowerShell version looks unfamiliar
A value such as 10.0.26100 is an internal operating-system version representation. Report it together with the visible product name, edition, version, and build rather than attempting to translate it into a consumer-facing release name.
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The Win32_OperatingSystem class exposes comparable caption, version, build, and service-pack properties for Windows Server, but Settings screens and servicing terminology can differ. For Server, PowerShell or msinfo32 may provide the clearest report.
You actually need an application version
Windows identification will not tell you the version of Microsoft Office, Adobe software, a browser, driver, or another application. Open that program’s Help → About screen or its equivalent product-information page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to send technical support
Copy the values rather than sending only “Windows 11”:
Windows edition:
Windows version:
OS build:
Architecture/system type:
Windows client or Server:
Application name and version:
Relevant KB/update:For a current Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, the essential minimum is edition + version + OS build. Add architecture when software documentation distinguishes x86, x64, or ARM, and add the application version when the problem concerns a particular program.
Also note that Microsoft says standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, including free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes. That date matters when evaluating support status, but it does not change the identification steps above. See Microsoft’s current device-information guidance for the stated support information.
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Quick method guide
| Method | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
winver |
Nearly everyone | Does not provide a full diagnostic or update-history report. |
| Settings → System → About | Users who prefer menus | Labels and layout vary between releases. |
| PowerShell | IT work and automation | Requires command-line familiarity. |
msinfo32 |
Complete troubleshooting reports | Provides much more information than most users need. |
| Update history | Checking a particular patch | Does not replace the OS version/build check. |
| Registry | Legacy or scripted checks | Easy to misread and unsuitable as the normal modern workflow. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Windows version the same as the OS build?
No. The version usually identifies the feature-update release, while the OS build is a more precise identifier within that release. Provide both when reporting your system.
Why does my current Windows PC show no service pack?
Windows 10 and Windows 11 generally use feature-update versions, cumulative updates, and OS builds instead of traditional service-pack labels. A blank service-pack field is therefore usually expected.
How do I check whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit?
Open Settings → System → About and check System type under Device specifications, or run (Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).OSArchitecture in PowerShell.
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Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history, or query installed hotfix records in PowerShell with Get-CimInstance Win32_QuickFixEngineering.
Does this work on Windows Server?
The same operating-system properties can be queried with PowerShell and Win32_OperatingSystem, although Server editions may use different screens and servicing terminology.
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