Find the serial number of your Windows PC
Windows doesn’t display your PC’s serial number anywhere in its interface, and neither do popular system information tools.
But you can often find a PC’s serial number with a simple command, a peek in your BIOS, or on the hardware itself.
Run the WMIC Command
Check the BIOS
You may also be able to find the serial number in the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen. This technique won’t get you a serial number
if the
wmic command didn’t, since the command pulls the serial number from the BIOS. However, checking the BIOS could be helpful if you
can’t actually sign into Windows to run the
wmic command.
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There’s a different process for accessing the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen on each PC. Either way, you’ll have to
restart your PC.
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To access your BIOS, you’ll need to press a key during the boot-up process. This key is often displayed during the boot process
with a message Press F2 to access BIOS, Press <DEL> to enter setup, or something similar. Common keys you may need to press
include Delete, F1, F2, and Escape.
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Access the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen and look around for a Serial Number somewhere on a system information screen.
It’ll be in a different place on different PCs, but you can usually find it somewhere on the Main or System screen.
Find the Serial Number On the PC’s Hardware, Box, or Elsewhere
If you don’t see a serial number after running the
wmic command or if you just can’t turn the PC on or don’t have access to
it, there are several other places you might find the serial number:
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If you have a laptop, flip it over. On some laptops, you’ll see the number on a sticker. On others, you’ll see the number printed directly on
the metal or plastic the laptop is made from. If your laptop has a removable battery, the serial number is sometimes on a sticker inside the
battery compartment, under the battery.
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If you have a desktop PC, look at the back, top, or side of the case for some sort of sticker. The sticker may also be on a sticker
inside the case, so you might have to open it up.
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If you can’t find the serial number on the PC itself, look online for instructions specific to your model. The manufacturer’s website
should tell you exactly where to look.
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If you registered your PC with the manufacturer or received warranty service, the serial number should be included in the registration
documentation, warranty service receipt, or email confirmation for the service.
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If you still have the original product box, it usually has the serial number printed on it, often on the same sticker with the bar code.
Find the serial number of your Apple MacBook, iMac
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Choose About This Mac from the Apple menu () in the upper-left corner of your screen. About This Mac shows
an overview of your Mac, including the serial number, its model name, the name and version of its operating system.
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If you see an About This Macwithout the serial number displayed, double-click the version number beneath OS X to reveal the serial number.
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Open the System Information (or System Profiler) app from the Utilities folder of your Applications folder,
or click the System Info (or More Info) button in About This Mac. Select Hardware on the left side of the window,
then find the model name and serial number on the right.
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If you can't use About This Mac or System Information because your Mac doesn't finish starting up, look for a serial number or model name
on the outside of your Mac, or on its original packaging, receipt, or invoice. If necessary, get help from an Apple service provider near you.