Windows has multiple command line utilities that can help find the version of the Windows OS running on your computer. Below is the list of commands and the information they provide.
Systeminfocommand – Windows OS name, version, edition and build numberWMICcommand – OS name and versionVercommand – OS version
Find OS Version from command line(CMD)
Systeminfo is a useful command that can dump information about hardware and software running on your computer. Since we are interested in only the OS details, we can filter out other information with the use of findstr command.
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"
Examples:
C:\>systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version" OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise OS Version: 10.0.19042 N/A Build 19042
This command works on Windows 19, Windows and on Server editions also. Find example for Windows 7 below.
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version" OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise OS Version: 10.0.19042 N/A Build 19042
In case of Windows 7 SP1, the output would be slightly different as below.
c:\>systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version" OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise OS Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
If you want to print more details, you may use just ‘OS’ in the findstr search pattern. See example below for Server 2008.
C:\>systeminfo | findstr /C:"OS" OS Name: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise OS Version: 6.1.7600 N/A Build 7600 OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation OS Configuration: Standalone Server OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free BIOS Version: IBM -[BWE117AUS-1.05]-, 7/28/2005
Check Windows version using WMIC command
Run the below WMIC command to get OS version and the service pack number(Windows 7 and prior versions).
wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion /value
Example on Windows 10:
c:\>wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion /value Caption=Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise CSDVersion=
Example on Windows 7:
c:\>wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion /value Caption=Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise CSDVersion=Service Pack 1
If you want to find just the OS version, you can use ver command. Open command window and execute ver command. But note that this does not show service pack version.
C:\>ver Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19042.2251] C:\>
This command does not show version on Windows 7/Windows 10.
Also Read:
Complete list of Windows CMD commands
Do you wonder how to find out what version of Windows is running?
The Windows version can be checked in multiple ways.
In this short note i am showing the easiest way to get information about the Windows version using the winver command from the “Run” dialog or using the systeminfo command from a command-line prompt (CMD) or from a PowerShell.
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To check your Windows version – press the ⊞ Win + R shortcut to open the “Run” dialog, type in winver and click “OK”.
The winver command launches the “About Windows” that displays the version of Windows that is running, the build number and what service packs are installed.
To find out your Windows version from a command-line prompt (CMD) or from a PowerShell, use the systeminfo command:
C:\> systeminfo ... OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OS Version: 10.0.19042 N/A Build 19042 OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free ...
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To check the Windows version from CMD, you can use either the winver or the systeminfo command. Both commands work with PowerShell as well.
WINVER Command
Open a command prompt and type winver. It will open a popup window showing the information about your operating system.
winverThe following screenshot shows the output of the winver command in Windows 10:
The head section shows the operating system you are running on your PC. The bottom part shows the build version and the edition (e.g., Pro, Home, Education, Enterprise).
You will see something similar to the following when you run the winver command on Windows 11:
SYSTEMINFO Command
The systeminfo command displays the operating system configuration information of your computer. You will find the Windows version under the OS Name directive (usually the second line).
The systeminfo CMD command also shows other operating system information such as time zone, boot time network card(s) model, RAM size, etc.
The PowerShell equivalent to the systeminfo is Get-ComputerInfo (this will not work on CMD).
To check the Windows version without all other details, add WindowsProductName Parameter to the command, as shown in the above screenshot.
The `winver` command in cmd provides a graphical interface displaying the version and build number of your Windows operating system.
winver
What is CMD?
CMD, short for Command Prompt, is a powerful command-line interface available in Windows operating systems. It allows users to execute commands, run scripts, and perform system administrative tasks that can often be more efficient than using graphical interfaces.
Historically, CMD stems from the MS-DOS command line, evolving through the years to support various commands and utilities crucial for both novice and expert users in managing their computers effectively.
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Knowing your Windows version is essential for several reasons:
- Updates: Ensuring your system is up to date, as newer features and security patches depend on specific Windows versions.
- Compatibility: Some software applications only operate on certain versions of Windows; understanding your version will prevent compatibility issues.
- Troubleshooting: Many technical issues can be traced back to incompatibilities tied to the specific version of Windows you are using.
Using CMD provides a direct and quick method to verify your Windows version, giving you immediate access to this critical information without navigating through multiple system settings.
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Understanding the `winver` Command
What Does `winver` Do?
The `winver` command in CMD swiftly opens a dialog box displaying key information about your Windows version. This command reveals:
- Windows version: The specific version you are running (e.g., Windows 10).
- Build number: This is important for identifying updates and patch levels.
- Edition: Indicates whether you’re using Home, Pro, or Enterprise editions.
Example of Using the `winver` Command
To use the `winver` command, simply type the following into your Command Prompt:
winver
Upon executing this command, a dialog box will appear showing the current Windows version information. This visual feedback is straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to check their system version.
For users who prefer more detailed system information, the `winver` command might not suffice, prompting the use of alternative commands.
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How to Check Windows Version via CMD
Basic Command to Use
One of the most comprehensive commands to find your Windows version through CMD is:
systeminfo
When executed, this command summarizes several important details about your system, including the OS name and version, memory, and network information. Here’s a snippet of how the output may look:
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
OS Version: 10.0.19041 N/A Build 19041
This command provides not only the version but also crucial system specifications.
Alternative Method: Using the `ver` Command
An even simpler command to check your Windows version is:
ver
Executing this command produces a quick output of your operating system version in a straightforward format, such as:
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.1023]
The `ver` command is great for users who prefer brevity and quick access to their Windows version without additional system details.
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Checking Windows Version through PowerShell
If you are familiar with PowerShell, it can offer an alternative and possibly more advanced method of checking your Windows version. The following command retrieves detailed version information:
Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object WindowsVersion, WindowsBuildLabEx
Using PowerShell provides benefits such as enhanced scripting capabilities and deeper integration with Windows management frameworks, making it a valuable tool for power users.
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Other Useful Commands
Commands for Advanced Users
For those looking to gather extensive system metadata, consider these advanced commands:
- To retrieve the caption, version, and build type information, use:
wmic os get Caption, Version, BuildType
- For a broader data set, this command will highlight the Windows version along with its build number:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem | Select-Object Version, BuildNumber
Both commands provide a wealth of information helpful for system diagnostics and configurations.
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Troubleshooting Common Issues
CMD Not Recognizing Commands
If CMD fails to recognize your commands, consider the following potential reasons:
- Typographical errors: Double-check your command for spelling or syntax mistakes.
- Path issues: Ensure that CMD is installed correctly and accessible from your system PATH.
Lack of Permissions
Some commands may require administrative privileges to execute successfully. If you encounter errors, here’s how to open CMD as an administrator:
- Click on the Start Menu and type “cmd.”
- Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
This action grants necessary permissions for commands that manage system-level functions.
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Conclusion
Utilizing CMD to check your Windows version through commands like `winver`, `systeminfo`, and `ver` is a quick and effective method to access critical information about your operating system. Understanding the tools available within CMD empowers users to manage their systems more efficiently.
By becoming familiar with these commands, you’ll streamline your Windows experience and enhance your troubleshooting skills. Explore CMD further to discover a broad array of commands and functionalities to enhance your computing efforts!
In this tutorial, we will learn how to check the Windows version installed on your computer using the Command Prompt (CMD or PowerShell).
In Windows, we can use the systeminfo command to check both Windows Version (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.) and the Edition ID (Home, Professional, Education, etc.).
systeminfoThe following screenshot displays the output example of the systeminfo command.
The Windows Version and the Edition ID are shown under the OS Name directive. To get the Windows version without all other information, use the systeminfo command as follows:
systeminfo | findstr /i /c:'os name'Using PowerShell
Windows PowerShell has a cmdlet that shows the Windows version. That is Get-ComputerInfo.
Get-ComputerInfoUnder the OsName directive, you will find the Windows Version installed on your PC.
To show the Windows Version only, run the Get-ComputerInfo command as follows:
Get-ComputerInfo -Property OsNameYou can also use the Get-ComputerInfo command to check the Windows install date, CPU Model, Bios version, Hostname, RAM Size, etc.