Find Your Computer's Serial Number - IT Knowledge Base (2024)

FAQs

How do I find my computer's serial number? ›

Check the sticker label on the back of the desktop PC. The serial number is listed after the word “Serial Number,” “SSN,” “S/N,” or “SN” as in the edited picture below. Also, check under the unit or side of the unit especially for smaller or more compact desktop systems.

If you have your product's original packaging, you can check the barcode to find the serial number. You can also find your product's serial number on the original product receipt or invoice.

A serial number is a unique identifier assigned to a specific product by the manufacturer. It helps to distinguish one product from another and can be used for warranty purposes or to track inventory.

Step 1: Use WMIC

Here is the command to run in command prompt: wmic bios get serialnumber. You also can use WMIC for a remote computer. Here it is: wmic /node:%computername% bios get serialnumber.

Right-click (or long-press) Start , then select Settings > System > About . On this page, find Windows Specifications, and look for your Serial number.

Windows 11 or Windows 10

In the Search Box, type System. In the list of search results, under settings, select System Information. Look for System Model in the System section.

Imagine a manufacturer of high-end smartphones. Each smartphone they produce is assigned a unique serial number like “SMPH00123.” This serial number is engraved on the device and can be used to track its manufacturing details, warranty information, and any service requests associated with that particular unit.

Serial numbers are typically alphanumeric, comprising a combination of letters and numbers, although they can also consist solely of numerical digits. These numbers are often engraved, printed, or affixed to a visible part of the item, allowing for easy identification and reference.

The serial number is a unique code that identifies your specific Android device. No two serial numbers are the same. Should you need to find your phone's serial number, there are a couple of places where you can look. A serial number is usually a combination of letters and numbers.

Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device.

What is serial key in computer? ›

A product key, also known as a software key, serial key or activation key, is a specific software-based key for a computer program. It certifies that the copy of the program is original.

Many devices can share a model number, which means they're the same model. But every device has its own unique serial number, sometimes abbreviated as S/N. It's like a fingerprint—the serial number matches the product to you.

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.

If the identification number is 7 digits long, the first 2 numbers represent the year the device was deployed, and the next 2 numbers represent the month. For example, if a computer has a sticker with 1201326, it was deployed in January 2012.

Device IDs are stored on the mobile device and are separate from hardware serial numbers which are assigned by the device manufacturer to identify a device and can be used for inventory purposes. The most popular device IDs include the Google Advertiser ID (GAID) for Android devices and Apple's IDFA for iOS devices.

No, serial numbers are unique to a specific example of a product. A product ID is a generic description of the item in question, there can be many examples [and variations] within a product ID, the serial number references just one item.