How to find serial number on laptop

On Windows 10, the ability to check the computer serial number can come in handy in many scenarios. For instance, when you need to create an inventory of the devices connected to your home network or organization, or need to contact technical support to troubleshoot a problem, order a replacement part, or check the warranty information.

Usually, you can find the required information on the sticker affixed on the back or bottom of your laptop or desktop, or checking the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on your motherboard. However, if the sticker isn't available or you don't want to go through extra steps to access firmware, you can also use PowerShell and Command Prompt to retrieve this information quickly on Windows 10.

In addition, using commands can be useful to automate the process using a script when you need to retrieve the serial information from multiple devices.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to quickly find your device serial number using command lines.

How to determine PC serial number using PowerShell

To retrieve the serial number of your computer with a PowerShell command, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to find out the computer serial number and press Enter:Get-WmiObject win32_bios | select Serialnumber

1. Confirm the SerialNumber information.
2. (Optional) Type the following command to determine device serial number and press Enter:Get-CIMInstance win32_bios | format-list SerialNumber
3. Confirm the SerialNumber information.
4. (Optional) Type the following command to export the serial information to a text file and press Enter:Get-WmiObject win32_bios | select Serialnumber > PATH\TO\EXPORTIn the command, make sure to replace "PATH\TO\EXPORT" with the path to the text file you want to export the serial number information.For example, this command exports the output to the ComputerSerial.txt file in the C drive:Get-WmiObject win32_bios | select Serialnumber > C:\ComputerSerial.txt

Once you complete the steps, you'll know the serial number of your desktop or laptop computer.

If you are using the command to export the output, you'll find the file in folder location you specified. Also, since you exported it as a text format, you can open it with Notepad or any other text editor.

How to determine PC serial number using Command Prompt

To check the device serial number using a Command Prompt command, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to find out the computer serial number and press Enter:wmic bios get SerialNumber

1. Confirm the computer serial number.
2. (Optional) Type the following command to export the serial information to a text file and press Enter:wmic bios get SerialNumber > PATH\TO\EXPORTIn the command, make sure to replace "PATH\TO\EXPORT" with the path to the text file you want to export the serial number information.For example, this command exports the output to the ComputerSerial.txt file in the C drive:wmic bios get SerialNumber > C:\ComputerSerial.txt

After you complete the steps, the command will return the serial number without needing to access the BIOS or going behind the device to look for the sticker.

Although these commands will work on any computer, custom-build devices don't have a serial number. This means that the command output may read "To Be Filled By O.E.M."

If you're looking to retrieve the device model number, you can use these instructions.

You will be required to provide Serial Number of computer while trying to upgrade BIOS or Download Driver Software. You will find below the steps to Find Serial Number of Computer in Windows 10.

Find Computer Serial Number in Windows 10

In general, the Serial Number of a Windows computer should be available on the sticker attached to the bottom of the Laptop or to the backside of a Desktop Computer.

If the sticker has become faded, you may find it difficult to read the Serial Number of your computer.

In such a case, you won’t be able to find the Serial Number of your computer using Settings or by going to System Information Screen.

Hence, we are providing below a number of methods to find the Serial Number of your computer.

1. Find Computer Serial Number Using Command Prompt

Follow the steps below to find Serial Number of your Laptop or Desktop PC using WMIC command.

1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt(Admin).

2. On the Command Prompt screen, type wmic bios get serialnumber and press the enter key on the keyboard of your computer.

3. Once the command is executed, it will list Serial Number of your computer below “SerialNumber” entry on the Command Prompt screen (see above image).

If WMIC command does not display Serial Number of the computer, it is most likely that Manufacturer of your computer has not saved the Serial Number to BIOS/UEFI Firmware.

In such a case, you can try other methods as provided below to find Serial Number of your computer.

2. Check Sticker on Box

If you still have the box in which your Laptop or the Desktop was delivered, you should be able to find the Serial Number on a sticker attached to the box.

If you had purchased the laptop online, you might be able to find the Computer Serial Number on the Email Receipt.

3. Check Registration and Warranty Documents

If you had registered your computer with the manufacturer, the serial number should be available on the Registration document.

If you were provided with a Warranty or you purchased extended Warranty, the Serial Number should be available on the Warranty certificate.

4. Check Battery Compartment and Case

In case of a Laptop with removable battery, the Serial Number might be present on the sticker attached in the battery compartment.

In case of a desktop computer, it is not uncommon to find the Serial Number on a sticker attached inside the computer case.

5. Find Microsoft Serial Number on Surface Devices

In case of Microsoft devices like “Surface”, the Serial Number is usually 12 digits long (containing only numbers) and is known as a Microsoft Serial Number.

You should be able to find Microsoft Serial Number on the packaging in which your Surface Device was delivered.

If you do not have the original packaging, you should be able to find Microsoft Serial Number using the Surface App found on every Surface device.

1. Open the Surface App and click on the Feedback button.

2. On the next screen (“Your Surface”), you will find the Microsoft Serial Number listed.

Just like other computers, Microsoft Serial Number should also be available on the sticker attached to the body of the Surface device.

If you cannot find the sticker at the bottom or sides, check the bottom edge of the Surface clipboard that attaches to the Keyboard and also check the bottom of the Surface Keyboard.

In case of Surface Pro Models, flip out the kickstand and look for a string of numbers near its base.