Windows is used for professional work that includes coding, software development, gaming, and many more. If these professionals require some troubleshooting on their laptops then it becomes necessary to know the windows basic software details like version and build number.
As per the reports of Statista, as of 2022, 76% of desktop and laptop users use Windows as their operating system. Windows allows its users to do a lot of troubleshooting on their laptops but while you do any troubleshooting it becomes necessary to check window version.
Knowing the windows version is not only helpful for developers to troubleshoot their devices but also for normal users who use windows for gaming, office work, etc… in order to install different software and apps to add more features to their laptops.
So, in this article, I have shared the complete process of checking your windows version in all the editions of windows. In add-on to this, I have also solved different problems you face while updating your old windows.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Does The Windows Version And Build Number Mean?
There are a few basic things that every user must know while using a windows operating system laptop or desktop, they are Windows edition, windows edition, version, build number, and whether your computer is 64-bit or 32-bit.
Windows edition is just the current edition of windows like Windows 11, windows 10, windows 8, etc… Version and build is an add-on to the edition just like different software and apps version.
The 32-bit and 64-bit processors of windows laptops define how much your laptop can handle information.
If your laptop has a 32-bit processor then it can handle less amount of information exchange whereas in 64-bit processor windows your laptop can handle more amount of information exchange.
These all things are very important because if you want to download any software or app for your windows then it becomes very important to know these specifications so that you do not download any file which not comparable with your laptop.
Step By Step Process To Check Window Version: Easy Guide!
There are different types of windows editions available and everyone can’t have the latest windows edition. So, below I have shared with you the step-by-step guide to check your windows version on all of the windows editions:-
Windows 11
Windows 11 is the latest version of windows edition as of 2022. If you have purchased a new windows laptop then there might be windows 11 installed in it. However, you can even manually update your old windows to new windows that we will discuss later.
The process of knowing operating system info is similar in the latest windows edition like windows 11 and windows 10 but the arrangement of options differs.
So, it becomes very important to know the complete step-by-step process of finding windows versions on different windows editions.
In Windows 11, all the device specifications are found in the about section of the computer. To access the “About” section, simply click on the “windows icon” at the bottom or center of the taskbar.
Here search for “Settings” in the search bar and open it by clicking on the “Open” button in the left panel. Then click on the “System” option among different buttons on the screen. In the left-panel scroll to the bottom and tap on the “About” menu.
In the about section, you will find different “Device Specifications” like name, processor, ID, etc… to know your window version scroll a bit down and you will find it under Windows specifications.
Windows 10
Before the launch of windows 11 in the market, windows 10 was the most popular edition of windows. Windows 10 interface is a bit modern and it can be easily installed even on a low-end laptop or computer.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are almost the same the only difference is the interface and options provided to the users. So, the process of knowing the version in windows 10 is similar to windows 11 which is going to the “About” section of your device.
So, to access the “About” section, tap on the Windows logo or the Start key at the bottom left corner of your taskbar. Then search and open the “Settings” app > System > in the left panel scroll down and click on the “About” menu.
Here, under “Device Specifications” you will find different options related to hardware and a few ID. The “System Type” tells you whether your operating system is 64-bit or 32-bit. Under “Windows Specifications” you will find options regarding the software.
It will tell you the exact edition of your devices like Windows 10 pro, windows 10 ultimate, and different editions of windows 10. Under edition, your will find your windows version, OS, experience, and installation date.
Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 is an old edition of windows but is still used by people who are using low-end devices. However, the support of Windows 8.1 is going to end on January 10, 2023, by Microsoft.
The process here is a bit different from others and the below guide works for both Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 If you are using a screen touch device then simply swipe from the right of your screen and click on the “Settings” option > “Change PC Settings”.
Else if your device is controlled by a mouse, then go to the bottom-right corner and move your mouse pointer with the help of the mouse up. Then click on the “Settings” option and later tap on “Change PC Settings”.
Select the option “PC and devices” and at the bottom click on the “PC info” menu which acts as an “About” section for your PC. Here you will find your device specifications under PC and Windows headings respectively.
Windows 7
Windows 7 edition is older than Windows 8.1 edition and very less people use this edition of windows right now. However, Microsoft has stopped providing its support for Windows 7 from January 14, 2020, and requesting to move to the latest windows edition
Here to find device specifications simply click on the “Start” button in the taskbar at the bottom left corner of the screen. Type “Computer” in the search box and then you will find the menu on the start menu.
Simply right-click the “Computer” option and select the properties option at the bottom. Here you will find all your device info. And under “Windows edition” you will find the version and edition of your current computer.
This process can be followed in Windows Vista as well the only difference is the start button that is at the bottom is slightly bigger than the taskbar and doesn’t fix it in the taskbar when compared to Windows 7 the start menu is inside the taskbar.
How You Can Check Other Important Information On Your PC
However, all the device specifications are easily known in the about section of your windows. But still, if you want to know more about your pc then you can use some of the settings to get detailed information about your PC.
To know the hardware and software details you can use the System information app. This app gives complete information about different drivers, installed RAM, and many more. There are two different ways to access this app.
The first one is using the run command by clicking on “Windows key+R” on your keyboard. After you use the shortcut you will find a small window named “Run” just type “msinfo32” in the open field and click on the “Ok” button.
The other one is searching for “System Information” in the start menu by clicking on the Start button on your taskbar. Here you find detailed information about your System the only thing is just going through different options in the left panel.
Can I Update Manually Update My Old Windows Version To The Latest One
The latest version of windows provides the best features to use on your desktop or laptop. It is not always possible that windows will automatically update your system to the latest version so you must also know to manually update it.
Before you download an update on your windows, you must first check your PC’s health using the application “PC Health Check” by Microsoft.
To check if your device has got any version update which is not automatically done, simply go to the “Settings” app by searching the start menu.
Here click on “Windows Update” and then select “Check for Updates”. To manually download a windows version simply download a windows update file from Microsoft. As for windows 11, you get three different options to upgrade your old windows to the latest one.
Wrap Up On How To Check Window Version
This post was quite informative and a bit practical. You can even know your windows version by using the run windows by clicking on the Windows+R key and type “winver” in the search box and hit enter.
And if you want to update your windows to the and version or just manually update it, make sure to take a backup of all the files so that you won’t lose any data.
I hope you found this post very helpful and informative. If you have any doubts or issues related to how to check window version then kindly do not forget to leave a comment in the comment box below and we will try to reply to you back shortly.
FAQ: Simple Process To Check Current Window Version Of Your PC
While researching this topic on the internet to give you different and easy ways to check the window version I found that people have many issues and doubts regarding it. So, below I have tried to answer a few of the doubts by the people:-
Q1. Is it possible to check the current version of windows by using the CMD?
Ans: Yes, you can even check your current window version by the use of a command prompt. To do so, just type “slmgr /dlv” in the command prompt and hit enter on your keyboard.
Q2. Do the windows run command work on all the computers?
Ans: The “Windows+R” command runs almost on all the latest devices like Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11. You can find your current version by typing “winver” in the search box.
Q3. Is there any difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Ans: The difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10 is only the design. The functions are almost the same and Windows 11 is known to perform a bit similarly to Mac.