Windows · System Info
View Device & Windows Specifications
About shows your PC's core specifications at a glance — processor, installed RAM, device ID, and system type — alongside your exact Windows edition, version, and build number. It's the single quickest place to find the information support technicians, driver downloads, and compatibility checks almost always ask for first.
How to open About / System Information
- Open Settings → System → About.
- Review Device specifications for processor, RAM, and system type.
- Review Windows specifications for edition, version, and build number.
- Click 'Copy' if you need to share these details with someone else.
What you should know
- View processor model, installed RAM, and whether you're running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows under 'Device specifications'.
- Check 'Windows specifications' for your exact edition (Home, Pro, etc.), version number, and OS build.
- Click 'Copy' to copy your full device specifications to the clipboard for pasting into a support request.
- Access 'Rename this PC', 'Product key and activation', and 'Related links' like System protection directly from this page.
The Windows version and build number shown here directly determines which features and security fixes your PC has, so a build far behind current releases can be worth investigating even if everything otherwise seems to work fine.
Why it matters
Nearly every troubleshooting guide, driver download page, and support conversation starts by asking for your exact Windows edition, version, and hardware specs, and this page answers all of it in one screen without hunting through multiple menus. Checking your OS build here is also a quick way to confirm whether a specific feature update has actually installed, since Windows Update's own status can occasionally lag behind reality. For anyone buying software or hardware, comparing minimum requirements against your actual RAM, processor, and system type here avoids a wasted purchase.
Best practices
- Use the 'Copy' button to grab your full specifications instantly whenever a support request or forum post asks for them, instead of retyping details manually.
- Check your OS build number here after a feature update to confirm it actually installed, rather than assuming from Windows Update's status page alone.
- Note your system type (64-bit vs 32-bit) before downloading any driver or software, since installers built for the wrong architecture simply won't run.
- Bookmark this page mentally as your starting point whenever an app or game's system requirements need checking against your actual hardware.
Common problems and fixes
- You need your Windows edition or build number for a support ticket but can't remember it.
- Open About and read 'Windows specifications' directly, or use the 'Copy' button under Device specifications to grab everything at once.
- A driver or app installer fails, complaining about the wrong system architecture.
- Check 'System type' under Device specifications to confirm 64-bit vs 32-bit, and download the matching installer version instead.
- Windows Update says a feature update installed, but the build number here doesn't match what you expected.
- Restart the PC, since some feature updates fully register their new build number only after a subsequent restart completes any pending finalization steps.
Tips and tricks
- Press Win+Pause/Break on keyboards that still have that key as a fast legacy shortcut into a similar system information view.
- Run 'winver' from the Run dialog (Win+R) for an even quicker popup showing just your Windows version and build number.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the OS build number and the version number?
The version number (like 23H2) identifies the broader feature update release, while the build number is a more granular identifier that also reflects cumulative updates applied on top of that version.
Can I rename my PC from this page?
Yes, 'Rename this PC' is linked directly from About, though the new name only fully takes effect after a restart.
Does this page show my product key?
No, it links to a separate Activation page for license and product key details rather than displaying the key itself here.
Related settings
- ActivationActivation shows whether your copy of Windows is genuinely licensed and linked to your hardware or Microsoft account, which edition you're running, and lets you enter a new product key or upgrade to a different edition, like from Home to Pro. A properly activated Windows unlocks full personalization options and removes the persistent activation watermark.
- Advanced System SettingsAdvanced System Settings (opened via sysdm.cpl or 'Advanced system settings' in search) is a legacy System Properties dialog covering performance options like visual effects and virtual memory, system startup and recovery behavior, user profile management, and manual environment variable editing. These controls predate the modern Settings app and remain the only place for several deeper configuration options.
- Windows UpdateWindows Update allows you to download and install the latest security patches, feature updates, and performance improvements. Keeping your system updated helps protect against vulnerabilities and ensures optimal performance.
More System Info guides for Windows
- Date & TimeDate & Time settings control your system clock, time zone, and whether Windows sets these automatically using your location and an internet time server. Correct time settings matter well beyond the clock display — they affect file timestamps, certificate validation, scheduled tasks, and login to network resources.
- Rename This PCLets you change the device name Windows uses to identify this PC on networks, in file sharing, and when pairing devices like Bluetooth accessories.
- System Protection & Restore PointsConfigures System Restore, which periodically saves snapshots of system files and settings so you can roll the PC back to an earlier working state after a problematic driver or software installation.
- Environment VariablesLets advanced users view and edit environment variables such as PATH, TEMP, and custom variables that control how applications, scripts, and the command line locate files and behave.
- Domain or Workgroup SettingsLets you configure whether this PC belongs to a home network workgroup or a business network domain, which affects sign-in options, network resource access, and group policy management.
- User Account Control SettingsControls how often Windows prompts for confirmation before allowing apps or processes to make changes that require administrator privileges, balancing security against interruption frequency.