The fastest way to identify your Windows release is the winver command. Settings provides additional edition, version, and system-type details.
- Press Windows+R.
- Enter
winverand press Enter. - Read the Windows edition/version and OS build in the About Windows dialog.
- For more detail, open Settings > System > About and review Windows specifications and System type.
Edition versus version
Windows 11 Pro is an edition; a release such as 24H2 is a version; the OS build is a more specific build number. These details answer different support questions.
32-bit versus 64-bit
System type shows the operating-system architecture and processor capability. This matters when choosing drivers and some applications.
Support status
Version information is important because Windows releases have different support dates. An old build can be unsupported even when the PC still says Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Why build numbers matter
When troubleshooting, include the edition, version, and OS build rather than saying only “Windows.” A feature can exist on one Windows 11 release but not another, and support instructions may depend on cumulative updates installed after the feature release.
Check from Command Prompt
systeminfo can report the OS name, version, system manufacturer, model, and architecture. It produces more output than winver, so use it when collecting diagnostic information rather than when you only need a quick version check.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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