How To Find Your Windows PC Serial Number Using Command Prompt

Serial Number, Product Key, and Device ID

Several different identifiers may appear in Windows and on the physical computer. They are not interchangeable.

Common computer and Windows identifiers

Identifier	What It Identifies	Common Use
Computer serial number	A physical computer or system manufactured by a particular company.	Warranty checks, technical support, repairs, and asset management.
Windows product key	A Windows software license or activation entitlement.	Installing or activating a compatible Windows edition.
Windows device ID	A particular Windows installation or device record.	Windows management and device identification.
Model number	A product family shared by multiple computers.	Finding drivers, specifications, manuals, and compatible parts.
Motherboard serial number	The installed motherboard rather than necessarily the complete computer.	Component warranty and hardware inventory.

Do not publish a Windows product key or a complete sensitive device identifier in screenshots, forums, or public support messages.

Find the Serial Number with PowerShell

PowerShell is the recommended command-line method on current Windows installations because the older WMIC utility has been deprecated and may not be installed.

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Select Windows PowerShell or Terminal.
3. Administrator access is not normally required just to read the BIOS serial number.

You can also open PowerShell through Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Select File > Run new task.
3. Enter powershell.
4. Select OK.

Run the Serial Number Command

Enter the following command and press Enter:

(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS).SerialNumber

You can also use the expanded version:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS -Property SerialNumber | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

PowerShell reads the value supplied by the computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware. If the manufacturer stored a valid number, PowerShell will display it directly.

Find the Serial Number with Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt

1. Open the Windows search box.
2. Enter Command Prompt.
3. Select the matching result.

Alternatively, press Windows + R, enter cmd, and select OK.

Run PowerShell from Command Prompt

On a modern Windows installation, you can run the current PowerShell method directly from Command Prompt:

powershell -NoProfile -Command "(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS).SerialNumber"

This command opens PowerShell in the background, reads the BIOS serial number, and returns the result inside the Command Prompt window.

Use the Legacy WMIC Command

On older Windows installations where WMIC remains available, run:

wmic bios get serialnumber

You can also try:

wmic csproduct get identifyingnumber

WMIC is a deprecated utility and may not be installed on recent Windows versions. If you receive the following message, use the PowerShell method instead:

'wmic' is not recognized as an internal or external command

There is normally no reason to reinstall WMIC only to retrieve a serial number. PowerShell provides a supported alternative.

Find the Serial Number on Windows 7

Windows 7 is no longer supported, but the WMIC command may still be available on an existing legacy installation.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter cmd in the search box.
3. Open Command Prompt.
4. Run:

wmic bios get serialnumber

If the command returns no useful value, try:

wmic csproduct get identifyingnumber

Because Windows 7 no longer receives regular security support, avoid connecting a legacy installation to the internet unless it is protected and required for a specific controlled purpose.

Alternative Ways to Find the Serial Number

If the command-line methods do not return a useful value, use one of the following options.

Check Windows System Information

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter msinfo32.
3. Select OK.
4. Review the System Manufacturer, System Model, BaseBoard Product, and available system information.

The complete computer serial number may not appear in System Information on every device.

What to Do If the Result Is Blank

A blank result does not automatically indicate a Windows problem. Windows can only display the value supplied by the BIOS or UEFI firmware.

Common serial-number results and their meanings

Result	Likely Meaning	Next Step
A valid number	The manufacturer stored a serial number in firmware.	Verify it against the physical label or support application.
Blank result	The firmware did not supply a readable value.	Check the label, BIOS, packaging, or manufacturer portal.
To Be Filled By O.E.M.	The system builder did not program a unique value.	Identify the chassis or individual hardware components manually.
Default string or System Serial Number	A generic firmware placeholder is being returned.	Contact the manufacturer or system builder if a unique number is required.
Different number after repair	The motherboard may have been replaced or reprogrammed.	Check the repair documents or contact the authorized repair provider.

Custom-Built Computers

A custom-built computer may not have a single manufacturer serial number. Individual components such as the motherboard, graphics card, power supply, storage drives, and memory modules may each have separate serial numbers.

The value returned by Win32_BIOS may be blank or generic when the motherboard manufacturer or system builder did not program a system identifier.

Find Serial Numbers on Business Computers

Businesses may collect computer serial numbers for hardware inventory, warranty management, support, and device lifecycle tracking.

PowerShell can display the computer name and serial number together:

$bios = Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS
[PSCustomObject]@{
    ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
    SerialNumber = $bios.SerialNumber
}

Administrators can use supported device-management tools to collect inventory across authorized company-owned computers. Do not scan or query devices without permission.

Is It Safe to Share a Serial Number?

A computer serial number is less sensitive than a password or Windows product key, but it should still be treated as private device information.

• Share it with the manufacturer or a trusted support provider when required.
• Do not publish it in public screenshots or forum posts.
• Do not share a Windows product key when only the computer serial number is requested.
• Remove or cover serial-number labels before posting photographs of the device.
• Verify the identity of anyone requesting hardware information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The recommended way to find a Windows computer serial number is to run (Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS).SerialNumber in PowerShell or Windows Terminal.

You can run the same PowerShell query from Command Prompt. The older wmic bios get serialnumber command should only be used on legacy Windows installations where WMIC is still available.

If Windows returns a blank or generic value, check the computer’s physical label, BIOS or UEFI settings, manufacturer support application, packaging, or purchase documents.