Software Windows

Which version of Windows do I have?

Which version of Windows
Revealing Windows: determine which version you have

Not sure which version of Windows your computer is running? Feel a bit of a fool for asking a friend, colleague or the kids? Relax, it’s pretty easy to determine which version of Windows you have and we’ll show you how.

Check from your browser

Perhaps the easiest way to check which version of running is to click on this link to Whatismybrowser.com. Your web browser reveals all sorts of information about your computer to the websites you visit, including which operating system you’re running, and this site displays that information.

At the top of the screen, you will see something like the screenshot below:

Whatismybrowser

The geeky information here reveals the Windows version in the first set of brackets. Ignore the NT bit. This will show whether you’re running Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 or even something earlier. However, if you need to drill down into whether you’re running the Pro or Home versions of the OS, you need to ask Windows itself…

Check your Windows version from within Windows

Firstly, we want to give credit to Ryan Thomas on Twitter, who suggested a far easier way to find this info than we had listed here previously.

To get precise details of your Windows version from within Windows, do the following:

  1. Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously. This should bring up a small window in the bottom corner of the screen.
  2. Type ‘winver’ into the box that appears, and press OK.
  3. Another window should appear on screen that shows you which Windows you’re running, as well as the precise version and build number, such as the one pictured below.

Windows 10 gets a big update every six months or so.

At the time of writing in February 2019, the current version was 1809. The first two digits indicate the year of release, the second two the month. So this was the September 2018 release.

Windows 10 version 1903 should be the next release, out in Spring 2019.

Now read this: What does the Windows key do?

About the author

Barry Collins

Barry has scribbled about tech for almost 20 years for The Sunday Times, PC Pro, WebUser, Which? and many others. He was once Deputy Editor of Mail Online and remains in therapy to this day. Email Barry at barry@bigtechquestion.com.

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