To tell whether you have Windows 10 or Windows 11, open Settings > System > About and look at the Edition line. It says “Windows 11 Home,” “Windows 10 Pro,” or similar. For a faster check, press Windows key + R, type winver, and press Enter. The About Windows box names your version and build.
Check Your Windows Version in Settings
These steps work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, so you can follow them even if you aren’t sure which one you have. They match Microsoft’s guide to finding your Windows version.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings. You can also right-click the Start button and select Settings.
- Select System in the left column. On Windows 10, System is the first tile on the Settings home page.
- Scroll to the bottom of the System list and select About.
- Scroll to the Windows info section. On some versions this section is called Windows specifications.
- Read the Edition line. It names Windows 11 or Windows 10, plus the edition, such as Home or Pro.
Shortcut: right-click the Start button and select System to jump straight to the About page, as Microsoft’s guide notes.
The same section lists the Version (for example, 25H2) and the OS build. You may need those numbers when a support page or app asks which update you have installed.
Faster Method: Use winver
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
- Type
winver. - Press Enter or select OK.
The About Windows box opens. It shows the Windows logo for your version, plus the version and OS build. Select OK to close it.
Other Ways to Check
System Information
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
msinfo32and press Enter. - Read the OS Name line, such as “Microsoft Windows 11 Home.”
A Command
Open Terminal or Command Prompt, type systeminfo, and press Enter. The OS Name line at the top shows Windows 10 or Windows 11.
In PowerShell, Get-ComputerInfo -Property OsName returns the same name without the rest of the report.
Check the Build Number
The build number is a quick tiebreaker. Windows 11 builds start at 22000, while Windows 10 builds are lower (the final Windows 10 release is build 19045). You’ll see the build in the winver box and next to OS build in Settings > System > About.
Don’t Confuse the Windows Version With System Type
- Windows version: Windows 10 or Windows 11, shown on the Edition line.
- Edition: Home, Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
- Version and OS build: the feature update and build number, such as 25H2 and 26200.
- System type: 64-bit or 32-bit, listed higher on the About page under Device info (Device specifications on some versions). Windows 11 is 64-bit only. The same page shows the processor and installed RAM, covered in how to check your system configuration in Windows 11. See how to tell if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Why the Taskbar Isn’t a Reliable Clue
Windows 11 centers the Start button by default, and Windows 10 puts it on the left. You can move the Windows 11 Start button to the left, though, so a left-aligned taskbar doesn’t prove you have Windows 10. Use the About page or winver when you need a definite answer.
If You Have Windows 10
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The PC still works, but it no longer gets free security updates, feature updates, or technical help from Microsoft. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page for details. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 PCs that can’t move to Windows 11 yet. If your PC is eligible, upgrading is free. See how to update to Windows 11 from Windows 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Windows 11 have a 32-bit version?
No. Windows 11 only comes in a 64-bit version. If System type on the About page says 32-bit, the PC is running Windows 10 or older.
Can my Windows 10 PC run Windows 11?
Check with Microsoft’s PC Health Check app, which lists anything that doesn’t meet the requirements. See how to update to Windows 11 from Windows 10 for the steps.
How do I tell if I have Windows 11 Home or Pro?
Look at the Edition line in Settings > System > About, or check the winver box, which also names the edition. Some features, such as BitLocker and Remote Desktop hosting, need Pro. See how BitLocker differs from Device encryption on Home.
Once you know your version, you can match settings to it. For example, turning off taskbar badges uses a different switch name in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.