Where Can I Find The Serial Number Of My Laptop? | Quick Win Guide

Guide / By

Your laptop’s serial number appears in system menus, command tools, and on labels under the chassis and packaging.

Need the identifier that support teams ask for during repairs or warranty checks? The serial number (often labeled S/N or Serial) ties your device to its warranty, parts, and service history. This guide shows fast, reliable places to see it on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux, plus what to try when stickers fade or commands return blank results.

Find A Laptop Serial Number Fast (All Systems)

Start with the quickest spots. If one path fails, move to the next.

  • Under the laptop: Look near the vents or hinge area. Many makers print or engrave the string.
  • On the box or invoice: Check the barcode label on retail packaging and emailed receipts.
  • In system menus: Windows “About” page (some models), macOS “About This Mac,” ChromeOS details page.
  • At sign-in screens: Some Chromebooks show it with a key combo.
  • Via commands: One-line tools in PowerShell, Terminal, or shell can reveal it from firmware tables.

Windows: Fast Methods That Work

Method 1: One-Line PowerShell

Open PowerShell (Start → type “PowerShell” → Enter), then run:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

This queries the BIOS for the device’s serial field. If the value appears as a normal string (letters/numbers), copy it.

Want to learn what this command does behind the scenes? See Microsoft’s page on the Get-CimInstance cmdlet for context on reading WMI/CIM data from firmware.

Method 2: Command Prompt (Legacy)

Open Command Prompt and run:

wmic bios get serialnumber

This legacy query still works on many PCs. If it returns a blank line or a message, use the PowerShell line above instead.

Method 3: Settings Or System Info (Model-Dependent)

Some vendors expose the serial string in Settings → System → About or inside their bundled utilities (HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, Dell SupportAssist). If it’s missing there, use the command route.

Method 4: BIOS/UEFI Screen

Reboot to firmware (often by tapping F2, F10, Del, or a maker-specific key at startup). Many firmware pages show the serial alongside the product name or board ID. Copy it exactly as shown, including dashes if present.

Method 5: Physical Labels

Flip the device. Check around ventilation cutouts, near the hinge, or inside the battery bay on older units. The label may read “S/N,” “Serial,” “Service Tag” (Dell), or “SNID” (Acer). If the text is worn, try a bright light at a shallow angle to pick up etched characters.

macOS: Quick Paths On A MacBook Or iMac

Method 1: About This Mac

  1. Click the Apple menu → About This Mac.
  2. On recent macOS versions, pick More Info, then System Report if needed.
  3. Copy the serial string from the overview panel.

Method 2: System Information App

Press Option, click the Apple menu, then choose System Information. The serial appears in the top Hardware overview. Apple’s official guide shows all supported paths and screenshots under Find your Mac model name and serial number.

Method 3: Printed On Hardware Or Box

Many Mac laptops include the string on the underside near regulatory text and on the product box near the barcode. If the Mac won’t boot, those markings and the box label save the day.

Method 4: Recovery Terminal (When macOS Won’t Load)

From macOS Recovery, you can open Terminal and run a one-liner that reads the serial directly from the platform registry:

ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

Match the output after IOPlatformSerialNumber to copy the exact string.

Chromebook: System Details And Login Screen Trick

Method 1: Settings → About ChromeOS

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Pick About ChromeOS → Additional details.
  3. Copy the serial entry from the details list.

Method 2: At The Login Screen

On many models, press Alt+V at the sign-in page. A panel in the corner shows the OS build and a serial string. If you don’t see it, use the Settings path or the label under the device.

Method 3: Labels And Packaging

Flip the unit and check the bottom cover, or read the barcode label on the retail box. Look for “S/N,” “SN,” “SSN,” or “Serial Number.”

Linux: Read It From SMBIOS

Most Linux distributions can read the same firmware field Windows uses. Try the following with superuser rights:

sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number

If dmidecode isn’t installed, add the package, then rerun the command. When the value is “Unknown” or blank, check the label under the device or the retail box.

Brand Terms You Might See

  • Dell “Service Tag”: Dell uses this as a unique device ID. It serves the same purpose when contacting support.
  • Acer “SNID”: A short numeric label used on support pages.
  • Lenovo “Machine Type/Model” + Serial: Often shown together in tools such as Lenovo Vantage.
  • Microsoft Surface: The string appears on the kickstand or in Settings; Microsoft’s Surface article lists each location by model.

When Commands Return Blank Or “To Be Filled By O.E.M.”

Sometimes the firmware field isn’t populated. That leaves command-line tools with nothing to show. Use these workarounds:

  • Check labels: Bottom cover, battery bay (old designs), or the shipping box.
  • Open the vendor app: HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, Dell SupportAssist often display the value even when WMI/CIM fields are empty.
  • Enter BIOS/UEFI: Many vendors print it on an Information page in firmware.
  • Look up purchase emails: Some stores include the identifier in the order details.

Share It Safely

Serial numbers identify a single device. Share them only with the maker, a repair center, or insurance. Avoid posting the string in public screenshots. When sending logs to a forum, redact the line that contains the serial value.

Troubleshooting: Nothing Matches Your Sticker

If the sticker shows characters that don’t match system output:

  • Check similar glyphs: On some labels “0” and “O,” or “1” and “I,” can be confused. Apple notes the serial uses numeric 0 and 1 rather than the letters. If you own a Mac and the print looks ambiguous, confirm the exact characters inside macOS and copy from there instead of the label.
  • Scan the barcode: Barcode apps can grab the exact string when print is tiny.
  • Try another path: If Command Prompt returns nothing, use PowerShell or firmware. If macOS won’t boot, read the underside label or the retail box.

Warranty Tasks You Can Do Once You Have It

With the serial in hand you can:

  • Check warranty coverage and repair options on the maker’s site.
  • Download model-matched drivers and firmware without guesswork.
  • Register the product so future service goes faster.
  • Create an inventory note for insurance.

Copy-Paste Commands For Each Platform

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

Windows (Command Prompt)

wmic bios get serialnumber

macOS (Terminal)

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | awk -F': ' '/Serial Number/ {print $2}'

macOS (Recovery Terminal)

ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

Linux (Shell)

sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number

Common Places On The Hardware

If the OS routes don’t pan out, flip the device and check these spots. The list below saves time when labels aren’t obvious.

Platform Fast Path In Software Typical Label Spots
Windows Laptops PowerShell one-liner Bottom cover near vents; inside battery bay on older units; retail box barcode
Mac Laptops About This Mac → System Report Underside near regulatory line; product box barcode
Chromebooks Settings → About ChromeOS → Additional details Bottom cover; sign-in screen with Alt+V on many models; retail box

FAQ-Style Notes Without The Fluff

Does The Model Name Equal The Serial?

No. A model name identifies a family. The serial is unique to your unit.

What About Asset Tags?

Asset tags are company labels for inventory. Keep them separate from the maker’s serial when filling service forms.

Can A Motherboard Swap Change It?

Yes. On some repairs the firmware value changes with the board. If service replaced the board, your OS command may return a different string than older paperwork.

Keep The String Handy

Store the serial in a safe note with your invoice. Add a photo of the underside label and a copy of any retail barcode. The next time you book service, you’ll have everything ready in seconds.

Citation links used in this guide: Microsoft’s reference for Get-CimInstance and Apple’s guide to find your Mac serial number.