Where Do I Find My Laptop’s Serial Number? | Quick Steps

Guide / By

Yes—your laptop’s serial number appears on the case, in system menus, and on purchase records.

You need that ID for warranty checks, parts, or theft reports. The good news: you can read it without opening the device. This guide shows fast checks that work on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux, plus brand-specific spots and what to try when the label is gone.

Fast Checks That Work On Any Laptop

Try these quick spots before diving into menus:

  • Bottom shell or rear edge: Look for a sticker or laser text marked “S/N,” “Serial,” or a barcode with letters and numbers.
  • Battery bay: On models with a removable battery, lift it out to see a label inside.
  • Original box or invoice: Retail boxes and receipts usually show the same ID.
  • Vendor account page: If you registered the device, the serial often appears in your online account for that brand.

Windows Methods (Works On Windows 10 And 11)

Command Prompt (One Line)

Open Command Prompt and run this line:

wmic bios get serialnumber

If nothing shows or you see a blank entry, use PowerShell instead.

PowerShell (Preferred)

Press Win + X → Windows PowerShell (Admin), then run:

Get-CimInstance win32_bios | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

This queries the system’s SMBIOS data and prints the ID.

System Information

Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and check the System Summary. Many vendors list the ID here. If not, use the commands above.

UEFI/BIOS Screen

Restart and tap the vendor’s setup hotkey (often F2, F10, F12, or Del). The ID often appears on the main page or under “Information.”

macOS Methods (MacBook And iMac)

About This Mac

Click the Apple menu → About This Mac. The ID appears on the first panel or under More Info. If the Mac can’t boot to the desktop, you can use macOS Recovery and Terminal to read it.

Apple documents multiple ways to read this value in Find the serial number of your Mac.

Hardware Label

Newer notebooks have laser text on the underside. On some older models, the ID sits inside the battery bay.

Chromebook Methods

From The Sign-In Screen

On many school or fleet devices, press Alt + V at the sign-in screen to surface the ID at the top right. If that shortcut is disabled, sign in and check Settings → About ChromeOS → Additional details.

Sticker And Box

The ID also appears on the bottom shell and on retail packaging, usually next to “S/N.”

Linux Methods

dmidecode (Root)

Most systems expose the ID through SMBIOS. Run one of these:

sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number
sudo dmidecode -t system | grep -i serial

The manual explains what the tool reads from the DMI table.

Ways To Find A Laptop Serial Number (By Brand)

Surface Laptops And Tablets

You can read the ID in the Surface app, in Settings, on the device shell, or in the UEFI menu. Microsoft lists each path here: Find the serial number for Surface.

Dell (Service Tag)

On Dell laptops the ID is called a Service Tag. It’s etched on the bottom shell and readable in BIOS or with the Windows commands above. Dell’s site accepts this tag for warranty lookup and drivers.

HP

Look on the underside or in the battery bay. If the label is worn, use the Windows commands or the BIOS screen. HP’s pages explain where the serial appears across products.

Lenovo

ThinkPad and IdeaPad models show “S/N” on the base. You can also read it in BIOS or with the Windows commands. Lenovo’s help pages outline options and tools such as Lenovo Vantage.

Can’t Boot? Try These Paths

  • Check the underside and edges: Many labels survive spills and resets.
  • Look under removable panels: RAM or storage doors sometimes hide the label.
  • Open firmware menus: Even with a blank OS, UEFI/BIOS often lists the ID.
  • Original box and invoice: Retail packaging and receipts usually include it.

When The Label Is Missing Or The Field Is Blank

Some boards ship with an empty SMBIOS field, which makes commands return nothing or a generic string. In that case, rely on the hardware label, the box, or vendor records. If a past repair replaced the main board, the ID may differ from your original paperwork.

Where You’ll Use This ID

This string helps with driver pages, warranty checks, theft reports, insurance forms, and parts matching. Many vendor portals ask for it to load the right manuals and BIOS updates.

Table: Quick Brand Reference

The table below compresses the most common spots and when each route helps.

Brand Where It Appears Best When
Apple (Mac) About This Mac; underside laser text; Recovery → Terminal macOS boots or you can reach Recovery
Microsoft Surface Surface app; Settings; device shell; UEFI You need it for repair or device registration
Dell Service Tag on base; BIOS; Windows command Web lookup for drivers and warranty
HP Underside label; battery bay; BIOS; Windows command Sticker worn but BIOS still loads
Lenovo “S/N” on base; BIOS; Windows command; Lenovo Vantage Corporate fleets that use Vantage
Chromebook Alt + V at sign-in; Settings → About ChromeOS → Additional details; bottom label School-issued units or managed devices
Any Brand Original box; invoice; retail receipt Device won’t power on

Copy-Ready Commands For Each Platform

Windows

:: Command Prompt
wmic bios get serialnumber

:: PowerShell (Admin)
Get-CimInstance win32_bios | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

:: System info (model hint)
systeminfo | findstr /i "Serial"

macOS

# About This Mac shows it on screen
# Recovery method (reads the same value)
ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

ChromeOS

# From the sign-in screen on many devices
(press) Alt + V

# Inside ChromeOS
Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details

Linux

# Requires sudo
sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number

Tips To Read It Accurately

  • Watch for look-alikes: Some labels show a product number next to S/N. You need the S/N string, not the model or SKU.
  • Check zeros vs. the letter O: Brands often use 0 and 1, not O or I.
  • Snap a photo: Save a clear photo of the label and keep a plain-text copy in a password manager.
  • Mind privacy: Share this ID only with a repair channel you trust.

Step-By-Step Paths On Windows (With Screens)

Settings Route

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Open System → About.
  3. Scroll to Device specifications. Many brands show the ID here; if yours does not, use PowerShell.

Firmware Route

  1. Hold Shift while clicking Restart.
  2. Select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings.
  3. In the firmware menu, open the Information page. Look for “Serial Number,” “Service Tag,” or a similar field.

Detailed Paths On macOS

When The Desktop Loads

  1. Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.
  2. The ID appears near the top. Click to copy it.
  3. On older macOS, click System Report to see it inside the Hardware section.

When The Mac Won’t Start

  1. Press and hold the power button to enter macOS Recovery (on Apple silicon), or press Command + R during startup (on Intel).
  2. Pick your language, then choose Utilities → Terminal.
  3. Run: ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber. The value on the right is your device ID.

Detailed Paths On ChromeOS

From Settings

  1. Select the time at the bottom right and open the gear icon.
  2. Open About ChromeOS → Additional details.
  3. Scroll to the serial entry and copy it.

When Shortcuts Are Disabled

Admins sometimes turn off the sign-in overlay. After signing in, open a new tab and visit chrome://system. Expand vpd_2.0 to find the ID. If your build shows a different label, search the page for “serial.”

Detailed Paths On Linux

Sysfs Shortcut

On many distros you can read the value directly:

cat /sys/class/dmi/id/product_serial

If the file isn’t present, use the dmidecode commands listed earlier.

Brand-Specific Notes (Acer, ASUS, And Others)

  • Acer: Look for both the serial and an SNID code on the base. Acer tools accept either string.
  • ASUS: Newer models show laser text on the underside; the code follows labels such as “S/N” or “SN.”
  • Samsung: The code appears on a rear label and inside firmware menus.
  • MSI: The code is printed near the vents on many gaming models and appears in firmware.
  • Toshiba/Dynabook: Older units place it inside the battery bay; new units print it on the base.

Why This ID Matters

Model names can repeat across years and trims. The serial ties to your device only, which makes it a clean way to pull the exact driver page, check coverage dates, match parts, or prove ownership. If you file a police report or an insurance claim, include this string and any photos of the label.

Mistakes That Waste Time

  • Copying the wrong code: Many labels show a model, SKU, or product number near the serial. Grab the line that includes “S/N,” “Serial,” or a barcode with mixed letters and numbers.
  • Mixing up O and 0: Brands use the digits 0 and 1, not the letters O or I.
  • Only trying one path: If Windows commands fail, the firmware screen or the case label usually works.
  • Throwing out the box: That box often carries the cleanest print of the code. Snap a photo and keep it.

Record And Store It Safely

Once you’ve found the string, save it where you can reach it fast. A secure notes app or password manager works well. If you manage several laptops at home or at a small office, keep a tiny spreadsheet with columns for brand, model, serial, and purchase date. That makes repairs and resale smoother.

What If You Bought It Used?

Check the code against any older receipts or emails. If the seller scrubbed stickers, use the commands and firmware menus. If a match still looks off, the main board may have been swapped during a past repair. Ask the brand to align records using your bill of sale.

Quick Troubleshooting If Commands Return Nothing

  • Run PowerShell as admin: Some devices hide the value from non-admin sessions.
  • Try firmware next: Reboot into UEFI/BIOS and read the Information page.
  • Scan for vendor tools: Many makers ship a desktop utility that prints the string on its home screen.
  • Check Linux files: On a live USB, /sys/class/dmi/id/product_serial often works even when Windows is corrupted.

When To Contact The Maker

If every path returns a blank field and the case label is gone, reach out to the brand with your invoice and model. They can locate records by name, email, or payment details and tie them to your device.