Where Do I Find The Specifications Of My Laptop? | Quick Steps Guide

Guide / By

You can view laptop specs from built-in menus and tools on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux—no extra apps needed.

Need to check RAM, storage type, or graphics before installing a game, upgrading parts, or listing a device for sale? Every desktop OS includes simple places that show the basics in seconds and deeper panels that list everything from motherboard model to battery cycle count. This guide gives you the fast path first, then the complete toolkit for each platform.

Find Laptop Specs Fast (Windows, Mac, ChromeOS)

Start with the quick routes that surface model name, processor, memory, and OS build. Each takes under a minute.

Windows: Settings > System > About

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to System > About.
  3. Under Device specifications and Windows specifications, you’ll see CPU, RAM, device name, edition, and build.

Good for a quick read on processor, installed memory, device ID, and OS version. Use the copy button on that page to share specs with support.

macOS: Apple Menu > About This Mac

  1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. See model, chip, memory, and macOS version. Click System Report… for a full inventory.

It’s the fastest way to confirm model year, Apple silicon vs. Intel, and memory. The System Report button opens the deep view covered later.

ChromeOS: Diagnostics App

  1. Press Search and type Diagnostics, then open it.
  2. View CPU type, memory, battery health, and run quick tests.

You can also visit chrome://system in the browser for a long, exportable list, or open the Settings app and check About ChromeOS for version and update status.

Linux: One-Line Terminal Checks

  • CPU summary: lscpu
  • RAM usage/capacity: free -h
  • Kernel and build: uname -a
  • Drives/partitions: lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MOUNTPOINT

Use these when you just need core facts. The next section lists deeper tools on each platform.

Complete Toolset Per Platform

When you need motherboard model, firmware, graphics driver versions, or a shareable report, use these built-ins. They’re safe, bundled with the OS, and export clean text files for tickets or audits.

Windows: System Information, DxDiag, Commands

System Information (full inventory)

  1. Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, press Enter.
  2. Read the System Summary and expand Components for storage, display, network, and more.
  3. To save, go to File > Export… and keep the text file with your ticket or records.

This view lists BIOS/UEFI mode, baseboard model, Secure Boot, and detailed device lists. If you’re sharing a log with support, export the text file so search is easy.

DirectX Diagnostic Tool (graphics, audio, input)

  1. Press Windows + R, type dxdiag, press Enter.
  2. Check the System tab for OS build and memory; Display for GPU name, driver versions, and VRAM.
  3. Click Save All Information… to export a text file.

This is the quickest route to confirm GPU model and driver dates when games crash or video output flickers.

Command Prompt & PowerShell snippets (copy-ready)

Open Windows Terminal as admin and paste any block:

systeminfo | findstr /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version" /C:"System Type"
wmic cpu get Name,NumberOfCores,NumberOfLogicalProcessors
wmic path win32_physicalmemory get Capacity,Manufacturer,Speed
wmic diskdrive get Model,Size,MediaType
powershell -command "Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object CsName,OsName,OsVersion,WindowsProductName,WindowsVersion,OsBuildNumber"

These commands are handy when a support form needs plain-text specs. They avoid screenshots and keep data tidy.

macOS: System Report & Terminal

System Report (deep dive)

  1. Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report…
  2. Read Hardware > Hardware Overview for model identifier, chip, cores, memory, and serial.
  3. Check Graphics/Displays for GPU and VRAM; Storage for drive details and TRIM status; Power for battery cycle count.

Use the search field at the top right to jump to fields like “cycle count” or “NVMe.”

Terminal one-liners

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType
system_profiler SPNVMeDataType
sw_vers

These produce readable sections you can save with > report.txt for tickets or asset logs.

ChromeOS: System & Crosh

Built-in views

  • Diagnostics app: CPU model, memory, battery health, quick tests.
  • chrome://system: long list of logs you can expand and export.
  • Settings > About ChromeOS: version, channel, and update status.

Crosh (Chrome Shell)

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open Crosh.
  2. Run: 
    top
    memory_test
    battery_test 1

These help verify CPU load, available memory, and battery health without extra tools.

Linux: Detailed Hardware Inventory

Readable summaries

lshw -short
sudo lshw -class display -class network -class disk
sudo dmidecode -t system -t baseboard
inxi -Fxz

lshw and dmidecode pull data from the system firmware and present it in a clear list. inxi offers a clean, human-friendly summary in many distros.

What Each Spec Means (And Where To Read It)

Processor (CPU)

On Windows, see System Information or About. On macOS, it’s listed in About This Mac and the Hardware Overview. Look for core count and the exact model name. For gaming and heavy creative apps, clock speed, core/thread count, and cache size matter. On Apple silicon, chip name (M1, M2, M3…) aligns with integrated GPU and media engines.

Memory (RAM)

Windows shows installed RAM on the About page and real-time usage in Task Manager > Performance > Memory. On macOS, System Report lists memory and slot layout for Intel models; Apple silicon reports unified memory. On ChromeOS, check the Diagnostics app. On Linux, use free -h and lshw for speed and form factor.

Storage (Drive Type & Size)

Windows: Task Manager > Performance > Disk shows drive name and interface; Device Manager lists model numbers. macOS: System Report > Storage shows NVMe/SSD details. Linux: lsblk and lshw display devices, sizes, and mount points. NVMe SSDs offer faster reads and writes than SATA SSDs or HDDs.

Graphics (GPU)

Windows: open DxDiag and read the Display tab for GPU model and driver date. macOS: System Report > Graphics/Displays. Linux: lspci | grep -E "VGA|3D" then glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer" (on systems with Mesa utilities installed). Chromebooks list graphics under Diagnostics and in chrome://system.

Motherboard, BIOS/UEFI, And Secure Boot

Windows: System Information shows baseboard manufacturer, BIOS/UEFI version, and Secure Boot state. Linux: sudo dmidecode -t bios. macOS: most of this is abstracted, but firmware details appear in System Report.

Copy-Ready Blocks For Tickets And Listings

Use these to paste clean specs into a help desk form, marketplace listing, or email to a repair shop.

Windows: One-Shot Text Dump

msinfo32 /report "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\pc-specs.txt"

This exports a full report to your desktop as pc-specs.txt.

Windows: Graphics & Driver Snapshot

dxdiag /whql:off /t "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\dxdiag.txt"

This saves a DxDiag report—including GPU name, driver versions, and VRAM.

macOS: Hardware Overview Only

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType > ~/Desktop/mac-hw.txt

Linux: Concise Multi-Section Summary

sudo lshw -short > ~/specs.txt && lscpu >> ~/specs.txt && free -h >> ~/specs.txt

Common Gotchas And Quick Fixes

  • Specs page is blank or missing fields (Windows): Run the tool as admin. Some services only populate with elevated rights.
  • GPU shows “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter”: Install the proper graphics driver from the laptop maker or GPU vendor.
  • On shared or managed devices: Avoid posting serial numbers in public forums. Use exported text files and redact IDs.
  • On Apple silicon: Memory is unified and not user-replaceable. Check the reported size, not slot layout.
  • Chromebooks: Battery tests in Diagnostics help confirm pack health before resale.

Mid-Level Reference Links (For Deeper Reading)

Want an official reference for the Windows inventory tool? See the msinfo32 command reference. Mac users who need the complete hardware list can jump straight to Apple’s guide on System Report.

Quick Methods By Platform (Cheat Sheet)

The table below sits here for easy scanning when you just need directions. It’s compact and covers the go-to path and the depth you’ll get.

Platform Fast Path Depth
Windows Settings > System > About Basic (CPU, RAM, build)
macOS Apple Menu > About This Mac Basic; deep via System Report
ChromeOS Open Diagnostics app CPU, memory, battery health
Linux Run lscpu, free -h Core stats; add lshw for full

Make Sense Of What You See

Can This Laptop Run A Given App Or Game?

Match the app’s minimum and recommended specs to your CPU model, memory size, GPU name, and available storage. If you’re on Windows, the graphics driver date in DxDiag is a frequent blocker—update it before installing large games.

Is An Upgrade Worth It?

On many Windows laptops, SSD upgrades bring the biggest lift in snappiness. If the device supports NVMe, a modern drive can cut load times and improve everyday feel. On older Intel-based Macs, storage swaps are limited to certain models. Apple silicon models use on-board storage and memory, so decisions happen at purchase time.

What Should I Share With Support?

Export a text report instead of screenshots. On Windows, use the two commands above to drop files on the desktop. On macOS, system_profiler dumps a neat text file. For ChromeOS, export from chrome://system. For Linux, paste the combined lshw and lscpu summary. Redact serials for public posts.

Bottom Line For Everyday Users

Use the fast menu to confirm chip, memory, and OS build. If you need more, open the deeper tool and export a text file. That single habit saves time during installs, upgrades, resale, and remote support.