Where Do You Find Laptop Serial Number? | No-Fuss Guide

Guide / By

A laptop serial number lives in system menus, on the chassis label, inside BIOS/UEFI, and on the box or receipt.

Your device ID unlocks warranty checks, parts, and support. This guide gives fast paths on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux, plus brand-specific spots and tips when the sticker is gone. No fluff—just steps that work.

Where To Locate A Laptop Serial Number — Fast Methods

Most laptops expose the code in three places: software menus, a hardware label, and firmware. Use the quickest option below based on what still powers on.

Windows: Two Commands And One Menu

PowerShell/CMD (fastest): open Start, type PowerShell or Command Prompt, then run the command below. It reads the BIOS field that vendors populate.

wmic bios get serialnumber

If WMIC is missing or blocked, use the PowerShell CIM call:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

These commands query the WMI/CIM Win32_BIOS class where the SerialNumber property is stored. If the field returns blank, skip to the chassis label or BIOS screen steps.

Settings menu (OEMs that expose it): select Settings > System > About. Some models show the code here; others don’t. If it’s not visible, use the commands above or check the label.

macOS: About This Mac And The Underside

Menu path: click Apple menu  > System Settings > General > About. The serial number appears near the top. Macs with older macOS show it under About This Mac. You can also pull it in Recovery with a Terminal command if the OS won’t load.

Hardware label: look on the underside near the hinge or regulatory text, or check the box if you kept it.

ChromeOS: Sign-In Screen Or System Page

Keystroke at sign-in: from the sign-in screen, press Alt+V. The serial appears in the upper-right corner with the OS version. Some models show a longer value where the first 8 digits are the unit ID.

Inside the OS: in a browser, visit chrome://system and search for vpd_2.0 or serial_number.

Linux: One Command (Needs Root)

Open a terminal and run the following to read SMBIOS data:

sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number

This pulls the same firmware field that Windows tools read. Some vendors mask it on virtual machines or custom builds.

Find It On The Hardware When The OS Won’t Load

If the laptop won’t boot, go straight to the body and packaging. Makers print the code near vents, under the battery (older units), on the palm rest underside, or inside a tiny pull-out tray. Here are quick clues by brand:

Dell

Look for a “Service Tag” or “S/N” on the bottom cover or behind a stand on convertibles. Dell also prints an Express Service Code; both map to your unit online.

HP

Search the bottom shell for a sticker marked “S/N” or check the battery bay on older notebooks. HP’s System Information window (Fn+Esc) also displays it when the system powers on.

Lenovo

Look for a printed label on the base or use Lenovo Vantage/Detect My Product when Windows runs. Support articles also list a Linux command path.

Extra Places People Forget

  • Retail box and invoice: the barcode sticker often lists it. Retailers include it on receipts for warranty claims.
  • BIOS/UEFI: press the vendor’s setup key at boot (F2, Del, Esc, or F10 on many models) and check the main screen.
  • Vendor accounts and utilities: Lenovo Vantage and Dell SupportAssist can read it; HP Support sites use it to show warranty status.

Copy-Paste Commands You Can Use Now

Windows (PowerShell Or CMD)

wmic bios get serialnumber
Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

Both read the same firmware field; the CIM variant is modern and works on current PowerShell builds. For more depth, see Microsoft’s documentation for the Win32_BIOS class.

macOS (Recovery If Needed)

ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

Use this in macOS Recovery’s Terminal when the desktop won’t load; the menu path in normal mode is faster. Apple documents both paths on its support pages.

Linux (SMBIOS)

sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number

This reads the identifier from SMBIOS via dmidecode. Some distros require installing the package first.

Why Serial Numbers Matter

Support teams ask for this ID to pull exact parts lists, recall notices, and service history. Warranty portals use it to show coverage dates. Having it handy speeds repairs and reduces back-and-forth. Dell, HP, and Lenovo centers all key lookups on this field.

Brand And OS Cheat Sheet

The table below sits near the end so you can scroll the whole guide, then capture the piece you need.

Brand/OS Fastest Software Path Common Label Spot
Windows Laptops wmic bios get serialnumber or PowerShell CIM Bottom cover or under battery (older)
Mac Laptops Apple menu > System Settings > General > About Underside near hinge; retail box sticker
Chromebook Sign-in screen: Alt+V; or chrome://system Bottom shell label; box sticker
Linux (Any Vendor) sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number Bottom shell; service tag plate
Dell Windows tools above; SupportAssist also reads it “Service Tag” on base/stand
HP Fn+Esc System Information; Windows tools above “S/N” on base or battery bay
Lenovo Vantage/Detect My Product; Windows/Linux commands Printed label on base

When The Sticker Is Gone Or The Field Is Blank

Some units ship with faint ink or labels that wear off. Others show a blank field due to refurbishing or a board swap. Try this sequence:

  1. Firmware screen: enter BIOS/UEFI and check the main page for “Serial Number” or “Service Tag”.
  2. Retail box and paperwork: find the barcode sticker; most brands print the ID there.
  3. Vendor utilities: Lenovo Vantage or Dell SupportAssist often detect it even when labels fade.
  4. Admin panels (schools/work): managed Chromebooks list it in the Google Admin console device view.

Good Habits Once You Find It

  • Take a photo of the label and store it in cloud notes.
  • Paste the value into your password manager under the device entry.
  • Keep the retail box sticker in a folder with the invoice.

Helpful Official Pages

Windows keeps the serial in a firmware-backed class. You can read more in Microsoft’s Win32_BIOS documentation. Apple lists every Mac path, including Recovery, on its serial number help page. These two links cover the two most common platforms in depth.

FAQ-Style Fixes Without The FAQ Block

My Command Returned “To Be Filled By O.E.M.”

That line means the vendor never wrote a value to the BIOS field. Use the label, box, or vendor utility instead. Dell, HP, and Lenovo sites accept the printed code for warranty lookups.

My Chromebook Doesn’t Show It With Alt+V

Use chrome://system#vpd_2.0 inside a session. Some models place the unit ID inside the longer VPD string.

Linux Says Permission Denied

dmidecode needs root access. Prefix with sudo, then try again. Lenovo’s support docs list the exact flag.

Wrap-Up: Grab It Now, Save It Once

You have multiple routes: a quick command on Windows or Linux, a menu on macOS, a keystroke on ChromeOS, or a sticker on the shell. Capture it today and stash it where you can reach it fast during a support call.