You may not have actually thought about Windows build numbers in the past unless it was function of your task to practice and so. But they've become more important with Windows 10. Hither's how to find out what build—and edition and version—of Windows ten you're running.

Windows has always used build numbers. They represent pregnant updates to Windows. Traditionally, virtually people have referred to Windows based on the major, named version they're using—Windows Vista, 7, eight, and so on. Inside those versions, we likewise had service packs to refer to: Windows seven Service Pack 1, for instance.

With Windows ten, things take changed a chip. For one matter, Microsoft claims there will exist no more new versions of Windows—Windows 10 is here to stay. Microsoft has also done away with service packs, instead moving to releasing two big builds each year and giving them names. If you really need to refer to a specific version of Windows, though, it's easiest to refer to information technology past its version number. Microsoft has hidden the version number somewhat in an attempt to make Windows 10 await always-up-to-appointment, but information technology'south not hard to find.

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Note: In addition to builds, there also are still different editions of Windows x—Home, Professional, Enterprise, and so on—with different features. Microsoft is as well notwithstanding offering both 64-fleck and 32-scrap versions of Windows 10, every bit well.

Detect Your Edition, Build Number, and More than with the Settings App

The new Settings app also offers build, edition, and version information in a user-friendly class. Hitting Windows+I to open up Settings. In the Settings window, navigate to System > About.  Roll down a bit and you lot'll see the information yous're later.

Navigate to System > About and ringlet down. You'll encounter the "Version" and "Build" numbers here.

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  • Edition. This line tells you lot which edition of Windows 10 you lot're using—Home, Professional, Enterprise, or Education. If you lot're using Dwelling house and yous'd like to upgrade to Professional, y'all can upgrade to the Professional edition from inside Windows ten. Switching to Windows 10 Enterprise or Education editions will require a consummate reinstall and a special key that isn't fabricated available to normal home Windows users.
  • Version. The version number gives yous the best information on what version of Windows 10 you're running. The number is based on the date of the most recent large build release and uses a YYMM format. For example, in the screenshot above, the "1607" version tells us that the version we're running is from the 7th month (July) of 2022. That'south the big Anniversary Update of Windows 10. The Autumn Creators Update was released in September of 2022, so information technology'due south version 1709.
  • OS Build. This line shows the specific operating organization build y'all're running. It gives you lot sort of a timeline of pocket-size build releases in between the major version number releases. In the screenshot above, the "14393.693" build was really the 13th build released after version 1607 shipped in July, 2022. This information is somewhat less important to near people than the major version numbers, but it can still help you identify exactly what you're running. If you're curious, you can cheque out the whole history of versions and builds for Windows 10 on Microsoft's TechNet site.
  • System Blazon. This line tells you whether you lot're using the 32-bit version of Windows 10 or the 64-bit version. Information technology also tells you whether your PC is uniform with the 64-bit version or non. For example, "64-scrap operating organization, x64-based processor" indicates you're using a 64-bit version of Windows 10 on a 64-bit processor. "32-scrap operating system, x64-based processor" indicates you're using a 32-fleck version of Windows 10, only you could install the 64-bit version on your hardware if you preferred.

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Detect Your Edition and Build Number with the Winver Dialog

You tin as well use the one-time standby Windows Version (winver) tool to find some of this information. Hit Starting time, type "winver," and so press Enter. Y'all could also press Windows Cardinal + R, type "winver" into the Run dialog, and press Enter.

The second line in the "Most Windows" box tells yous which version and build of Windows 10 you lot have. Remember, the version number is in the form YYMM—and so 1607 means the 7th month of 2022. A couple of lines down, y'all'll come across the edition of Windows ten you lot're using—Windows 10 Pro in our instance.

The "Well-nigh Windows" box does not testify whether y'all're using a 64-bit or 32-scrap version of Windows 10, but it does give you a quicker fashion to check your version and build than navigating through the Settings app.

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All this information—edition, version, build number, and build blazon—can be important if you're trying to determine whether Windows x has received a specific update, whether you lot have access to a characteristic bachelor only in sure editions, or whether you should download the 64- or 32-bit version of a program. And, if you're super interested in keeping upwards with information technology, nosotros even take a style to brandish your build number right on your desktop. Enjoy!

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