Windows doesn’t display your PC’s serial number anywhere in its interface, and neither do popular system information tools. But you can often find a PC’s serial number with a simple command, a peek in your BIOS, or on the hardware itself.
Run the WMIC Command
Open a Command Prompt window to get started. On Windows 10 or 8, right-click the Start button and select “Command Prompt”. On Windows 7, press Windows + R, type “cmd” into the Run dialog, and then press Enter.
At the Command Prompt, type the following command and then press Enter:
How to find the serial number/Product key? I have this disc, how can I get the serial number? I can`t find it in the box. Original title: serial number. This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. Go to the device manufacturer's support, or product search, website. If you are wanting to look up your phone's serial number, go to the ESN, or Electronic Serial Number, lookup page.
You’ll see the computer’s serial number displayed beneath the text “SerialNumber”. This command uses the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool to pull the system’s serial number from its BIOS.
If you don’t see your PC’s serial number, blame your PC’s manufacturer. The number will only appear here if the PC manufacturer saved it to your computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware. PC manufacturers don’t always fill in the number properly. In that case, you’ll see something like “0” or “To be filled by O.E.M.” instead of an actual serial number.
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This is also true if you built your own PC because the PC itself won’t have a serial number. However, you can look up the serial number of your motherboard and other components.
Check the BIOS
You may also be able to find the serial number in the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen. This technique won’t get you a serial number if the wmic command didn’t, since the command pulls the serial number from the BIOS. However, checking the BIOS could be helpful if you can’t actually sign into Windows to run the wmic command.
RELATED:What Does a PC’s BIOS Do, and When Should I Use It?
Access the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen and look around for a “Serial Number” somewhere on a system information screen. It’ll be in a different place on different PCs, but you can usually find it somewhere on the “Main” or “System” screen.
Find the Serial Number On the PC’s Hardware, Box, or Elsewhere
If you don’t see a serial number after running the wmic command—or if you just can’t turn the PC on or don’t have access to it—there are several other places you might find the serial number:
- If you have a laptop, flip it over. On some laptops, you’ll see the number on a sticker. On others, you’ll see the number printed directly on the metal or plastic the laptop is made from. If your laptop has a removable battery, the serial number is sometimes on a sticker inside the battery compartment, under the battery.
- If you have a desktop PC, look at the back, top, or side of the case for some sort of sticker. The number may also be on a sticker inside the case, so you might have to open it up.
- If you can’t find the serial number on the PC itself, look online for instructions specific to your model. The manufacturer’s website should tell you exactly where to look.
- If you registered your PC with the manufacturer or received warranty service, the serial number should be included in the registration documentation, warranty service receipt, or email confirmation for the service.
- If you still have the original product box, it usually has the serial number printed on it—often on the same sticker with the bar code.
- If you purchased the PC online or in store, the serial number may be printed on the physical or email receipt you received.
And if you just can’t find your serial number at all, don’t give up hope. If you have proof of purchase, the manufacturer still may be able to help you with whatever service you need and may even be able to find out the serial number for you.
You may need a serial number and product key to activate someAutodesk software.
Note: If you are on subscription, you may no longer need toenter a serial number or product key; you just need to signin. Serial numbers are never required for launching productswith network licenses.
Serial Number Locations
Serial numbers are unique codes associated with your AutodeskAccount and a particular product that you have purchased or isotherwise available to you. For 2014 versions and later, you canfind them in Autodesk Account, on the Management tab. Depending onyour license type, you may not need a serial number to launch yourproduct.
Autodesk Account
The Management tab of your Autodesk Account page stores theserial numbers and product keys for each licensed product.
Note about serial number visibility in AutodeskAccount: Only account administrators, such as ContractManagers and Software Coordinators, and Named Users with assignedsoftware benefits will see serial numbers in Autodesk Account.You are the account administrator if you purchased a softwaresubscription using your Autodesk Account or were assigned the roleof Contract Manager or Software Coordinator by your company. If youdo not see the software you wish to activate in your Autodeskaccount or see the message 'Contact your admin for serial numbers,'you need to contact the account administrator. Only anadministrator can assign you as a Named User or End User and giveyou permissions to download and activate the software.
Education Community
When students, educators, and educational institutions downloadproducts from the Education Community,the product serial numbers are found in the followinglocations:
- Displayed at the time of download
- Sent by email
- On the Management tab in Autodesk Account
See:FindSerial Numbers & Product Keys for Educational Licenses
Physical Media
Serial Numbers do not appear on software packaging forAutodesk software versions 2014 and newer. Serial numbers for theseversions are emailed to you after you place an order or can befound in AutodeskAccount.
If you have physical media (a DVD or USB key) for a 2013or earlier product, your serial number and productkey will be printed on the label of the productpackaging.
Example of label from 2011 version. Format is similar for 2010- 2013 product releases.
Product Key Locations
Product keys are codes that identify each productversion.
You can find product keys for recent versions of your productin Autodesk Account, on the Management tab.
To look up a product key for a particular product version (2010and later), you can also go to: Look UpProduct Keys.
Older product keys
If you can't find the product key for older versions ofAutodesk software (2013 and later), you may be able to findit in a text file in the installation folder.
To determine if your product key is available inyour installation folder:
- Using your installation media, (USB key, DVD, download folder,etc.) navigate to the folder that contains the setup.exefile for your Autodesk product.
- In that folder, look for a file named MID.txt,MID01.txt, MID02.txt or some variation on thatname.
- Open this file in Notepad and verify that the product name iscorrect.
- The first five characters of the part number should also be theproduct key for that product.
Example:
Find Computer Serial Number Windows 10
MID:Autodesk_Design_Suite_Ultimate_2012_64bit_SWL_ENU_C009_EXE1
Product Name: Autodesk Design Suite Ultimate 2012
Platform: Windows XP/Vista/Win7
Media: ESD
Part Number: 769D1-05Y001-P503E,769D1-05Y001-P504E