You may non have really thought about Windows build numbers in the past unless information technology was function of your chore to exercise and so. But they've become more important with Windows ten. Here'south how to find out what build—and edition and version—of Windows 10 you're running.

Windows has always used build numbers. They represent significant updates to Windows. Traditionally, most people have referred to Windows based on the major, named version they're using—Windows Vista, 7, 8, and and then on. Inside those versions, we also had service packs to refer to: Windows 7 Service Pack 1, for example.

With Windows 10, things have changed a bit. For one affair, Microsoft claims there will exist no more new versions of Windows—Windows 10 is here to stay. Microsoft has likewise washed away with service packs, instead moving to releasing two big builds each yr and giving them names. If you really demand to refer to a specific version of Windows, though, information technology'south easiest to refer to it by its version number. Microsoft has hidden the version number somewhat in an endeavour to make Windows 10 wait always-upward-to-date, just information technology's not hard to detect.

RELATED: How Windows 10's "Builds" Are Different From Service Packs

Note: In addition to builds, there besides are however unlike editions of Windows 10—Home, Professional, Enterprise, and then on—with different features. Microsoft is also notwithstanding offer both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows ten, every bit well.

Observe Your Edition, Build Number, and More with the Settings App

The new Settings app also offers build, edition, and version information in a user-friendly form. Hit Windows+I to open Settings. In the Settings window, navigate to Arrangement > Almost.  Scroll down a chip and you'll see the data you're later on.

Navigate to System > Virtually and scroll down. You'll meet the "Version" and "Build" numbers here.

RELATED: How to Upgrade From Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Professional

  • Edition. This line tells yous which edition of Windows x y'all're using—Abode, Professional, Enterprise, or Didactics. If you're using Home and yous'd like to upgrade to Professional, you tin upgrade to the Professional edition from inside Windows 10. Switching to Windows ten Enterprise or Instruction editions will require a complete reinstall and a special key that isn't made available to normal abode Windows users.
  • Version. The version number gives you the best data on what version of Windows 10 yous're running. The number is based on the appointment of the nearly recent large build release and uses a YYMM format. For case, in the screenshot above, the "1607" version tells us that the version we're running is from the 7th month (July) of 2016. That'southward the large Anniversary Update of Windows 10. The Fall Creators Update was released in September of 2017, so it's version 1709.
  • OS Build. This line shows the specific operating system build you're running. It gives you sort of a timeline of minor build releases in betwixt the major version number releases. In the screenshot above, the "14393.693" build was actually the 13th build released later on version 1607 shipped in July, 2016. This information is somewhat less important to most people than the major version numbers, but it can nevertheless assistance you place exactly what you lot're running. If y'all're curious, you lot can check out the whole history of versions and builds for Windows ten on Microsoft'south TechNet site.
  • System Blazon. This line tells y'all whether you're using the 32-bit version of Windows x or the 64-scrap version. It also tells you lot whether your PC is compatible with the 64-scrap version or not. For case, "64-bit operating system, x64-based processor" indicates you're using a 64-bit version of Windows 10 on a 64-chip processor. "32-flake operating organization, x64-based processor" indicates yous're using a 32-chip version of Windows 10, but you could install the 64-bit version on your hardware if you preferred.

RELATED: What's the Divergence Between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows?

Observe Your Edition and Build Number with the Winver Dialog

Y'all can also use the one-time standby Windows Version (winver) tool to notice some of this information. Hitting Start, blazon "winver," and so press Enter. You could also press Windows Key + R, type "winver" into the Run dialog, and printing Enter.

The 2d line in the "Nearly Windows" box tells y'all which version and build of Windows 10 you have. Remember, the version number is in the form YYMM—so 1607 means the seventh month of 2016. A couple of lines down, you'll see the edition of Windows ten you're using—Windows 10 Pro in our instance.

The "Virtually Windows" box does not show whether you're using a 64-chip or 32-bit version of Windows 10, but it does give you a quicker manner to cheque your version and build than navigating through the Settings app.

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All this information—edition, version, build number, and build type—tin exist of import if you lot're trying to determine whether Windows 10 has received a specific update, whether you have admission to a characteristic available only in certain editions, or whether you should download the 64- or 32-bit version of a plan. And, if you're super interested in keeping up with information technology, nosotros even have a manner to display your build number right on your desktop. Bask!

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