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.
RELATED: This is also true if you built your own PC because the PC itself won’t have a serial number. However, you can 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: 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.