How to find serial number for a computer?

Instructions on how to find the serial number for several computer models.

Getting the serial number of a computer.

Dell:

  • Device label:
    • Laptop: On the bottom of the device, look for 'Service Tag'. 
    • Desktop: On the top of the device, look for 'Service Tag'.
  • On the box for the device, look for 'Service Tag'.
  • Via a command prompt:
    • Open a command prompt by using the Windows Search bar. Type into the search bar 'cmd' without quotes.
    • Type in the command: 'wmic bios get serialnumber' without the quotes.

Mac:

  • Apple Logo:
    • Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner.
    • Click on "About This Mac".
    • Look for "Serial Number".
  • Via Terminal window:
    • Open a "Finder" Window.
    • Click on "Applications" under "Favorites" on the left.
    • Click on "Utilities" on the right.
    • Look for and click on "Terminal".
    • Type in the command: 'ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber' without the quotes.
  • On the box for the device, look for a label with the 'Serial Number'.
    • Should have a bar code underneath.
    • WiFi and Bluetooth MAC addresses will be listed on the label as well.

Hewlett Packard (HP):

  • Laptop: On the bottom of the device, look for 'SN#'. 
  • Desktop: On the bottom of the device, look for 'SN#'. May not have 'SN#' listed.
  • On the box for the device, look for 'SN#'.
  • Open a command prompt by using the Windows Search bar. Type in 'cmd'.
    • Type in the command: 'wmic bios get serialnumber' without the quotes.
  • Please note that most HP desktops and laptop serial numbers start with '5CG' or 'MXL'.

Lenovo

  • Laptop: On the bottom of the device, look for 'S/N' or 'SN'. 
  • Desktop: On the bottom of the device, look for 'S/N' or 'SN'.
  • Open a command prompt by using the Windows Search bar. Type in 'cmd'.
    • Type in the command: 'wmic bios get serialnumber' without the quotes.

Misc - For any PCs like MSI or Asus

  • Open a command prompt by using the Windows Search bar. Type in 'cmd'.
    • Type in the command: wmic bios get serialnumber' without the quotes.
  • Please note that custom-built systems may not have a serial number. Most will not have one.

Linux

  • Via Terminal window:
    • Look for the "Terminal" application in the list of applications. Different between Linux distributions.
    • Type in the command: 'sudo dmidecode -t system | grep Serial' without the quotes.

Environment

  • CRP, PC, Mac, Linux

 

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