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