How to Find Laptop Serial Number Using CMD: Step-by-Step Guide

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Curious about finding your laptop’s serial number using CMD? Let’s also discover interesting CMD and PowerShell commands for Windows.

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Quick Ways to Find Laptop Serial Number Using CMD

Knowing the serial number of a laptop is essential for warranty claims, technical support, and system identification. However, Windows does not display the serial number in its default settings, and many system information tools also fail to retrieve it. The good news is that we can easily find the serial number using Command Prompt (CMD), PowerShell, BIOS settings, and manufacturer tools.

In this guide, we will walk through multiple methods to locate the serial number on Windows 10, Windows 11, and even alternative operating systems like Linux. Additionally, we will cover troubleshooting steps if the serial number does not appear and provide alternative solutions for retrieving it.

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How to Get Serial Number of Laptop in CMD

The most straightforward way to find a laptop’s serial number is through Command Prompt (CMD) using the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool. This method directly pulls system details from the BIOS or UEFI firmware, ensuring a quick result.

To begin, press the Windows key and R simultaneously, then type cmd, and finally press Enter to open Command Prompt. Alternatively, search for Command Prompt in the Start Menu and select it. If you’re new to using CMD, check out our list of basic CMD commands every Windows 11 user should know to get more familiar.

Once the terminal is open, enter the following command and press Enter:

wmic bios get serialnumber

If the serial number is stored in the BIOS, it will be displayed immediately under the SerialNumber field. However, if the command does not return a value or shows an error, we can explore alternative methods to retrieve the serial number.

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Computer Serial Number Lookup

If the WMIC command in CMD does not return a serial number, there are other ways to retrieve it.

One alternative is checking System Information. To do this, press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. This will open the System Summary, which contains various details about the laptop. Some manufacturers include the serial number here, but not all.

Another method is accessing the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings. Restart the laptop and enter the BIOS by pressing the designated key during startup (F2, F10, Delete, or Esc). The serial number is typically present under the System Information or Main section.

If software methods fail, checking the physical hardware is a reliable option. Most laptops have a sticker on the bottom panel displaying the serial number. In some models, it is located inside the battery compartment. Desktop computers usually have the serial number on the back or side of the case.

Additionally, manufacturers offer official tools to check the serial number. Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus allow users to enter their Service Tag or serial number on their respective support websites to retrieve system details.

For users interested in learning more about disk management commands, check out how to run Disk Manager from Command Prompt like a pro.

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How to Find Serial Number on Windows 10

For Windows 10 users, retrieving the serial number follows a similar process as Windows 11. If the WMIC command does not work, PowerShell provides a reliable alternative.

To use PowerShell, open the Start Menu, search for PowerShell, and launch it. Then, enter the following command and press Enter:

Get-WmiObject win32_bios

This method retrieves the serial number from the BIOS, just like the WMIC command. If this command also fails to produce a result, checking the System Information, BIOS, or physical labels is necessary.

If you’re want in master PowerShell troubleshooting and system diagnostics, explore our guides on 20 basic PowerShell commands and their uses and 10 PowerShell troubleshooting commands.

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How to Find Serial Number on Windows 11 Command Prompt

Finding the serial number in Windows 11 works the same way as in Windows 10. Open Command Prompt as Administrator by right-clicking the Start Menu and selecting Run as Administrator. Then, enter the following command:

wmic bios get serialnumber

If no serial number appears, PowerShell offers an alternative command that often works better on Windows 11:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS

Since WMIC is deprecated in newer Windows versions, PowerShell is often the preferred method. If neither command returns a result, the serial number may need to be checked in BIOS settings, manufacturer tools, or on the hardware itself.

Checking if WMIC is Installed and Functional

As, WMIC is deprecated in Windows 11, so it may not work on some newer builds.

For verifying its functionality, open Command Prompt as Administrator, type wmic, and press Enter.

If an error message appears stating “wmic is not recognized”, then WMIC is either not installed or is disabled on your system.

To check if WMIC is available, open PowerShell as Administrator and run the command:

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where-Object {$_.FeatureName -match "WMIC"}

If WMIC is found but disabled, enable it using the command:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "WMIC" -NoRestart

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WMIC BIOS Get Serial Number Invalid Get Expression

Sometimes, the WMIC command fails and returns an error such as “Invalid Get Expression”, a blank output, or a message stating “To be filled by O.E.M.”. This issue occurs when the manufacturer has not stored the serial number correctly in the BIOS.

Common reasons for this include:

Motherboard replacements, which erase the original serial number. Custom-built PCs, which do not have a factory-assigned serial number. BIOS corruption or outdated firmware, which affects system information retrieval.

To fix this, try running Command Prompt as Administrator and ensure that the BIOS is up-to-date by checking for firmware updates on the manufacturer’s website. If the BIOS doesn’t contain the serial number, CMD and PowerShell cannot retrieve it. Your only options are to check physical labels or manufacturer documentation.

For those who enjoy experimenting with CMD, check out 7 best CMD commands for fun and CMD commands for gaming performance optimization.

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WMIC BIOS Get SerialNumber Alternative

If WMIC does not work, there are other methods to retrieve the serial number.

One option is using PowerShell, which can sometimes access system details that WMIC cannot. Enter the following command in PowerShell:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS

For users with Linux, the serial number can be retrieve via the terminal. Open the Linux terminal and enter:

sudo dmidecode -t system | grep Serial

Interestingly, you can use sudo commands in Windows, but sometimes Windows disables this setting by default. So, when you type the command in PowerShell, you may encounter the message:

“Sudo is disabled on this machine. To enable it, go to the Developer Settings page in the Settings app.”

This means you need to enable the sudo feature. To do so, follow these official steps to enable sudo on your Windows system.

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Why Some Laptops Show “To Be Filled By O.E.M.” Instead of Serial Number?

If you see “To Be Filled By O.E.M.” instead of an actual serial number, the manufacturer failed to encode it in the BIOS during production. This issue commonly affects custom-built PCs where the motherboard lacks a pre-written serial number. It also occurs in refurbished or repaired laptops when the motherboard gets replaced without updating BIOS details. Additionally, an incorrect or faulty BIOS update may erase the stored serial information.

If your system shows this message, the best course of action is to contact your laptop’s manufacturer for assistance. They may provide a way to manually update the serial number in the BIOS or help retrieve it from their records.

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Final Thoughts

Retrieving a laptop’s serial number using CMD is simple, but it may not always work due to missing BIOS data. In such cases, PowerShell, System Information, BIOS settings, and manufacturer tools provide alternative ways to find the serial number. If none of these methods work, checking the laptop’s hardware, original packaging, or purchase documents remains the best solution.

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