You may non have really idea about Windows build numbers in the past unless it was part of your job to exercise so. But they've get more than important with Windows 10. Here'south how to notice out what build—and edition and version—of Windows 10 you're running.

Windows has always used build numbers. They stand for significant updates to Windows. Traditionally, near people have referred to Windows based on the major, named version they're using—Windows Vista, vii, 8, and so on. Within those versions, nosotros also had service packs to refer to: Windows vii Service Pack one, for example.

With Windows 10, things have changed a bit. For one thing, Microsoft claims there will exist no more new versions of Windows—Windows 10 is here to stay. Microsoft has likewise done away with service packs, instead moving to releasing ii big builds each year and giving them names. If you really need to refer to a specific version of Windows, though, information technology's easiest to refer to it past its version number. Microsoft has subconscious the version number somewhat in an endeavor to make Windows ten look always-upwards-to-appointment, but it'due south not hard to find.

RELATED: How Windows x'south "Builds" Are Unlike From Service Packs

Note: In addition to builds, there too are even so different editions of Windows x—Home, Professional, Enterprise, and so on—with dissimilar features. Microsoft is also even so offering both 64-scrap and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, every bit well.

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

The new Settings app also offers build, edition, and version data in a user-friendly form. Hitting Windows+I to open Settings. In the Settings window, navigate to System > About.  Scroll down a bit and you'll see the information you lot're after.

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

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  • Edition. This line tells yous which edition of Windows 10 you're using—Home, Professional, Enterprise, or Education. If yous're using Home and you'd similar to upgrade to Professional, y'all can upgrade to the Professional person edition from within Windows 10. Switching to Windows 10 Enterprise or Teaching editions will require a complete reinstall and a special key that isn't made bachelor to normal home Windows users.
  • Version. The version number gives you the best information on what version of Windows ten you're running. The number is based on the date of the most 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's the big Anniversary Update of Windows x. The Fall Creators Update was released in September of 2017, so it's version 1709.
  • OS Build. This line shows the specific operating organization build you're running. It gives you lot sort of a timeline of pocket-size build releases in between the major version number releases. In the screenshot above, the "14393.693" build was actually the 13th build released after version 1607 shipped in July, 2016. This information is somewhat less important to nearly people than the major version numbers, but it can notwithstanding help y'all identify exactly what y'all're running. If you're curious, you tin check out the whole history of versions and builds for Windows 10 on Microsoft'southward TechNet site.
  • Organization Type. This line tells you whether you're using the 32-bit version of Windows 10 or the 64-bit version. Information technology also tells you lot whether your PC is compatible with the 64-bit version or not. For example, "64-flake operating system, x64-based processor" indicates you're using a 64-fleck version of Windows 10 on a 64-bit processor. "32-bit operating system, x64-based processor" indicates yous're using a 32-fleck version of Windows 10, but you could install the 64-bit version on your hardware if you preferred.

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Find Your Edition and Build Number with the Winver Dialog

You tin also use the sometime standby Windows Version (winver) tool to find some of this information. Hit Start, type "winver," and then press Enter. You could also press Windows Key + R, type "winver" into the Run dialog, and printing Enter.

The 2nd line in the "About Windows" box tells you which version and build of Windows 10 you accept. Call up, the version number is in the form YYMM—so 1607 means the 7th calendar month of 2016. A couple of lines down, you lot'll see the edition of Windows 10 yous're using—Windows 10 Pro in our example.

The "Well-nigh Windows" box does not prove whether you're using a 64-flake or 32-bit version of Windows 10, but it does requite you a quicker way to check your version and build than navigating through the Settings app.

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All this information—edition, version, build number, and build type—can be important if yous're trying to determine whether Windows 10 has received a specific update, whether you take access to a feature available only in certain editions, or whether you should download the 64- or 32-bit version of a plan. And, if you lot're super interested in keeping upwards with it, we even take a way to display your build number right on your desktop. Enjoy!

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