You may not have really thought almost Windows build numbers in the past unless it was part of your job to do then. But they've become more important with Windows ten. Here's how to find out what build—and edition and version—of Windows ten you're running.

Windows has always used build numbers. They represent significant updates to Windows. Traditionally, most people take referred to Windows based on the major, named version they're using—Windows Vista, 7, eight, and and so on. Within those versions, we too had service packs to refer to: Windows 7 Service Pack ane, for example.

With Windows 10, things take changed a fleck. For one thing, Microsoft claims there will exist no more new versions of Windows—Windows ten is here to stay. Microsoft has as well done away with service packs, instead moving to releasing two big builds each yr and giving them names. If yous 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 hidden the version number somewhat in an attempt to brand Windows x expect ever-up-to-appointment, but information technology's not hard to find.

RELATED: How Windows 10's "Builds" Are Different From Service Packs

Notation: In addition to builds, at that place also are still different editions of Windows ten—Home, Professional, Enterprise, then on—with dissimilar features. Microsoft is also nonetheless offering both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, too.

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

The new Settings app also offers build, edition, and version information in a convenient grade. Hitting Windows+I to open Settings. In the Settings window, navigate to System > Near.  Roll downwardly a bit and you'll see the data you're after.

Navigate to System > About and scroll downwards. Yous'll run across the "Version" and "Build" numbers here.

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  • Edition. This line tells you which edition of Windows 10 you're using—Home, Professional, Enterprise, or Education. If yous're using Home and yous'd similar to upgrade to Professional, yous can upgrade to the Professional person edition from within Windows ten. Switching to Windows x Enterprise or Instruction editions will require a complete reinstall and a special central that isn't made bachelor to normal dwelling Windows users.
  • Version. The version number gives you the best data on what version of Windows ten you're running. The number is based on the date of the nearly contempo large build release and uses a YYMM format. For example, in the screenshot in a higher place, the "1607" version tells us that the version we're running is from the 7th calendar month (July) of 2016. That'south the big Anniversary Update of Windows 10. The Fall Creators Update was released in September of 2017, so it's version 1709.
  • Bone Build. This line shows the specific operating system build you're running. It gives you sort of a timeline of minor build releases in betwixt the major version number releases. In the screenshot above, the "14393.693" build was really the 13th build released after version 1607 shipped in July, 2016. This data is somewhat less of import to virtually people than the major version numbers, simply it tin can still aid you identify exactly what you're running. If you're curious, yous tin cheque out the whole history of versions and builds for Windows 10 on Microsoft'southward TechNet site.
  • Organisation Type. This line tells you whether you're using the 32-bit version of Windows ten or the 64-bit version. It also tells you lot whether your PC is compatible with the 64-scrap version or non. For example, "64-fleck operating organization, 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 you're using a 32-scrap version of Windows x, only you could install the 64-flake version on your hardware if you lot preferred.

RELATED: What's the Difference Between 32-flake and 64-fleck Windows?

Find Your Edition and Build Number with the Winver Dialog

Yous can as well use the old standby Windows Version (winver) tool to find some of this information. Striking Start, type "winver," and and so press Enter. Yous could also press Windows Key + R, blazon "winver" into the Run dialog, and press Enter.

The second line in the "Most Windows" box tells yous which version and build of Windows 10 you take. Call back, the version number is in the form YYMM—and then 1607 means the 7th month of 2016. A couple of lines downwardly, y'all'll see the edition of Windows 10 you're using—Windows 10 Pro in our example.

The "Well-nigh Windows" box does not prove whether you're using a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows 10, simply it does give 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 exist important if y'all're trying to decide whether Windows ten has received a specific update, whether you take access to a feature available simply in sure editions, or whether you should download the 64- or 32-bit version of a plan. And, if you're super interested in keeping up with it, we even take a way to display your build number correct on your desktop. Enjoy!

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