On a Windows 11 laptop, the exact model name is a few clicks away: open Settings > System > About, and it sits right below the device name. Below are the built-in Windows paths that work on every brand, the Dell, HP and Lenovo labels and lookups that show how a laptop left the factory, and how buyers and sellers put those numbers to work.
Quick Answer
Open Settings > System > About for the model name, processor and installed RAM, or open System Information for the System Model and System SKU. The serial number, which Dell calls the Service Tag, is printed on the label on the bottom of the laptop, and PowerShell shows it with Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS. Enter it on the maker’s support site to check the warranty, then use Dell’s original configuration lookup, HP’s product number or Lenovo’s PSREF to see exactly how the laptop shipped.
The Fastest Way on Any Windows Laptop: Settings and System Information
Windows has built-in tools that identify almost any laptop, whatever the brand. Check them before you flip the laptop over.
Settings. Right-click the Start button, choose Settings, then go to System > About. Microsoft’s guide to finding information about your Windows device notes that the model name appears just below the device name, and the Device specifications section lists the processor, installed RAM and whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit. Dell’s model number guide adds that Windows 11 also shows the model at the top of the Settings Home and System pages. It’s the same name to look up on Swappa’s price guide.
System Information. Search the Start menu for System Information, or press Win + R and type msinfo32. Its System Summary page goes further than Settings:
- System Manufacturer and System Model: the brand and the model.
- System SKU: a configuration code, when the maker fills it in. Microsoft’s SMBIOS guidance for PC makers describes this field as the identifier for a particular configuration sold and allows it to be left blank.
- Processor, Installed Physical Memory (RAM) and BIOS Version/Date.
On a Lenovo, the System Model line shows a 10-character machine type model instead of the marketing name. The Lenovo section below explains what to do with it.
PowerShell for the serial number. System Information doesn’t list the serial number. Older guides, including some manufacturer pages, still use wmic bios get serialnumber, but Microsoft has removed WMIC from supported versions of Windows 11 and points people to PowerShell. Open Windows PowerShell or Terminal and run:
Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object Manufacturer, Model, SystemSKUNumber
Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SerialNumber
The first line returns the maker, model and SKU. The second returns the serial number, which on a Dell is the Service Tag.
| Tool | How to Open It | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Right-click Start > Settings > System > About | Model name, processor, installed RAM, system type |
| System Information | Search for it, or run msinfo32 | System Model, System SKU, processor, RAM, BIOS version |
| PowerShell | The two Get-CimInstance commands above | Maker, model, SKU and serial number |
| Task Manager | Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Performance | Full CPU name, memory speed and slots, drive type and size, GPU |
Find RAM, Storage, CPU and GPU in Task Manager
Settings names the processor and the amount of RAM, and Task Manager fills in the rest. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select the Performance tab, and click through each item:
- CPU: the full processor name (for example, an Intel Core i5-1245U) and its base speed.
- Memory: total RAM, its speed, Slots used and the form factor.
- Disk: the drive’s model, its type (SSD or HDD) and its capacity. Settings > System > Storage shows how much of it is in use.
- GPU: the graphics chip and any dedicated GPU memory.
These are the specs a good listing spells out, so you can compare like with like across used Windows laptops on Swappa. What they mean for performance, and how much RAM and storage you need, is covered in Used Laptop Specs That Actually Matter.
Dell: Service Tag and Original Configuration Lookup
Every Dell laptop has a Service Tag, a 7-character alphanumeric code that identifies that one computer. Dell’s guide to locating a laptop’s Service Tag lists the usual places:
- The bottom cover, etched or on a sticker, sometimes labeled “SVC Tag” or “ST.”
- The BIOS: tap F2 while the laptop starts, then check the Overview or System Information page.
- SupportAssist, Dell’s preinstalled support app, which shows the tag on its main screen.
- PowerShell, using the
Win32_BIOScommand above.
The Service Tag unlocks Dell’s most useful lookup for used buyers and sellers. Enter it at Dell Support, then under Quick links select View product specs. Dell’s hardware configuration guide explains that the Original Configuration tab lists the processor, memory, storage and other parts the laptop shipped with, while Current Configuration has SupportAssist scan what’s installed now. The product’s support page also shows its warranty status.
That makes it easy to confirm a used Dell Latitude 5430 or Latitude 5420 matches the configuration a listing claims. For what the digits in a Latitude model number mean, see Modern Dell Laptops: Why They’re a Smart Buy (Especially Used), and browse every generation on the used Dell Latitude page.
HP: Product Number, Serial and the System Information Screen
HP labels carry two numbers that do different jobs. The product number (P/N on the label) identifies the model within a series, and many laptops share it. The serial number (S/N) is unique to your laptop, and it’s what HP uses for warranty status and service.
The quickest ways to see both on an HP notebook:
- Press Fn + Esc to open HP’s System Information window, which lists the product name, product number and serial number. HP’s support site notes that the shortcut works only on the notebook’s built-in keyboard, so it may not respond to an external or on-screen keyboard. HP desktops and all-in-ones use Ctrl + Alt + S instead, and on any HP you can search Windows for HP System Information.
- HP Support Assistant: open the app and check the My Dashboard tab.
- The label: usually on the bottom. HP’s guide to finding a laptop’s model number says some models put it on the side or back, inside the battery compartment or behind an access panel.
With the serial number in hand, HP’s warranty check shows the coverage. Business models such as the HP EliteBook 840 G8 and EliteBook 850 G8 are easy to confirm this way, and Decoding HP Laptops: Pavilion vs. Envy vs. EliteBook vs. ProBook vs. Spectre vs. Omen explains what each line is for. More models are on the used HP EliteBook page.
Lenovo: Machine Type Model, PSREF and Vantage
Lenovo identifies each model with a machine type model (MTM). Lenovo’s PSREF spec database describes it as a 10-character code, such as 21KC00C1SG, and the first four characters (21KC in that example) are the machine type. The serial number identifies your individual laptop.
Lenovo’s guide to finding PC serial numbers lists where to look:
- The label on the bottom. On a ThinkPad, the MTM sits right next to the serial number, and the product name is printed on the screen bezel.
- The BIOS. On a ThinkPad, the Main page shows the Machine Type Model and the system-unit serial number.
- Lenovo Vantage, which shows the system type and serial number on its main page.
- System Information, where the System Model line shows the MTM.
The MTM matters because one product name can cover different machines. The ThinkPad T14 Gen 2, for example, came with either Intel or AMD processors. Type the MTM into PSREF to see that model’s original specs (processor, memory, storage, display and more); models Lenovo no longer sells are under its Withdrawn Products search.
To check the warranty, enter the serial number in Lenovo’s warranty lookup. For what the T, X, E and P series letters mean, see Used ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide: T, X, E & P Series Explained, or browse used Lenovo ThinkPads.
Microsoft Surface, ASUS and Acer
Microsoft Surface. Open the Surface app and expand Device information to see the Surface model and serial number. Microsoft’s guide to identifying your Surface model also points to the System Model or System SKU line in System Information, and on a Surface, Settings > System > About lists the serial number. The printed serial is in an unusual spot, per Microsoft’s serial number guide: on a Surface Pro, flip out the kickstand and look near its base, and on a Surface Laptop, look under the keyboard near the hinge. Popular used models include the Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9, and Used Microsoft Surface Buyer’s Guide: Laptop vs. Pro vs. Go covers the lineup.
ASUS. ASUS’s serial number guide points to the label on the laptop, the BIOS (press F2 at startup) and the MyASUS app. Its model name guide adds the System Model line in System Information and the UEFI Version field on the BIOS screen. Swappa lists ASUS laptops by family, including Zenbook, ROG and TUF.
Acer. Acer prints the serial number and a shorter SNID (11 or 12 digits, no letters) on the label on the bottom, and its Acer Care Center app shows both. Browse used Acer Aspire and Acer Swift laptops on Swappa.
Where the Label Lives When a Laptop Won’t Turn On
If a laptop won’t start, the label and the original box are your way in. Here’s where each brand puts it.
| Brand or Line | Where the Label Is | What to Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Dell | Bottom cover, etched or on a sticker | Service Tag (7 characters) |
| HP | Bottom; on some models inside the battery compartment or behind an access panel | Product number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) |
| Lenovo ThinkPad | Sticker on the bottom; product name on the screen bezel | MTM and serial number |
| Lenovo IdeaPad and Yoga | Label on the bottom | Product name and serial number |
| Microsoft Surface Pro | Under the kickstand, near its base | Serial number (12 digits or 14 characters) |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop | Under the keyboard near the hinge | Serial number |
| ASUS | Label on the laptop | Model name and serial number |
| Acer | Label on the bottom | Serial number and SNID |
Each maker’s support site accepts the serial number or Service Tag even if the laptop is dead, so you can still pull up the model, the warranty and, on a Dell, the original configuration. A laptop that won’t power on can’t be listed on Swappa, since listings must be fully functional, so use the numbers to get a repair quote. Cracked Screen, Dead Keys, Spilled Drinks: Repair vs. Replace Math helps you decide whether the fix is worth it or whether to shop for a replacement instead.
Buying Used? Use the Service Tag to Check a Listing
A model name tells you the family. The serial number, Service Tag or MTM tells you the exact machine. Before you buy:
- Ask for the numbers. Request the Service Tag or serial number (plus the MTM on a Lenovo), or photos of the bottom label and the Settings About screen. On Swappa, you can ask in the listing comments before you buy.
- Look up the original configuration. Use Dell’s View product specs, HP’s product number or Lenovo’s PSREF, and compare the processor, memory and storage with the listing.
- Check the warranty. The same lookups show whether any manufacturer coverage remains. Whether it transfers to a new owner depends on the maker’s terms.
- Check the processor against Windows 11 support. With the exact processor name, Will This Used Laptop Run Windows 11? shows how to match it to Microsoft’s list.
More memory or storage than the original configuration isn’t automatically a problem, since some owners upgrade them. A different processor or model is worth a question before you pay.
When the laptop arrives, compare the label and the About screen with the listing, then run the hands-on checks in How to Inspect a Used Laptop Before You Buy. Real people approve Swappa listings before they go live, and if a laptop isn’t the model or configuration described, you’re entitled to a refund under Swappa’s returns policy.
Selling? Match Your Laptop to the Right Swappa Listing
Buyers shop by exact model, and prices follow. Swappa sale data from early October 2026 shows a Latitude 5420 with a Core i5 and 512GB selling for about $256, while a Latitude 5430 with the same processor tier and storage sold for about $352, and a 5430 with a Core i7 for about $462. Two model numbers one digit apart, and two configurations of the same model, each land about $100 apart. Prices change, so check the current numbers before you list.
That’s why the details from this guide belong in your listing:
- Pick the exact model when you list. Swappa’s catalog has separate pages for most business models, so choose yours and the processor and storage that match, rather than a catch-all family listing.
- Put the specifics in the description: the full processor name, RAM, storage, screen and Windows edition, all from Settings and Task Manager.
- Prepare it properly. How to Sell a Used Laptop for the Most Money covers the reset, pricing and photos.
Listing is free, and Swappa’s 3% seller fee applies only when the laptop sells, plus payment processing. For the bigger picture on buying and selling, see Used Laptops: The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling (2026).
FAQ
How do I find my laptop’s model number in Windows 11?
Open Settings, then System > About. The model name appears just below the device name, along with the processor and installed RAM. For more detail, open System Information (search for it or run msinfo32) and read the System Model and System SKU lines. On a Lenovo, System Model shows the machine type model rather than the marketing name.
What is a Dell Service Tag?
It’s a 7-character alphanumeric code that identifies one specific Dell computer. It’s printed on the bottom of the laptop and shown in the BIOS (tap F2 at startup) and in Dell SupportAssist. Enter it at Dell Support to see the warranty status, then select View product specs to see the original configuration the laptop shipped with.
How do I find the product number on an HP laptop?
Press Fn and Esc together on the laptop’s built-in keyboard to open HP’s System Information window, which lists the product name, product number and serial number. You can also search Windows for HP System Information, open the My Dashboard tab in HP Support Assistant, or check the label on the bottom of the laptop.
What is a Lenovo machine type model (MTM)?
It’s Lenovo’s 10-character code for a specific model, such as 21KC00C1SG, and its first four characters are the machine type. On a ThinkPad, it sits next to the serial number on the bottom label and appears in the BIOS. Typing it into Lenovo’s PSREF site shows that model’s original specifications.
Does wmic still work to find a laptop’s serial number?
Not on current Windows 11. Microsoft has removed WMIC from supported versions of Windows 11, so commands like wmic bios get serialnumber no longer run. In PowerShell, Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS shows the serial number (the Service Tag on a Dell), and Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem shows the maker and model.
How do I find the model of a laptop that won’t turn on?
Check the label on the bottom of the laptop or the original box. Surface devices put it elsewhere: under the kickstand on a Surface Pro and under the keyboard near the hinge on a Surface Laptop. Enter the serial number or Service Tag on the maker’s support site to see the model, the warranty and, for a Dell, the original configuration.
Conclusion
The model name gets you to the right family, and the serial number, Service Tag or MTM gets you to the exact machine and how it shipped. Start with Settings and System Information, use PowerShell for the serial number, and lean on Dell’s original configuration lookup, HP’s System Information screen and Lenovo’s PSREF for the details. Then use those numbers to price your laptop accurately or confirm a listing before you buy.
Shopping instead? Compare used laptops on Swappa by exact model.
