How to check if Windows 11 is installed on your PC

• To check whether Windows 11 is already installed on your computer, use the “winver” command and the “About” settings page.
• Alternatively, the operating system features distinctive visuals, such as a blue Start button and a Taskbar aligned to the center.
• This content has been updated with new information and revised to ensure accuracy. – July 14, 2026.

Windows 11 was first released on October 5, 2021, and has since received several feature updates, including versions 25H2, 24H2, 23H2, and 22H2. While the operating system introduced a redesigned interface and modern features that clearly distinguish it from Windows 10, not every user may be sure which version or edition is installed on their device.

Although the easiest way to check whether Windows 11 is already running on your computer is by simply noticing the new blue Start icon in the Taskbar or the new centered alignment for the Start menu and Taskbar, you can also check what version is installed on your laptop or desktop computer using the “winver” command and the “About” settings page.

Related

How to check if Windows 11 25H2 is installed on your PC

Is My Computer Running Windows 10 or Windows 11?

If you aren’t sure which operating system you have just by looking at your desktop, the absolute fastest giveaway is your Taskbar and Start menu layout:

Windows 11: By default, your app icons and the blue Start button are centered at the bottom of the screen. The windows also feature subtly rounded corners, and hovering over the maximize button reveals snap layout options.

Windows 10: The Start button and your pinned apps are locked to the far bottom-left corner of the screen, and all windows have sharp, squared-off edges.

Are you still on Windows 10? Remember that official support has officially ended. If your check reveals you are still running Windows 10, follow my complete guide to the upgrade process (and this one on forcing the upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware) to stay secure.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to verify if Windows 11 is already installed on your computer. You can also track the history of cumulative updates and preview builds on the Windows Build Tracker page.

• Check if Windows 11 is installed using winver
• Check if Windows 11 is installed using Settings

Check if Windows 11 is installed using winver

To check whether Windows 11 is installed on your device, use these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for winver and press Enter.

   

   Quick tip: You can also use the “Windows key + R” keyboard shortcut, type the winver command, and click the OK button.

3. Check that the “About Windows” dialog reads “Windows 11,” as in the screenshot in step 2, to confirm you’re running Windows 11.

4. Check that the “About Windows” dialog in the screenshot above matches the information to confirm the version of Windows 11 installed on your device.

If the dialog displays “Version 25H2” along with “OS Build 26200.xxxx” or a higher build number, then that confirms the device has the latest version of Windows 11 installed. It could also read version 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, or 24H2, which indicates that you’re running Windows 11 but an older version.

At the time of this writing, Microsoft is also working on version 26H2, and the build number is expected to be in the 26300 series.

Check if Windows 11 is installed using Settings

To confirm the device has Windows 11 installed with the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the About page on the right side.

4. Check the “Windows specifications” section and confirm that the “Edition” is “Windows 11,” as shown in the screenshot below.

   

5. Check the “Version” field to confirm the Windows 11 version installed on your device, as shown in the screenshot.

If the “About” page shows the 25H2 number and the build number is equal to or higher than “26200.xxxx,” then you are running Windows 11. It is worth noting that the edition will also tell you whether the installation is using “Windows 11 Pro” or “Windows 11 Home.”

As I mentioned earlier, the next version of the operating system is in development and is expected to be version 26H2, with builds in the 26300 series.