How To Check What My Laptop Model Is | Find It In 60 Seconds

Your laptop’s model name is shown in system settings, and it’s also printed on a label or etched on the bottom case.

Knowing your exact laptop model saves time when you’re shopping for a charger, checking warranty status, downloading drivers, or ordering a replacement keyboard. The catch is that laptops often show more than one “name.” You might see a friendly series name (like “IdeaPad 5”), a longer product name (like “IdeaPad 5 15ITL05”), and a service tag or serial number. This article shows where each one lives, how to grab it in under a minute, and how to double-check it when the sticker is worn.

What Counts As Your “Laptop Model”

Most manufacturers label a laptop in three layers:

• Marketing name: The family name used in ads and retail listings (think “XPS 13” or “Pavilion”).
• Exact model string: The full model line that matches parts, manuals, and driver pages (often includes letters and numbers).
• Identifier for service: Serial number, service tag, or SKU that a brand uses to pull your exact configuration.

If you only need a laptop sleeve, the marketing name may be enough. If you’re ordering a battery, hinge kit, RAM, or screen, you want the exact model string, plus the service identifier when possible.

How To Check What My Laptop Model Is On Any System

Start with the easiest place: the operating system. If the laptop boots, you can usually see the model name without tools or downloads. If it won’t boot, skip to the label and firmware sections later.

Try This First: The Fast Two-Step Check

1. Open your system “About” page (Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux all have one).
2. Write down the model name, then grab the serial or service tag from the same screen or the sticker underneath.

This two-step habit prevents mix-ups, since two laptops from the same family can share a similar marketing name.

Check Your Laptop Model In Windows 11 Or Windows 10

Windows gives you a quick “About” view, plus deeper tools that show the manufacturer’s model string.

Use Settings For The Simple View

Go to Settings → System → About. You’ll see device specs and your device name. On many laptops, the model is shown near the manufacturer line or device description. If Settings shows a generic name, don’t worry. The next two methods pull the model string straight from the system firmware.

Use System Information To Get “System Model”

Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, then press Enter. In the System Summary view, look for:

• System Manufacturer
• System Model
• System SKU (often matches the configuration)

Microsoft documents how to run this tool and what it’s called: Microsoft’s description of the System Information (msinfo32) tool.

Use Command Line When You Need A Copy-Paste Result

These built-in commands are handy when you’re sending your model to a repair shop or filling out a driver form:

• Command Prompt:wmic csproduct get name, identifyingnumber
• PowerShell:Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object Manufacturer, Model

WMIC is being phased out on newer Windows builds, so PowerShell is the safer bet if you hit an error.

Check Your Laptop Model On A MacBook

On a MacBook, the model name and serial number are shown right in macOS. Click the Apple menu () and choose About This Mac. You’ll see the model name and serial number in that window. Apple spells out the same steps on its Mac model and serial page: Apple’s page on finding your Mac model name and serial number.

When You Need The Model Identifier

Some driver pages and parts lists use a model identifier like MacBookPro18,3. To find it:

1. Hold Option, open the Apple menu (), then click System Information.
2. In the sidebar, select Hardware.
3. Find Model Identifier and Model Number.

The model identifier is great for matching compatibility lists. The serial number is better for warranty checks and exact configuration lookups.

Check Your Laptop Model On A Chromebook

Chromebooks can show a friendly device name that doesn’t match the board name used by Google’s update lists. Grab both.

Use Settings And Diagnostics

• Open Settings → About ChromeOS → Diagnostics to see hardware details.
• On many models, Model and SKU appear in the device info area.

If you see a “board” name (sometimes called a codename), jot it down too. It’s useful when you’re checking firmware guides or update notes.

Check Your Laptop Model On Linux

Linux usually reports the laptop model pulled from DMI data. You can get it from settings, or grab it in Terminal.

Use Terminal Commands

• hostnamectl (look for “Hardware Model”)
• sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name (needs admin rights)
• cat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/product_name

If the output looks vague, check the underside label too. Some older systems report a family name instead of the full product line.

Where Laptop Model Info Shows Up Most Often

Different screens reveal different parts of your laptop’s identity. This table helps you pick the fastest method for your situation.

Method	Where To Look	What You’ll Get
Windows Settings	Settings → System → About	Device specs, sometimes model line
Windows System Information	Run msinfo32 → System Summary	System Model, SKU, BIOS version
Windows PowerShell	Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem	Manufacturer + model string for copy/paste
macOS About This Mac	Apple menu () → About This Mac	Model name + serial number
macOS System Information	Apple menu () → System Information	Model Identifier, Model Number, hardware details
Chromebook Diagnostics	Settings → About ChromeOS → Diagnostics	Model, SKU, device details
Linux Terminal	hostnamectl or DMI files in /sys	Hardware model from firmware
BIOS/UEFI Setup	Boot menu → System Information	Model, serial, board name on many laptops
Bottom Case Label	Underside sticker or etched text	Exact model code, serial/service tag, regulatory IDs

Find The Model When The Laptop Won’t Boot

A dead screen doesn’t block you. You can still pull the model from the chassis or firmware. Start with the outside, then move inward.

Check The Bottom Case And Hinge Area

Flip the laptop over and scan for:

• A long model string (often near the brand logo or regulatory box)
• A serial number or service tag
• A product number or “Type” code

On some models, the sticker is inside the battery bay or under a removable service door. If the sticker is scratched, shine a phone flashlight across it from the side. Angled light often makes faint printing readable.

Use BIOS Or UEFI System Information

If the laptop powers on but won’t load the OS, enter firmware setup:

• Tap F2, Del, or Esc right after pressing power (the exact button varies by brand).
• Look for a page labeled Information, Main, or System.

Many laptops show model name, serial number, CPU, and memory on that first screen. Write down what you see before you exit.

Model Name Vs. Model Number Vs. SKU: What To Share

When someone asks “what model is your laptop,” they might mean different fields. Here’s a quick way to decide what to hand over.

If You’re Buying Accessories

For sleeves, stands, and most USB-C docks, the marketing name plus screen size is often enough. You can usually say “Dell XPS 13” and you’re fine.

If You’re Buying Parts Or Drivers

Use the full model string or system model value, plus the SKU or service tag. That pairing narrows it down to the exact hinge, keyboard layout, display cable, and battery type that fits your build.

How Common Identifiers Differ

These fields show up in settings screens, stickers, and repair forms. Knowing the difference keeps you from ordering the wrong part.

Identifier	Looks Like	Used For
Marketing Name	“ThinkPad T14”	Shopping, general compatibility talk
Model String	“T14 Gen 3 (Type 21AH)”	Parts, manuals, driver pages
System Model	Shown in msinfo32	Accurate model from firmware on Windows
SKU / Product Number	Short code like “7Z8X1UA”	Exact configuration, regional variants
Serial / Service Tag	Long unique string	Warranty checks, repair intake
Model Identifier (Mac)	“MacBookAir10,1”	Matching macOS compatibility lists

Spot And Fix Common Mix-Ups

Model hunting is simple until you hit naming collisions. These are the traps that waste time.

Two Laptops Share The Same Family Name

Brands reuse names for years. “IdeaPad 3” from 2019 and “IdeaPad 3” from 2023 can take different chargers, screens, and batteries. Use a model string that includes the year or generation, or pair the family name with a SKU.

The Sticker Shows A Regulatory Code

Regulatory IDs are for compliance, not parts matching. They may start with “FCC ID” or use a short code that doesn’t match retail listings. If that’s all you can find, use BIOS/UEFI info or a settings screen instead.

Windows Shows A Generic Value

Some installs show a plain desktop board name. Switch to msinfo32 or PowerShell to pull the manufacturer’s “System Model” value.

When You Need The Model For A Warranty Or Trade-In

Warranty portals and trade-in forms often accept either the model name or a serial/service tag. If you’re typing it manually, copy it from the screen when you can. Hand-typed serial numbers fail on confusing characters like O and 0, or I and 1.

Use A Photo As A Backup

Take a clear photo of the underside label and another of the system “About” screen. Store them in a folder named with the laptop’s main model line. Next time you need a driver, you’ll thank yourself.

One-Minute Checklist You Can Save

If you want a repeatable routine, use this short checklist. It works for most laptops, even after a reinstall.

1. Get the model from the OS “About” page.
2. Confirm it in a deeper tool (msinfo32 on Windows, System Information on macOS, hostnamectl on Linux).
3. Grab the serial/service tag from the same screen or the underside label.
4. Snap two photos: label + “About” screen.
5. Save the model string and serial in a note so you can copy/paste later.

If you do those five steps once, you’ll rarely need to hunt for your laptop model again.