Now, one year after the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft has released its first major update for this operating system (OS): Windows 11 2022 Update or version 22H2. This is only the first of many major updates to come, and many people don’t really know whether they have the latest version installed or not. To help you find the Windows 11 OS version you’re using, read this article. It also teaches you how to find your Windows 11 build number and edition:

How to check the Windows 11 version number and OS Build the fast way

The quickest way to find out what version of Windows 11 you have is to use the winver tool. Click or tap on the Search button next to Start, type winver and select the search result bearing the same name.

Search for winver

Alternatively, you could press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run window, type winver in its Open text field, and then press Enter or click OK.

Type winver in the Run window and press Enter

A window called About Windows pops up. In it, you get to see the Windows 11 version you have, as well as its OS Build and the Windows 11 edition. For example, on my laptop, I have Windows 11 Pro, version 22H2, OS Build 22621.382.

About Windows shows your Windows 11 version, build, and edition

I’ll explain what all these numbers and terms mean in the last sections of this article. Keep reading to find out what Windows 11 versions and editions there are and what the numbers next to OS build mean.

How to check what Windows 11 version you use from the Settings app

An alternative for getting the same information is offered by the Settings app. Start by opening Settings: a fast way to do that is to simultaneously press Windows + I on your keyboard. With System selected on the left sidebar, scroll down the right side of the window and click or tap About.

In Windows 11's Settings, go to System > About

This opens the About page for your computer. On it, you get details regarding your computer and operating system. The information we’re looking for is:

• System type - listed under Device specifications, it tells you that Windows 11 is a 64-bit operating system.
• Edition - shown in the Windows specifications section, tells you what Windows 11 edition you own: Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise, etc.
• Version - listed in the Windows specifications section, displays the version of Windows 11 you’re using.
• OS Build - also part of the Windows specifications list, shows you the exact Windows 11 build you’re using.

Check the Windows 11 version, OS Build, edition, and type

TIP: Notice your computer name on the top side of the About window. If you don’t like how it’s named, here’s how to change your PC name.

How to find the OS version in Windows 11 using System Information

Another app that you can use to find the Windows 11 version and build you have is System Information. To open this app, click or tap the Search button, type system information and click or tap on the search result with the same name. For other ways to start this app, read this guide: 10 ways to start System Information in Windows.

Search for system information

As soon as System Information opens, you see the OS Name and Version fields displayed front and center, letting you know which edition of Windows 11 you’re using, as well as its version number and build number.

See the Windows 11 version in System Information

How to check the Windows 11 version using commands (in Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Command Prompt)

If you prefer using a command-line environment, open your favorite app:

• 9 ways to open the Windows Terminal
• How to open Command Prompt (14 ways)
• 9 ways to open PowerShell in Windows

In any of them, type or copy and paste this command:

Then, press the Enter key to execute it and see the information you need.

Find your Windows 11 version and build number using wmic in cmd

Notice how each field has its own column, presenting the information you’ve requested: BuildNumber, Caption (telling you the Windows 11 edition you’re using), and Version.

Alternatively, you can also use this command to get the same information:

Find your Windows 11 version and build number using systeminfo in cmd

This command returns the OS Name (the Windows 11 edition you’re using) and the OS Version, which shows you the Windows 11 version number and the Build.

A simpler command you can use, which reveals only the version number and build, is this:

The ver command presents less information

As you might’ve noticed, the commands we’ve shared output information that looks a bit different from the one shown by winver or Settings. The commands list Windows 11’s Version as a series of numbers that also include the OS build. The same goes for the System Information app. In the earlier examples, the (build) numbers shown after 10.0 are 22621. This build number is the one that helps you make sense of the exact Windows 11 version you’re using, so continue reading.

What do Windows 11 version numbers mean?

Microsoft will keep updating Windows 11 and, theoretically, release one major update each year. Each update has a specific version number, and each one comes with new features, new apps, under-the-hood changes and improvements, and so on. For now, there are only two Windows 11 versions released to the general public:

• Version 21H2 or build 22000 - The initial release of Windows 11, launched in October 2021. Here’s a list of its best features.
• Version 22H2 or build 22621 - The first major update to Windows 11, released in September 2022. Here’s what’s new in Windows 11 2022 Update (version 22H2).
• Version 23H2 - The second major update to Windows 11, which will be released in the second half of 2023.

Windows 11 editions: What’s different about them?

You can have one of the following editions of Windows 11 installed on your computer or device:

• Windows 11 Home. This is one of the main Windows 11 editions, intended for home users. It includes consumer features and requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account to complete the initial setup. It lacks business features like BitLocker encryption or virtualization.
• Windows 11 Pro. This is the second main edition of Windows 11. It includes everything from the Home edition but also adds features for business environments and power users, such as BitLocker and the ability to join a domain.
• Windows 11 Pro for Workstations. Similar to Windows 11 Pro, but it also includes support for additional tools useful to professionals, like advanced processing, resilient data storage, and faster file-sharing.
• Windows 11 SE. This edition of Windows 11 is designed for low-end computers and addressed to education and academic organizations. It is a successor for Windows 10 S.
• Windows 11 Education. Just like Windows 11 SE, this edition is designed for academic organizations. However, it comes with more features, and it’s not targeted exclusively at low-end devices.
• Windows 11 Pro Education. A more advanced edition designed for academic organizations. It contains most features found in Windows 11 Pro and some additional useful tools.
• Windows 11 Enterprise. It provides all the features of Windows 11 Pro, with additional features to assist network administrators and technology-oriented companies.
• Windows 11 Mixed Reality. This edition is designed for mixed reality or virtual reality devices like Microsoft Hololens. It won’t be found on laptops, PCs, tablets, etc.

Besides the Windows 11 editions listed above, Microsoft might also sell other types of specialized editions, such as N and KN. These are editions of Windows 11 that don’t come with Windows Media Player, Media Player, and other multimedia features. N versions are sold in Europe, while KN versions are available in Korea. They exist only to comply with antitrust laws in these regions, where Microsoft has been found guilty of abusing its monopoly to hurt competing video and audio applications. N and KN can apply to various editions of Windows 11. For example, you can have Windows 11 Home N, Windows 11 Pro N, etc.

What's the Windows 11 OS build?

The OS Build number increases each time significant updates are applied to Windows 11. This information is helpful if you need to know the version of Windows 11 you use, as explained earlier in the “What do Windows 11 version numbers mean?” section of this guide. Furthermore, they’re also useful for troubleshooting purposes. For example, if you stumble upon a bug and contact Microsoft’s support engineers, the OS Build lets them know your exact version of Windows 11 and what updates are required to fix the issue. You can find out more about the evolution of Windows 11 build numbers here: Windows 11 release information.

What’s the Windows 11 system type?

The system type only tells you that Windows 11 uses the 64-bit register of the processor. As Windows 11 only works on 64-bit processors, we find this information rather redundant.

What Windows 11 version and edition do you use?

Now you know how to find the Windows 11 version and edition you have. Before leaving, share your Windows 11 version, edition, and build number with us. We are curious to discover the most popular Windows 11 editions with our readers.