How to Check Specs on a Windows PC

Whether you don't know the specs of your Windows PC or just forgot about them, you can find them quickly. Programs and features can only run if you meet the minimum specs required, so researching them will help you know if you can install and run something on your PC.

Luckily, finding your PC's specs is pretty straightforward. Even if you have changed or upgraded parts, this will still show up. In this article, we'll show you how to find your spec for different versions of Windows.

How to check your PC specs in Windows 10

There are four ways to find your spec on a Windows 10 PC.

Control panel

With just a few mouse clicks, you can reveal details about your processor, installed RAM, and the version of Windows you're using. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows icon in the lower left corner.
   
2. Type "Control" in the search bar.
   
3. Select "Control Panel".
   
4. Click on “System”.
   

You will see all of your specs displayed. To open this Control Panel page faster, press Windows key + Pause Break.

Settings

In Settings, you can find comparable information and some additional facts about the version of Windows you're using. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select "Settings" from the Start menu.
   
2. Click on “System”.
   
3. Select "About".
   

You'll see the processor, system memory (RAM), architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and pen and touch capabilities in the "Device Specifications" section. You will see the following software specifications in the "Windows specifications" section:

• Edition — Shows which edition of Windows 10 you have (Pro, Home).
• OS Version – Indicates the technical version number of the Windows version. The first five digits reflect the version, and anything after the period indicates the most recent quality update released to the device.
• Installed on – Indicates when the most recent feature update was installed.
• Version — Shows the current version of Windows on the PC and version updates with each semi-annual update you apply.
• Experience — Displays the service feature pack that has been installed on the device.

System information

Windows System Information stores much more detailed information about your computer. To access this information, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
   
2. Type "system information" in the search bar.
   
3. Most of the information you want is on the first page, in the System Summary node. You can also click on each node in the left sidebar to get more details.
   
4. To view information about your video card, go to "Components", then "Display".
   

DirectX diagnostic tool

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool, or DxDiag, is a Windows program that provides accurate information about the graphics card and audio devices installed in your PC. To verify these specifications, the steps are as follows:

1. Open the Start menu.
   
2. Type “dxdiag” in the search bar.
   
3. To view the full graphics card specifications, go to the "Display" page. You can also check your audio information by clicking the "Sound" tabs. The "System" tab includes the same information as the other tabs.
   

How to Check Your PC Specs on a Windows 11 PC

There are five ways to check the specs of your Windows 11 PC.

System properties

Because it's simple, this is favored by most users on a Windows 11 PC. Follow the steps below to find out your specs:

1. Right-click on "This PC" on your desktop.
   
2. Select “Properties”.
   

This will display basic information about your PC in a new window. Details like Windows 11 operating system version, system processor, installed memory (RAM), system type (32 or 64 bit OS), computer name, etc. can be found here.

Settings

1. Open the Start menu and select "Settings".
   
2. Go to "System".
   
3. Choose "About".
   

This will open a window displaying your device specifications. Specifications include device name, processor, installed RAM, device ID, product ID, system type, and touchscreen information. You can also see Windows details such as edition, version, installation date, and OS version when you scroll down.

DCM

1. Launch the command prompt. To do this, press Window + R. This will launch the RUN window.
   
2. Type "cmd" and press "Enter".
   
3. Type the following command in the prompt: systeminfo
   
4. Press Enter. »
   

System information

This method again uses the RUN window. The steps are as follows:

1. Press Window key + R.
   
2. Type the following command: msinfo32
   
3. Press Enter. »
   

This approach will provide much more complete information about your system than the other methods listed above.

PowerShell

1. Open the Start menu and search for "PowerShell".
   
2. Click on the PowerShell icon and select "Run as administrator".
   
3. Type the following command: Get-ComputerInf
   
4. Press "Enter".
   

When you run the command, the PowerShell interface displays the characteristics of the entire device.

How to check the specs of your Windows 8 PC?

To know the specifications of your Windows 8 PC, you will need to open the System panel. This can be done in several ways.

One way is through the Spells Bar. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Charms bar.
2. Select “Settings”.
   
3. Go to “PC Information”.
   

These steps will display the System panel. You can view the processor you have, the amount of installed memory (RAM) you have, and the type of system you have on the System panel (32-bit or 64-bit). You'll also see the edition of Windows you're using at the top of the screen and your computer's name at the bottom.

Another way is to open the Control Panel. To do this, the steps are:

1. Open the charms bar and go to "Settings".
   
2. Select "Control Panel".
   
3. Open system. »
   

Look in the left menu of the System panel to see your graphics card. You will find a link to "Device Manager" at the top of the menu. Click on it to launch the feature.

Device Manager displays a list of all your devices.

Click on “Display adapters” to see information about your graphics card. You will see all of your installed graphics cards, including the integrated graphics on your motherboard. To get additional information about a graphics card, right-click it, select "Properties" and the "Details" tab.

If you want to know more about the hard drive you have, follow these steps:

1. Open the charm bar and search for “Optimize”.
2. Select "Defragment and optimize your drives" to access the "Optimize drives" tool.

How to Check Your PC Specs on a Windows 7 PC

Similar to the Windows versions already mentioned, you have more than one way to check your PC specs on Windows 7.

One way is to use keyboard shortcuts. Simultaneously press the Windows button and the Pause Break key. This shortcut will launch a window displaying your system information, including a list of specifications.

Another easy way to get your computer's specs is to right-click the Computer icon on your desktop. A menu will appear, with a "Properties" option at the bottom. When you click on "Properties", a window containing the specifications of your computer will open.

You can also use the Control Panel. To do this, the steps are:

1. Open the Start menu and select "Control Panel" from the options.
   
2. Go to “System and Security”.
   
3. Select "System".
   

When you enter Control Panel, click "Hardware and Sound" rather than "System and Security" if you want specs for the various devices connected to your PC. The "Hardware and Sound" tool helps you install new hardware, configure hardware related to your computer, and determine the specifications of your existing devices.

A few simple specs are available through File Explorer. Even though the other methods we've already mentioned above give you more detailed specs, using File Explorer is a quick and straightforward approach to locating some specs.

When you select your hard drive in File Explorer, the lower part of your screen will show a few characteristics, such as your hard drive's capacity, free space, and processor specifications.

Another way is to use the command prompt. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the start menu and search for "cmd".
2. Type the following command: systeminfo.exe
3. Press Enter. »

Know your PC

Knowing your computer's specifications can allow you to make more informed software and hardware selections. Knowing the specific model of your hardware can also help you identify technical difficulties. Plus, it can help you decide whether certain rooms are worth upgrading or not.

Do you know the specs of your PC? How do you usually check them? Let us know in the comment section below!