Knowing the version of your operating system (OS) is crucial for compatibility checks, troubleshooting, and ensuring your system meets the requirements for certain applications. Using the command line to find this information is quick and efficient. In this blog, we’ll explore how to determine the OS version using command-line tools for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Finding OS Version on Windows

Using Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is a built-in Windows application that provides a command-line interface for interacting with the OS. Here are a few commands to find the OS version:

1. Using ver Command:

   ver

     

   


   This command will display the OS version.

2. Using systeminfo Command:

   systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"

   

   


   This command provides detailed information about your system, including the OS name and version.

3. Using wmic Command:

   wmic os get Caption,Version,BuildNumber,OSArchitecture

   

   


   This command retrieves various details about the OS, including the version and build number.

Using PowerShell

PowerShell is a more advanced command-line shell and scripting language. Here’s how to find the OS version with PowerShell:

1. Using Get-ComputerInfo:

   Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object CsName, WindowsVersion, WindowsBuildLabEx

   

   


   This command provides comprehensive information about the computer, including the OS version.

2. Using Get-WmiObject:

   Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem | Select-Object Caption, Version, BuildNumber

   

   


   This command retrieves details about the OS using WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation).

Finding OS Version on Linux

Using uname Command

The uname command in Linux provides system information.

1. Basic OS Version:

   uname -r

   

   


   This command displays the kernel version.

2. Detailed OS Information:

   uname -a

   

   


   This command provides comprehensive information about the system.

Using /etc/*release Files

Most modern Linux distributions include files in the /etc directory that contain OS version information.

1. Using lsb_release Command:

   lsb_release -a

   

   


   This command displays detailed information about the Linux distribution.

2. Using /etc/os-release File:

   cat /etc/os-release

   

   


   This file contains information about the OS, including the name and version.

3. Using /etc/lsb-release File:

   cat /etc/lsb-release

   

   


   This file provides additional distribution-specific information.

Finding OS Version on macOS

Using sw_vers Command

The sw_vers command in macOS provides software version information.

1. Basic OS Information:

   sw_vers

   

   


   This command displays the product name, version, and build number of the OS.

Using system_profiler Command

The system_profiler command provides detailed information about the hardware and software of the system.

1. Detailed OS Information:

   system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType

   

   


   This command displays detailed software information, including the OS version.

Conclusion

Using the command line to find the OS version is a quick and efficient method across different operating systems. Whether you’re using Windows, Linux, or macOS, these commands can provide you with the necessary details about your OS version. This knowledge is not only useful for system administrators and developers but also for any user who needs to check their system’s compatibility with certain software or troubleshoot issues.