How to Get Serial Numbers from CMD on Windows PCs Today

Learn how to extract a device serial number using Windows CMD. This guide covers WMIC, CSProduct, and PowerShell methods with practical examples and tips.

Hardware Serials Team

February 3, 2026·5 min read

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Quick AnswerDefinition

To get serial numbers from CMD on Windows, query BIOS or system data with WMIC, CSProduct, or PowerShell. Typical commands return the BIOS serial, motherboard serial, or system identifying number. Run these in an elevated CMD window and interpret the resulting SerialNumber or IdentifyingNumber fields. If a field is blank, try alternate classes like Win32_BIOS, Win32_BaseBoard, or Win32_ComputerSystemProduct.

Why cmd-based serial lookups matter in modern IT

Serial numbers are essential for inventorying hardware, validating warranties, and tracking devices across fleets. For DIYers and professionals, Windows CMD offers quick, repeatable methods to fetch identifiers such as BIOS SerialNumber, motherboard IdentifyingNumber, or disk SerialNumber. According to Hardware Serials, the ability to pull these values directly from the command line reduces manual checking and speeds up asset management. This section introduces the core concepts and sets expectations for what you can extract with CMD, PowerShell, and remote queries.

Bash

wmic bios get serialnumber

This command displays the BIOS serial on most Windows machines. If the field is blank, other WMI classes may hold the information you need.

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Steps

Estimated time: 45-75 minutes

1
Open an elevated CMD session
Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Elevation helps when querying protected classes like BIOS or motherboard data.
Tip: If you see Access Denied, you likely need admin rights or to enable WMI access on the target machine.
2
Run a BIOS serial query
Enter the BIOS serial command to fetch the system’s BIOS serial number. This is the most common serial you'll encounter for the whole device.
Tip: Use WMIC on local machines first before attempting remote queries.
3
Query the baseboard/ motherboard
If BIOS serial is unavailable, query the baseboard or motherboard class to pull an identifying number or serial identifier.
Tip: Some devices expose IdentifyingNumber instead of a true SerialNumber.
4
Query disk drive serials for storage assets
Disk drive sernums help inventory storage hardware, but note that many drives won’t expose a serial in the same way as BIOS.
Tip: Combine results from BIOS, baseboard, and disk drives for full coverage.
5
Study output and export results
Redirect results to a file for auditing or inventory tooling so you can share the data with teammates.
Tip: Use > or >> to append and log outputs for later processing.

Pro Tip: Prefer PowerShell Get-CimInstance when querying remote machines or newer systems; it’s more reliable on modern Windows builds.

Warning: WMIC is deprecated in some environments. Plan to migrate to PowerShell-based queries when possible.

Note: Always verify the exact WMI class and property names on your OS version; aliases and property names can vary by vendor.

Pro Tip: For consistency, script your lookups and export to CSV for easier inventory processing.

Prerequisites

Required

Windows 10/11 environment with CMD access
Required
Administrative privileges for some queries
Required
Basic familiarity with CMD or PowerShell
Required

Optional

Optional: PowerShell (Get-CimInstance) installed (Windows ships with it)
Optional

Commands

Action	Command
Show BIOS serial numberPlain CMD; works on most BIOS-based machines	`wmic bios get serialnumber`
Show motherboard/baseboard serialIf IdentifyingNumber exists on the baseboard class	`wmic baseboard get product, identifynumber`
Show disk drive serial numbersUseful for inventorying storage hardware	`wmic diskdrive get serialnumber`

Frequently Asked Questions

What Windows commands reliably show the BIOS serial number?

The most common command is WMIC BIOS GET SERIALNUMBER. It returns the BIOS serial number on many systems. If the value is blank, try alternative WMI classes like Win32_BIOS, Win32_BaseBoard, or Win32_ComputerSystemProduct to locate an identifying serial.

Why might a serial number be blank in CMD output?

Some hardware vendors disable remote or command-line access to serial fields, or the system uses a non-standard property. In those cases, try Get-CimInstance in PowerShell or consult the vendor documentation for the correct class and property.

Is WMIC still supported on Windows 11 for serial queries?

WMIC remains available on Windows 11 for backward compatibility but is deprecated. For future-proof scripts, use PowerShell remoting with Get-CimInstance or Get-WmiObject alternatives.

Can I get serial numbers from remote machines using CMD?

Yes, you can query remote machines by specifying the node name with WMIC, e.g., 'wmic /node:SERVERNAME bios get serialnumber'. Ensure you have network access and administrative credentials on the remote host.

How do I export serial numbers to a file for inventory?

Redirect the command output to a file, for example: 'wmic bios get serialnumber > bios_serials.txt'. You can append multiple commands or format for CSV in PowerShell for easier ingestion by inventory tools.