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Windows 11 uses the phrase Device ID for more than one identifier. In most cases, the value people want is the GUID shown in Settings > System > About. However, an IT technician may instead be asking for a hardware UUID, a manufacturer serial number, a component Hardware ID, or a Microsoft Entra device ID.
Use the section that matches the wording in the request. These identifiers are not interchangeable.
Find the Device ID in Windows 11 Settings
If an app, support page, or technician asks for the Windows 11 Device ID, start here:
- Open Settings. You can press Windows key + I.
- Select System.
- Select About.
- Expand or view Device specifications.
- Read the value next to Device ID.
The ID normally looks like a GUID:
XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXXThe same page also displays the device name, processor, installed RAM, system type, Windows edition, and other Windows specifications.
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Quickly open the About page
Press the Windows key, type About, and select the About system-settings result. You can also right-click Start, choose Settings, and go to System > About.
Do not confuse Device ID with Product ID or product key
Windows displays several similar-looking values on or near the About page:
| Identifier | What it means | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Device ID | The GUID displayed by Windows under Device specifications. | Providing the identifier requested by an app or Windows support instruction. |
| Product ID | Identifies the installed Windows product and licensing channel. | Some licensing, support, or inventory checks. |
| Product key | A 25-character activation key, such as XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. |
Activating or reinstalling Windows when a key is required. |
A Product ID is not a product key. If a form specifically asks for the Device ID, do not submit the Product ID just because both values appear in Windows settings.
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Find the Windows Product ID with PowerShell
If the request says Product ID, open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and run:
Get-ItemPropertyValue 'HKLM:SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion' -Name ProductIdThe command reads the ProductId value from the Windows Registry. You can also find the Product ID in Settings > System > About.
Find the computer hardware UUID
Some asset-management tools and IT departments use “device ID” to mean the computer’s hardware UUID. This is different from the Device ID shown in Settings.
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- Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell.
- Run the following command:
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_ComputerSystemProduct).UUIDThis reads the System Information UUID supplied by the computer’s SMBIOS firmware.
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Why the UUID may be unusable
Do not assume that every returned UUID is reliable. Depending on the computer and its firmware, it may be:
- All zeroes:
00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000. - Incorrect or duplicated because of faulty or poorly configured firmware.
- Different on a virtual machine than on the physical host.
- Unavailable or changed after a motherboard replacement.
If an inventory system rejects the UUID, provide the manufacturer serial number as well and tell the administrator that the value came from SMBIOS.
Find the manufacturer serial number
The serial number is another common identifier used by support teams. It is normally assigned by the PC manufacturer and stored in the BIOS or UEFI firmware.
Run this PowerShell command:
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS -Property SerialNumber).SerialNumberAlternatively:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumberA system assembled without a populated firmware record may return an empty value or a placeholder such as To Be Filled By O.E.M.. That result is not the same as a missing Windows Device ID.
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If the request concerns one particular component rather than the entire PC, it probably means a Hardware ID. Hardware IDs help Windows match a device with the correct driver.
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- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Find the device. For example, expand Network adapters for a Wi-Fi adapter or Display adapters for a graphics card.
- Right-click the device and choose Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
- Open the Property drop-down menu.
- Select Hardware Ids.
- Copy the required value from the Value box.
A PCI device ID may look like this:
PCIVEN_8086&DEV_XXXX&SUBSYS_XXXXXXXX&REV_XXA USB device ID may look like this:
USBVID_XXXX&PID_XXXXDevice Manager can show multiple Hardware IDs, usually from the most specific match to the least specific one. Select Compatible Ids only when the instructions specifically request compatible IDs.
Hardware ID versus Device Instance ID
These terms describe different things:
- Hardware ID: identifies a device type, manufacturer, model, or revision for driver matching.
- Device Instance ID: identifies a particular device node installed in a particular Windows system.
- Settings Device ID: the GUID displayed under Settings > System > About.
Get a Plug and Play device identifier with PowerShell
PowerShell can list the Plug and Play identifier for devices recognized by Windows:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPEntity | Select-Object Name, PNPDeviceIDTo search for a device by name, use a filtered command. For example:
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Find a Microsoft Entra device ID
On a work or school computer, “device ID” may refer to the device object in Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory. This ID belongs to the organization’s cloud directory and is separate from the local Windows Device ID, hardware UUID, serial number, and Hardware ID.
- Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal.
- Run:
dsregcmd /statusIn the output, find the Device State section and look for fields such as:
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DeviceIdThe DeviceId shown here is available when the PC is registered with, joined to, or hybrid joined to Microsoft Entra ID. If the computer is a personal device with no organizational registration, there may be no Entra device ID to report.
Use System Information for general hardware details
Windows’ System Information utility is useful when a support request asks for general system details, but it is not the primary location for the Settings Device ID.
- Press the Windows key.
- Type
msinfo32. - Press Enter.
- Leave System Summary selected.
You can also open it directly by running this command in Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the Run dialog:
msinfo32Why older WMIC commands may fail
Many older instructions use commands such as:
wmic bios get serialnumber
wmic csproduct get uuidThe WMIC utility is deprecated, and its availability varies between Windows releases and installations. Windows Management Instrumentation itself is not deprecated; Microsoft recommends PowerShell CIM commands instead.
Use these current replacements:
# Hardware UUID
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_ComputerSystemProduct).UUID
# Firmware serial number
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS -Property SerialNumber).SerialNumber
# Windows Product ID
Get-ItemPropertyValue 'HKLM:SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion' -Name ProductIdWhich identifier should you send?
| Request wording | Use this method |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 Device ID | Settings > System > About > Device specifications > Device ID |
| Windows Product ID | Settings > System > About, or the PowerShell Registry command. |
| Windows product key | Use the activation record, purchase documentation, or device packaging. It is 25 characters. |
| Computer UUID or hardware UUID | Win32_ComputerSystemProduct.UUID |
| Manufacturer serial number | Win32_BIOS.SerialNumber |
| Graphics, USB, Wi-Fi, audio, or other component ID | Device Manager > Properties > Details > Hardware Ids. |
| Plug and Play ID | Win32_PnPEntity.PNPDeviceID |
| Microsoft Entra device ID | dsregcmd /status, then read DeviceId. |
Before sharing an identifier
A device identifier is generally less sensitive than a password, but it still gives support or administrators a way to recognize your computer. Share it only through the support channel or company system that requested it. Do not post it publicly alongside your computer name, IP address, recovery key, or other identifying information unless there is a specific reason to do so.
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Where is the Device ID in Windows 11?
Open Settings with Windows key + I, then go to System > About. Expand or view Device specifications and read the value beside Device ID.
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Is the Windows 11 Device ID the same as the Product ID?
No. The Device ID is the GUID shown under Device specifications. The Product ID identifies the installed Windows product and licensing channel. They are separate values.
Is a Device ID the same as a serial number?
No. A serial number is normally supplied by the computer manufacturer through BIOS or UEFI firmware. You can read it with PowerShell using Win32_BIOS.SerialNumber.
How do I find the ID of a Wi-Fi or USB device?
Open Device Manager, right-click the component, select Properties > Details, open the Property menu, and select Hardware Ids. This is the correct method for a component Hardware ID.
Why does my hardware UUID contain only zeroes?
The computer’s firmware may not provide a valid SMBIOS System Information UUID. Virtual machines, faulty firmware, and motherboard changes can also produce missing, duplicated, or inconsistent UUID values.
Can I find a Microsoft Entra device ID in Windows 11?
Run dsregcmd /status in Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal. In the Device State section, look for DeviceId. This value exists only when the PC is registered or joined to an organization’s Microsoft Entra environment.
The Bottom Line
For the ordinary Windows 11 Device ID, use Settings > System > About > Device specifications. If the request mentions a UUID, serial number, driver, component, Plug and Play, or Microsoft Entra, use the corresponding method instead. The names sound similar, but each identifier serves a different purpose.
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