TheTest.com

Find Your System Information and Specs

How to find your computer's model, RAM, CPU, storage, OS version, and serial number

IT will ask you for your specs. Your computer already knows everything about itself – you just need to find where it is displayed. Here is how to pull up your model, CPU, RAM, storage, OS version, and serial number on every platform.

You can also check many of these specs interactively at thetest.com – the CPU, memory, storage, and GPU tests will report your hardware details.

Quick overview (model, chip, RAM, serial number):

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner
  2. Click System Settings
  3. In the sidebar, click General > About

You will see your Mac name, chip (e.g., Apple M2 Pro), memory, serial number, and macOS version all on one page.

Storage:

  1. Go to System Settings > General > Storage
  2. A bar shows how your storage is used, broken down by category

Detailed specs (everything):

  1. Hold Option and click the Apple menu
  2. Click System Information (this replaces "About This Mac" when you hold Option)
  3. Browse sections like Hardware Overview, Memory, Storage, Graphics/Displays, and more

Serial number (quick method):

Your serial number is on the General > About page mentioned above. It is also physically printed on the bottom of your Mac (or inside the SIM tray slot on some MacBooks).

From Terminal (if you need to copy-paste it):

Run system_profiler SPHardwareDataType to get model, chip, memory, and serial number in a format you can easily copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does IT need my serial number?▾

Your serial number uniquely identifies your specific machine. IT uses it to look up warranty status, check what hardware you have, track which machines are assigned to whom, and order replacement parts. It is the single most useful piece of info you can give them.

My computer shows less RAM than what was advertised. Is something wrong?▾

Probably not. Some RAM is reserved by your operating system or integrated graphics. A machine advertised with 8 GB might show 7.6 GB or 7.8 GB available, and that is normal. If a large chunk is missing (like showing 4 GB on an 8 GB machine), one of your RAM sticks might not be seated properly or could be faulty.

What is the difference between storage and memory?▾

Memory (RAM) is temporary working space your computer uses while running programs. It gets cleared when you shut down. Storage (SSD or hard drive) is where your files, apps, and operating system live permanently. When people say "my computer is running out of memory," they usually mean storage, not RAM.

How do I find my IP address?▾

IP addresses are not shown on the system info pages covered here. Check the understanding IP addresses guide for how to find yours.

Can I upgrade my RAM or storage?▾

It depends on your machine. Most modern laptops (especially MacBooks and ultrabooks) have RAM soldered to the motherboard and it cannot be upgraded. Storage (SSD) is upgradeable on many laptops but not all. Desktops are generally upgradeable for both. Check your model's specifications to confirm.