He focuses on support and Microsoft topics but is an expert in all areas of tech. Each Microsoft Windows operating system has a familiar name, like Windows 10 or Windows Vistabut behind each common name is an actual Windows version number 1. You can determine your Windows version a number of ways if you want to check which build number you're currently running. Below is a list of major Windows versions and their associated version numbers:.
This is the last number shown in the version number column, like for Windows 7. Some sources note the build number in parenthesis, like 6. As far as we know, that's the only time Microsoft has designated a special version number for a specific edition and architecture-type of a Windows operating system. To update Windows to the newest build number, use Windows Update.
Using the built-in Windows Update utility is the easiest way to check for and install Windows updates. If your version of Windows isn't currently set up to install updates automatically, you can change the Windows Update settings so that new updates are downloaded and applied automatically. This is the simplest way to keep Windows updated to the latest version number. Microsoft introduced several changes to the Windows operating system with the release of Windows These are some of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 8 and older versions of Windows :.
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