How to Check When Windows Was Installed on Your PC

Knowing when your system was set up helps you track the age of your OS. It is useful for troubleshooting performance issues or checking if your PC is running an outdated version of Windows 10 22H2 or newer. Why? Because older installations often accumulate temporary files that slow down your machine over time.

What happens when you are done?

Once you finish, you will see a specific date and time. This confirms when your current Windows OS build was deployed. What happens? You gain a clear baseline for your system’s maintenance history, allowing you to decide if a clean install is needed.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

This is the fastest way to find your information. You do not need special access for this.

1. Click the Start menu.
2. Type Command Prompt in the search bar.
3. Select the app from the list.

When the black window opens, type this command and press Enter:

wmic os get installdate

You will see a line that looks like this:

Original Install Date: 20210629200901.000000+000

If you want to see more details, simply type the following and press Enter:

systeminfo

For more details, visit the official Microsoft documentation on systeminfo.

Method 2: Using PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful tool for advanced users. It provides a clean way to view your OS deployment date.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal or PowerShell.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

([WMI]'').ConvertToDateTime((Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem).InstallDate)

This command translates the raw system data into a human-readable format immediately.

Method 3: Using the Registry Editor

You can also find this date in the system registry. Note: This method requires administrative privileges.

First, open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu search.

Navigate to this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Find the file named InstallDate. The value you see is in “epoch time.” To make sense of it, copy that number and use an epoch converter website to turn it into a normal date.

Summary

Finding your Windows installation date is simple. You can use the Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the Registry Editor. Remember that if you upgraded your OS, the date reflects that upgrade. Always check your OS build version to ensure your system is fully up to date.