How to Check When Windows Was Installed on Your PC

Have you ever wondered how old your computer is or when you last set up your operating system? Finding the exact date and time your Windows software was installed is a quick task. This guide will show you how to find that information.

Why check your Windows install date?

Knowing when Windows was installed helps you track how long your system has been running. It is useful if you want to know the age of your computer or if you need to check when a major update or reinstall happened.

What happens when you are done?

Once you follow these steps, you will see a specific date and time on your screen. This tells you exactly when the current version of Windows was put on your machine. Keep in mind that if you upgraded from an older version of Windows, this date will show the time you performed the upgrade, not the day you first bought the computer.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

This is the fastest way to find your information. You do not need special access for this, but it requires a quick trip to the command line.

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:

systeminfo|find /i "original"

You will see a line that looks like this:

Original Install Date: 6/29/2021, 8:09:01 PM

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

systeminfo

Method 2: Using the Registry

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

First, open Windows Registry Editor Registry Editor.

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 this epoch converter website to convert it into a normal date and time.

Summary

Finding your Windows installation date is simple. You can use the Command Prompt for a quick text result or the Registry Editor for a more technical view. Remember, if you recently upgraded your Windows version, the date displayed will reflect that upgrade rather than the original factory installation date.