How to show Windows version and build number on your desktop

Why

During the Windows Insider Preview period, essentially was public beta test of Windows 10, Microsoft wisely chose to show the version of Windows and the Build Number on the desktop. Helped us keep things straight. Kind of like a lite version of the sysadmin's beloved BgInfo.

But once Build 10240 was released, the "GA" or release version of Windows 10, they took that nifty version display feature away.

You can get it back again! The very short video and written procedure below show you exactly how, with the change taking effect immediately. That's right, no log off required.
[Oct 04 2018 edit - works on Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 too!]
[Oct 12 2021 edit - works on Windows 11 too!]

I really like this tweak for my VMs and home lab, especially handy when a system or VM hasn't been used in a while. Now I know at a glance what I'm looking at, before Windows Update has had a chance to catch up.

Editing the registry carries some danger, and requires administrative rights. This is done at your own risk. Only proceed with this if you're comfortable with backing up and restoring your registry keys, if needed, as explained by Microsoft here.

Video 1 - looping, just 47 seconds long

Video 2 - YouTube, with explanatory voice-over

You're still here, looking for words? Here you go.

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Win+R

2. type Regedit and press Enter key

3. When User Account Control asks you Yes or No, select Yes

1. Expand the sections below Computer to navigate your way to

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

   In Windows 11 only, there's an even easier alternative. You can simply copy and paste the above line in to the top of the Registry Editor, seen pictured at right. This saves you from some mousing around.

2. Making sure you've selected Desktop in the left pane, next, look for PaintDesktopVersion in the right-hand pane of alphabetical entries

3. Double-click on Desktop

4. Type 1

5. Press Enter

6. Press Control+Alt+Del, select Task Manager

7. Select the Processes tab

8. Scroll down the list, and left-click Windows Explorer once to select it

9. Press the 'Restart' button

That's it, you should now see the Windows version painted on your lovely Windows 10 desktop, from here forward. Enjoy!

Aug 03 2016 Update

The upgrade to Windows 10 Anniversary Update seems to remove the version number showing on the desktop. Great news, the above article still works just great! See also:

• Download Windows 10 Anniversary Update Disk Image [ISO File] for your clean PC and VM installs
  AUG 03 2016

First, a screenshot of how the bottom right corner of your desktop looks before the upgrade.

Windows 10 Pro
Build 10586

Next, a look at the desktop after the successful upgrade, and the above registry entry reset to 1:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 14393.rs1_release.160715-1616

Apr 12 2017 Update

The upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update went well, but it also removed the version number showing on the desktop. Great news, the above article still works just great! See also:

• How to get the new Windows 10 Creators Update
  Apr 11 2017 by Sean Hollister at cnet

Oct 17 2017 Update

The upgrade to Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (1709) went well, but it also removed the version number showing on the desktop. Great news, the above article still works just great! See also:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 16299.rs3_release.170928-1534

Sep 04 2018 Update

Still works, even with the latest Windows 10 April 2018 Update:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 17134.rs4_release.180410-1804

aka:

Microsoft Windows
Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.228)

I changed the title from:
How to show Windows 10 version and build number on your desktop, also works with Creators Update Versions 1703 and 1709!
to:
How to show Windows 10 version and build number on your desktop

Oct 03 2018 Update

Still works, even with the latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 17763.rs5_release.180914-1434

aka:

Microsoft Windows
Version 1809 (OS Build 17763.1)

Oct 05 2018

Works with Windows Server 2019 too, using the same exact technique:

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter
Build 17763.rs5_release.180914-1434

aka:

Microsoft Windows Server
Version 1809 (OS Build 17763.1)

Article renamed from:
How to show Windows 10 version and build number on your desktop
to:
How to show Windows version and build number on your desktop

May 24 2019 Update

Still works, even with the latest Windows 10 May 2019 Update:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 18362.19h1_release.190318-1202

aka:

Microsoft Windows
Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.116)

May 27 2019 Update

Updated hero image at the top of the article.
Kept the old one for posterity here:

Apr 21 2020 Update

Still works, even with the latest Windows 10 Version 1909:

Windows 10 Pro

aka:

Microsoft Windows
Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.116)
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18363.778]

This article's tip still works, but with Windows 10 Version 1909, things get a little more complicated. The wallpaper version doesn't match the winver version, described in detail at April 14, 2020—KB4549951 [OS Builds 18362.778 and 18363.778], with a proposed fix listed here, which I've summed up here.

This should be fixable by editing this registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Change the BuildLab from:
18362.19h1_release.190318-1202
to:
18363.19h1_release.18363.778

but this didn't work.

Oct 12 2020 Update

With Windows Build 2004 now out:

Microsoft Windows
Version 2004 (OS Build 19041.450)
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.450]
it was time to retest.

Here's what the wallpaper showed my version as:

Windows 10 Pro
Build 19041.vb_release.191206-1406

This display of an older version is noted here, here, and here and it doesn't appear anybody has found a fix or workaround, at least not yet. If you spot something promising, please leave a comment below. Thank you!

Oct 12 2021 Update

On Windows 11, this still works!

Winver shows:
Microsoft Windows
Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.194)

System / About shows:

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 21H2
Installed on ‎10/‎7/‎2021
OS build 22000.194
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.194.0

See also at TinkerTry

• How to change Windows 10 network type from Public to Private
  JAN 05 2015

See also