Display Windows version and build on the desktop

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Change value of HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop PaintDesktopVersion from 0 to 1.

6 users thanked author for this post.

E Pericoloso Sporgersi, wavy, Matador, CraigS26, Mele20, NaNoNyMouse

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Thanks!

That was sort of odd at first though. The info would not display until I enabled desktop icons to show. I thought, heck, I don’t want my desktop icons showing all the time, but after I rebooted the info displayed in the botttom right corner above the time withOUT the desktop icons showing.

Edit: Will that info change automatically if I get a newer build of Windows 10, etc?

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

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Forgot the reboot 🙂

Mele20 wrote:

Will that info change automatically if I get a newer build of Windows 10, etc?

Yes, it will as any Windows update require a reboot.

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Thanks, Alex.  In case someone wants to see the result b4 doing ….

And mele20, I’m with you on desktop icons. I’ve got 118 of ’em and I Know 119 would drive me crazy!!

 

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

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I think I recall that with some earlier version of Windows (maybe XP?) that information would appear on mouse hover not just if you were on the desktop view but where ever you were at that moment….like I would be able to be reading at this site and move the mouse down to the right bottom corner of the screen and the info would be there…I would not have to minimize the window to this site and go to the desktop view in order to see the info. I wonder if there is a way to do that now instead of just displaying the date and day of the week which Windows 10 has always done. (I know that info is not really on the taskbar but just above it but I do think I recall in an earlier version of Windows it could be displayed on mouse hover).

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I wouldn’t want the version on the Desktop all the time and only need to check the version occasionally. For me it is easier to use the WinKey + Pause keyboard shortcut to see current version as well as other system properties.

HTH, Dana:))

3 users thanked author for this post.

AusJohn, WSBirdLady, wavy

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very nice short cut!!

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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FYI – Microsoft’s listing for Win 10/11 keyboard shortcuts – Keyboard shortcuts in Windows

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Typing winver into the search box works fine for me.

Cheers

2 users thanked author for this post.

Microfix, NaNoNyMouse

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Matador wrote:

Typing winver into the search box works fine for me.

I’m lazy… I just prefer to see the info (and much more) that BgInfo affords (by amending the Windows bitmap) so have it installed on all of my Windows devices.

No clicking, no typing.

For example, a very old screenshot:

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I have used regedit.exe a while ago to change the PaintDesktopVersion from “0” to “1”, but I  noticed today that it isn’t displaying the correct OS version for some unknown reason.

The version shown in my settings:

Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎11/‎27/‎2020
OS build 19045.4780
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

But the version displayed on my desktop is:

Windows 10 Pro

Build 19041.vb release 191206.1406

I have double checked the PaintDesktopVersion setting and it is still set to “1”

Any idea why the correct version isn’t displaying on my desktop?

 

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Me too , but no 🤔

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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77JOE84 wrote:

…But the version displayed on my desktop is: Windows 10 Pro Build 19041.vb release 191206.1406 I have double checked the PaintDesktopVersion setting and it is still set to “1”

wavy wrote:

Me too , but no 🤔

@77JOE84 , if you look at @CraigS26 ‘s post on November 17, 2022, you’ll see that identical string on his desktop just above the system tray, so it might not be something new.
Since it appears that the registry workaround was working for you (despite what’s shown in the above-referenced post from @CraigS26 ) and @wavy , I would suggest you both check out post 2498887  above from Drcard :)) for a reminder of a shortcut that will display the correct current version number with just a couple of quick keystrokes.  🙂

Yes, one “drawback” of the shortcut is that it won’t stay on your desktop permanently, it will display the info until you close the window that opens as a result of the shortcut.

Since you both have said or implied that the registry key change used to work for you but now no longer shows the correct information, it could be that MS has pushed out some sort of change within the registry on your machines that renders the registry key modification somewhat ineffective nowadays.

EDIT to add: I just tried the registry mod described in Alex’s OP, and I got the same results documented by @CraigS26 , @77JOE84 , and @wavy . So my guess is that it no longer works at this point for the reason stated above.  🙁 for those who liked it.

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According to @JimT777’s Feb 12, 2020 post#2139027, you need to goto

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

And change the value of the BuildLab key in order for the PaintDesktopVersion registry mod to properly display your current Windows version on the desktop.

On my Windows 10 Pro 22H2, it was initially set to 19041.vb_release.191206-1406 and enabling PaintDesktopVersion gave me the same results documented by @CraigS26 , @77JOE84 , and @wavy.

When I changed it to 19045.4894 and restarted explorer, the display changed to the correct build number.

Not sure exactly what value you’d need to modify to display Windows 10 Pro 22H2 instead of just Windows 10 Pro? I tried changing the ProductName key at that location but it didn’t change what’s shown on the desktop when I restarted explorer.

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Thanks for the suggestion … your solution does work, however, since you are setting the BuildLab key to a static value, when the Win 10 Pro version is updated, the version shown on the desktop will not change.  The only way to have the correct version shown will be to edit the BuildLab key again to the newer version.

MS must have somehow changed the BuildLab key to a static value rather than a variable one based on the actual Windows version.   Or perhaps, MS decided not to update the value of the BuildLab key when new version updates are issued.

Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
OS build 19045.4894

 

 

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