PlayInfoBox

Home /Education /How to Check Your Mac's Specs (System Information)

How to Check Your Mac's Specs (System Information)

Tap through the steps to see how to check your Mac's specs.

  1. Open the Apple menu

    Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

  2. Click 'About This Mac'

    Select 'About This Mac' at the top of the dropdown menu.

  3. Check the basics on the Overview tab

    The chip (or processor), memory capacity, macOS version, and serial number all appear together on a single screen.

  4. Check capacity on the Storage tab

    Switch to the 'Storage' tab at the top to see a bar chart showing how much space apps, documents, system files, and other categories are taking up out of your total capacity.

  5. Open System Report via 'More Info...'

    Clicking 'More Info...' on the Overview tab opens the System Information app, where you can view much more detailed hardware specs.

  6. Check detailed hardware info in System Report

    Click categories like Displays, Storage, Network, or USB in the left-hand list to see connected devices and their detailed specifications.

When you need to check your specs

Whether you're buying or selling a used Mac, checking whether your hardware meets a piece of software's requirements before installing it, or contacting support, you need accurate model and spec information. The About This Mac screen alone covers most of what you'll need, quickly.

Worth checking your storage and app permissions too

While you're checking your specs, it's a good time to also review how much storage each category is using and which apps have access to sensitive data like your camera, microphone, or location -- a few minutes spent here can free up space and tighten your privacy settings at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I need my serial number?

You'll need your serial number to look up your warranty status or start a support request on the manufacturer's official support site, and it's available right on the About This Mac overview screen.

It says I'm low on storage -- where do I go to clean it up?

Click the 'Manage...' button near the bottom of the Storage tab to see the storage-management options macOS suggests for your specific situation.