Apple’s common system for differentiating its various models in a given computer line is a bit unique.
Instead of appending a collection of letters and/or numbers to a model as it did in the past (e.g. Performa 675), it now uses a segment of the year in which the model was introduced, such as the “mid-2012″ version, or the “late-2013″ model, or finally the “early-2014″ model.
If you need to service your system, or update it, then you may need to know this detail about it in order to do so. Here’s how you can find the Model Number of your Macbook.
Finding Model Number on your Macbook
Finding the model number of your MacBook is a straightforward process if you’ve updated your Macbook to the latest operating system. Here are the steps you can follow:
About This Mac
Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
Select “About This Mac” from the dropdown menu.
In some cases, you might also find the serial number useful. It’s usually listed in the “About This Mac” section as well.
You can use this serial number on Apple’s support website to get more detailed information about your specific model, including the model number.
People often mean the serial number when they say model number.
Older versions of Mac OS – The Overview Tab
In older versions of MacOS, you may see an “Overview” tab. This tab displays information about your MacBook, including the model name and year.
Model Identifier:
For the model number, you may need to click on “System Report” or “More Info” depending on your macOS version. This will open the System Information app.
In the System Information app, look for “Model Identifier” under the “Hardware” section. This identifier is the technical model number of your MacBook.
Alternative Methods
Though the easiest way to find the model number is through About in your menu bar, there are some alternative ways you can find it too.
- Physical Inspection – If you’re unable to turn on your MacBook or access the Apple menu, you can often find the model number printed on the MacBook’s case, usually on the bottom.
- Online Lookup: With the serial number or model identifier, you can also use various online tools to look up your specific MacBook model.
- Using Terminal – As with most things, you can also use terminal to find your model number too. Simply enter system_profiler SPHardwareDataType into Terminal to bring up this information.
Remember that the exact steps might vary slightly depending on the version of macOS you’re using, but the general process remains the same.
