currentversion

CurrentVersion is a registry value in Microsoft Windows that encodes the operating system version. It is stored under the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion. The value is used by software, installers, and system components to identify the platform and tailor behavior accordingly.

The CurrentVersion value is typically a string representing the major and minor version of the OS, for example "6.1" for Windows 7, "6.3" for Windows 8.1, or "10.0" for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Windows NT CurrentVersion key also contains other fields such as CurrentBuild and CurrentBuildNumber (which provide more granular build information), as well as ProductName, EditionID, ReleaseId, and BuildLab to describe the exact edition and build of the installed operating system. Together, these values enable precise distinction between different Windows versions and builds.

Usage of CurrentVersion and its related values spans software compatibility checks, deployment scenarios, and diagnostic tools. Applications and installers may reference the value to determine whether features are supported or whether an update is required. System administrators and scripts can query the registry to inventory OS versions across machines or to drive conditional logic in deployment pipelines.

Notes and considerations: on 64-bit Windows, registry access may be subject to file system redirection for 32-bit processes, which can affect which view of the registry is consulted. Editing registry values should be performed with caution and preferably behind a backed-up system restore point, as incorrect changes can affect system behavior.

See also: Windows Registry, Windows NT, registry paths for Windows Version information, CurrentBuild.