Whether you need to check your warranty, sell your device, download a specific driver, or verify if your MacBook Pro is stolen, knowing your serial number is essential. This unique 11-12 character code (letters and numbers) is like your MacBook’s fingerprint.

But what happens if your Mac won’t turn on? Or if the text on the bottom case has worn away? Fortunately, Apple provides multiple ways to locate this number.

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep Serial This returns a cleaner output showing only the serial number. For older MacBook Pro models (pre-2018), Apple printed the serial number directly on the underside of the laptop.

Bookmark this guide so you never get stuck searching for that tiny 11-character code again. Do you have a MacBook Pro that won’t turn on and you lost the box? Reply in the comments below and we’ll walk you through using another Mac to extract the serial number via DFU mode.