How to Check SharePoint Version Using PowerShell

If you are working as a SharePoint administrator, then you might need to check the SharePoint version for troubleshooting, patching, and ensuring compatibility with solutions or features. In this tutorial, I will explain how to check the SharePoint version using PowerShell.

Check SharePoint On-Premises Version with PowerShell

SharePoint on-premises (e.g., SharePoint 2013, 2016, 2019) stores its version information in the farm configuration database. PowerShell is a quick way to retrieve this information.

Follow the steps below:

• Log in to your SharePoint server. Click Start > SharePoint Management Shell (run as administrator).
• Type or paste the following command and press Enter:

(Get-SPFarm).BuildVersion

• This command queries the farm object and displays the build version (e.g., 16.0.10375.20039).
• The output will be in the format: Major.Minor.Build.Revision (e.g., 16.0.10375.20039).

• To see the version for each server in your farm, use:

Get-SPServer | Select-Object Address, Role, Version

This lists each server’s role and version, which is helpful for multi-server farms.

Check out How to Clear SharePoint Cache

Check SharePoint Online Version

SharePoint Online (part of Microsoft 365) is continuously updated by Microsoft. There isn’t a traditional “build number” like on-premises, but you can check for some version information and release updates.

• Microsoft manages updates, so you always have the latest version. Unlike on-premises, there’s no single build number exposed to admins.

How to Check for SharePoint Online Updates

1. Using PowerShell to Check Service Features

You can use PowerShell to see which features are enabled in your tenant, which can indicate the update cadence or feature rollout.

First, install and connect to SharePoint Online PowerShell:

Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell
Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourtenant-admin.sharepoint.com

2. Get Feature Information

You can list site or tenant features, but not a traditional “version”:

Get-SPOSite | Select URL, Template, Owner

Or, to check release preferences:

Get-OrganizationConfig | Select ReleaseTrack

3. Check the SharePoint Admin Center

• Go to the SharePoint Admin Center (https://admin.microsoft.com > SharePoint).
• Look for “Message Center” or “What’s new” for updates on new features and changes.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, I explained how to check SharePoint version using PowerShell.

• For on-premises, PowerShell gives you an exact build number, which you can map to a specific SharePoint release.
• For SharePoint Online, you’re always on the latest version, but you can check feature rollouts and release preferences with PowerShell.

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Bijay Kumar

After working for more than 18 years in Microsoft technologies like SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI), I thought will share my SharePoint expertise knowledge with the world. Our audiences are from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. For my expertise knowledge and SharePoint tutorials, Microsoft has been awarded a Microsoft SharePoint MVP (12 times). I have also worked in companies like HP, TCS, KPIT, etc.