Where to find the model number on anything you own

Every manual search starts with the model number, and it is almost never where you'd expect. Manufacturers put labels where they won't spoil the look of the product, which means the inside of a door frame, the underside of a base, or behind a drawer you have to pull all the way out.

Once you know the usual spots for each kind of product, it takes about thirty seconds. Here's where to look.

Model number or serial number?

Most labels show both, and mixing them up is the most common reason a search comes back empty.

The model number identifies the product line and version. Every washer of that model has the same one. The serial number identifies your individual unit. It's what the manufacturer uses for warranty checks and it often encodes the date the unit was built.

For finding a manual, you want the model number. It's usually labeled "Model", "MOD", "M/N" or "Model No." The serial is marked "Serial", "S/N" or "SER".

Kitchen

Refrigerators

Open the fresh food door and look at the side walls, near the top. On some models it's behind or beneath the crisper drawers, so pull those out if you can't see it. Older top freezer fridges sometimes have it on the back, near the bottom.

Dishwashers

Open the door and check the edges of the inner door, either along the top or on the left or right side. It's often a small silver or white sticker that's easy to miss.

Ranges and wall ovens

Pull the storage or warming drawer out completely and look at the frame behind it. If there's no drawer, open the oven door and check the frame around the opening. Cooktops put the label underneath, which usually means looking from inside the cabinet below.

Microwaves

Open the door and look at the frame, or check the back or side of the cabinet. Over-the-range models often have it inside the door frame.

Small appliances

Coffee makers, air fryers, blenders and pressure cookers almost always put the rating label on the base. Turn it over.

Laundry

On front-load washers and dryers, open the door and look at the rim of the opening. On top-load washers, check under the lid or on the back of the control panel. Stacked laundry centers have the label inside the dryer door opening, and sometimes a second one on the lower washer.

TVs and electronics

Televisions have a label on the back panel. If the TV is wall mounted, don't take it down. Every smart TV lists the model in its settings, usually under Support, About or System Information.

Routers and modems have everything on the label underneath: model, hardware version, default Wi-Fi name and password. Laptops put the label on the bottom. Printers usually hide it inside the front access door or ink cartridge door.

Phones and tablets show the model in Settings under About. Wireless earbuds print a tiny code inside the charging case lid.

Tools and outdoor equipment

Cordless power tools have a nameplate on the handle or the body above the battery. Walk-behind lawn mowers put a label on the back of the deck, near where the grass bag attaches. Riding mowers put it under the seat. Gas grills usually have it inside the cart door or on the back of the firebox.

Cars

For cars you don't need a model number. You need the year, make, model and trim, and the fastest way to get all of that is the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It's visible through the windshield on the driver's side of the dashboard and printed on the driver's door jamb label, along with tire pressure information.

When the label is missing or unreadable

Labels fade, peel and get painted over. A few ways to work around it:

• Check the original box, receipt or order confirmation email. Online orders nearly always list the exact model.
• Look for a second label. Many appliances have one on the back or underneath as well.
• Take a clear photo of the product and compare it with the manufacturer's current and past product listings.
• Search your email for the brand name. Registration and delivery emails often include the model.
• Call the manufacturer with the serial number if that's the part you can read. They can usually look up the model from it.

Those extra letters at the end

Model numbers often end with letters or digits for color, region or retailer. A washer might be sold as a model ending in W for white and V for a darker finish. The manual is usually identical for both.

If an exact search doesn't find anything, try dropping the last two or three characters. Then check the manual's cover page, which normally lists every model variant it covers.

Questions