Last Updated on May 31, 2026
The Volume Serial Number (VSN) for your hard drive is a unique identifier assigned to a disk volume when it is formatted. It is used primarily for system identification and management purposes. This number helps the operating system and software track and manage different storage devices, particularly when performing tasks like software licensing, disk management, and file system integrity checks. Some software may use the VSN as part of a copy protection scheme to ensure that the software is only used on a specific machine.
If you need to change the volume serial number for your hard drive for some reason such as software licensing or maybe you cloned your drive and it changed the serial number, it’s fairly easy to do so using a free tool you can download online. The steps below focus on changing this exact software-level VSN without damaging your files or completely wiping your partition.
Volume Serial Number vs. Physical Serial Number
1. Identify the Physical Serial Number
It is important to distinguish between the Volume Serial Number (VSN) and the Physical Serial Number of your hard drive. The physical serial number is hard-coded into the actual drive firmware by the hardware manufacturer like Samsung or Western Digital. You absolutely cannot change this permanent identifier using basic operating system software.
2. Identify the Volume Serial Number
The Volume Serial Number operates entirely differently from the hardware identifier. This is a strict software-level ID generated randomly by Windows during the partition formatting process. The operating system stores this specific hex-based code directly inside the boot sector of the active partition.
How to View Your VSN Using the Command Prompt
1. Launch the Command Prompt Tool
To view the volume serial number associated with your hard drive, you can simply open a command prompt by typing CMD in the Windows taskbar search box. Choose the Command Prompt option from the search results to open the terminal. You do not need administrative privileges just to view your current drive identifiers.
2. Target Your Specific Drive Letter
You will need to choose the exact drive you want to view the serial number for inside the terminal window. For example, if you want to check your secondary E drive, you can type E: at the prompt and press enter. The command line prompt will shift to reflect your new active working directory.
3. Run the Volume Command
To view the current volume serial number, simply type vol at the prompt and press enter. You will then be shown the volume name or label and the current serial number. You will see the drive letter and volume serial number listed plainly in the text output.
1. Open the Advanced Windows Terminal
If you prefer using modern Windows tools, you can also find this information using PowerShell. This method provides significantly more detail about the drive status and file system type simultaneously. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the power user menu.
2. Execute the General Volume Command
Type the Get-Volume command into the blue PowerShell window and hit Enter. Look for the column labeled ObjectId or DriveLetter in the resulting output table. This gives you a fast overview of every connected storage device.
3. Query the Exact Serial Number String
To see the specific VSN, you must run a much more targeted query string. You can type gwmi win32_logicaldisk | select name, volumeserialnumber and press Enter. This will list every drive connected to your system and its current hex-based serial number, allowing you to double-check your work after using the changer tool.
Using Volume Serial Number Changer
1. Download the Changer Utility
To change this number, we will be using a free tool called Volume Serial Number Changer which can be downloaded online. Once you install and run the software, you can see the same volume number listed. You must choose the correct hard drive from the dropdown menu at the top of the window.
2. Input Your New Serial Number
To change this identifier, you can enter the new target number in the New Volume Serial Number section. You can only use numbers 0 through 9 and letters A through F for your new serial number. You can also add a brief text comment just in case you change this number often for different software requirements.
3. Execute the Change and Reboot
Once you enter the new number, simply click on the Change button located at the bottom of the tool. The software modifies the partition boot sector instantly. You will be prompted to reboot your computer for the operating system to register the new identifier.
4. Verify the Serial Number Change
After you reboot, you can open the command prompt once again to check your work. Use the vol command inside the terminal window to make sure that the serial number has been changed correctly. As you can see, it is not difficult to change the volume serial number for your hard drive in Windows if you have the right tool for the job.
Common Reasons to Change a VSN
1. Fix Software Licensing Errors
Why would someone need to modify this identifier? Many professional engineering or accounting programs lock their expensive software license to the specific VSN of the drive it was originally installed on. If you move your OS to a new SSD, the software may think it sits on a stolen machine and refuse to launch.
2. Resolve Disk Cloning Conflicts
When you clone a hard drive, the cloning software often copies the VSN exactly to the new drive. If you clone a partition and keep both drives connected, Windows may experience a Disk Signature Collision. This severe conflict leads to one drive being marked as offline by the operating system to protect file paths.
3. Perform Software Development and Testing
Developers often change VSNs to test how their proprietary software reacts to sudden hardware changes. Modifying the software-level identifier allows them to simulate a physical drive swap. They can verify their copy protection code without having to actually buy new hardware.
Hard Drive VSN FAQ
1. Will changing the VSN delete my files?
Changing the volume serial number only modifies a microscopic piece of data in the file system header. It does not touch your actual data, photos, or programs. Your existing file structure remains perfectly intact and accessible.
2. Does formatting a drive change the serial number?
Yes. Every time you perform a full or quick format on a partition, Windows destroys the old data table. The operating system instantly generates a brand-new, completely random Volume Serial Number for the fresh volume.
3. Can I use this to bypass a Hardware ID (HWID) ban?
While some software uses the VSN as part of a hardware ID, most modern anti-cheat and security systems use a deep combination of identifiers. They pull the physical serial number, the network MAC address, and the motherboard ID. Changing just the VSN will not be enough to bypass a strict hardware-level lock.
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