When is the last time you turned your PC off? Yesterday? A week ago? Last year? If you can't remember how long your system has been on (AKA its uptime), there are a few ways you can find out.

We’ll show you how you can check your computer's uptime using multiple Windows built-in tools such as Command Prompt or Task Manager, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

1. Check System Uptime With Command Prompt

You can use a Command Prompt window to quickly find out how long your PC has been up. Launch the Command Prompt desktop app, and when the prompt is open, type net stats srv. The very first line will show you the uptime of your computer.

If Command Prompt is unresponsive or you simply don’t like using it, try one of the next methods.

2. Check System Uptime With Task Manager

You can also use Task Manager to find your system uptime. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring it up and select the Performance tab. There's a section for uptime displayed there.

Check computer's uptime with Task Manager

3. Check System Uptime With PowerShell

If you like using PowerShell, you can also open an elevated PowerShell prompt and then type this: (get-date) - (gcim Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime. This will let you see the time the system has been on, taken all the way down to milliseconds.

4. Check System Uptime With Systeminfo

You can also run a tool called Systeminfo, which will show you all kinds of information about your computer, one of which is the time your computer has been on. To access this, open a Run prompt by pressing Windows Key + R, then type systeminfo and hit Enter.

5. Check System Uptime With Control Panel

Another way to see how long your computer has been turned on is to check your network adapter status. Launch Control Panel and head to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.

Then, click Change adapter settings on the left pane and open the connected adapter. Check the value displayed next to Duration.

Check computer uptime with Control Panel

Note: This method is accurate only if you didn’t reset your network connection since you turned on your computer.

Check How Long Your Computer Has Been Running

Now you know how to quickly discover how long your computer has been up and running.

If you notice that your computer has been up for weeks, or even months, you should give it a break. Even if you don’t notice any glitches, it will help your computer run better.