How to check your OS before an online assessment

An online assessment may require a particular operating system, browser, or device. You might also see a pre-check report a platform name that does not match what you expected. Check the version in your device settings first, then compare it with the details your browser exposes.

System Info helps you check the computer's processor, graphics, screen, battery, and network. It is useful context, but it does not certify your operating-system version. For browser version, engine, permissions, and supported features, use Browser Info.

Check your device before the assessment

1. Open System Info on the device you plan to use. Note the processor, graphics, screen, and network details if the assessment lists requirements for them. Do not treat these details as proof of your OS version.
2. Check the OS version in your device's own settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › About. On a Mac, choose Apple menu › About This Mac. On Android, look under Settings › About phone › Android version. On iPhone, open Settings › General › About and check iOS Version.
3. Open Browser Info in the browser you intend to use. Review its browser version and engine, permissions, and supported features. A supported browser can matter even when your operating system is accepted.
4. Compare what you found with the assessment provider's exact requirements. Check whether it specifies a minimum OS version, a browser, a computer rather than a phone, or camera and microphone access.
5. Run the provider's own compatibility check, if available, using the same device, browser, and account you will use for the assessment. Resolve any warning before the scheduled start instead of assuming a different browser or device will behave the same way.

Write down the OS version and browser version, but avoid sending a full device report unless support asks for it. A report can include more device details than the assessment provider needs to answer a basic compatibility question.

What the result means

Your OS version meets the stated requirement

This confirms that the version shown in your device settings is within the provider's stated range. It does not guarantee that the assessment will work: the browser, permissions, extensions, network, or a required camera can still cause problems. Complete the official pre-check and follow any separate browser requirements.

Your settings and an assessment pre-check name different platforms

A website may see a browser-reported platform hint rather than a definitive OS record. Privacy settings, a managed browser, a compatibility layer, or a remote desktop can make that hint generic or unexpected. Use your device settings as the source for the installed OS version, and ask the assessment provider whether the discrepancy matters.

System Info shows hardware but not an OS version

That is not a failed test. System Info is intended to show device information such as processor, graphics, screen, battery, and network, not to replace the operating system's About page. Use the settings path above to confirm the version.

The browser is unsupported or a feature is unavailable

The operating system can meet the requirement while the browser does not. Check the browser version and supported features in Browser Info, then compare those details with the provider's instructions. If a camera or microphone is required, check that the browser has permission to use it and that the assessment recognizes the device.

The device does not meet the listed requirement

Do not rely on a browser hint to make an unsupported device seem compatible. Contact the provider before test day and ask whether an alternative device or an approved exception is available. If the assessment requires a newer OS, updating may be possible, but confirm compatibility before making a major change.

Fix common compatibility problems

1. Use the required browser. If the instructions name a browser, open the assessment in that browser rather than relying on another browser that happens to be installed. Close duplicate tabs and use the same browser for the pre-check and assessment.
2. Update the browser. Check the browser's own About or update screen and install an available update. Reopen the browser, then run the assessment's compatibility check again.
3. Allow required devices. If the assessment needs a camera or microphone, check the permission prompt and the browser's site permissions. On Windows 11, review Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. On macOS, review System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone. On phones, check the assessment browser under Settings › Apps on Android or Settings on iPhone, then review its camera and microphone access.
4. Install OS updates only when appropriate. On Windows 11, open Settings › Windows Update. On macOS, open System Settings › General › Software Update. If the assessment is soon, first check the provider's advice about updates and restart time, then rerun its pre-check after any update.
5. Ask the provider about a mismatch. Send the exact OS version from your device settings, your browser version, and the wording of the pre-check warning. Avoid guessing based on a platform label alone.

What an OS hint can and cannot prove

Websites do not receive an unrestricted inventory of your computer. A browser may provide clues about its version, engine, and platform, but those clues can be limited or generalized. They are not the same as reading the full OS installation details directly from your settings.

System Info can help you describe the device you are using, while Browser Info can help you check browser capabilities. Neither replaces the assessment provider's compatibility test or its official requirements. If the provider's pre-check reports a problem, share the specific warning with support rather than assuming the OS is the only cause.