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How to Check Tableau Server Version

Cody Schneider•

Knowing your exact Tableau Server version is essential for troubleshooting errors, checking feature compatibility, and planning upgrades. This guide breaks down several straightforward methods to find that information, with options for daily users and server administrators alike.

Why Your Tableau Server Version Matters

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." You might need to check your Tableau Server version for a few critical reasons:

  • Compatibility with Tableau Desktop: This is the most common reason. You can't publish a workbook to Tableau Server from a newer version of Tableau Desktop. For example, you can't publish from Desktop 2023.2 to Server 2023.1. Knowing the server version ensures your entire team can publish their work without running into compatibility errors.

  • Accessing New Features: Tableau regularly adds new features, visualizations, and connectors with each major release. If you read about a new mapping capability or dynamic axis range, you need to check if your server version supports it before trying to use it.

  • Troubleshooting and Support: When you encounter a bug or need to contact Tableau support, one of the first questions they will ask is for your exact product version. This helps them identify known issues and provide the correct solution for your specific environment.

  • Security and Maintenance Patches: Minor version updates (the third number in the version string, like in 2023.1**.5**) often contain critical security fixes and performance improvements. Regularly checking your version helps you know if you are up-to-date and protected from vulnerabilities.

  • Planning Upgrades: As an administrator, you need to know your current version to properly plan an upgrade path. It determines the steps, potential issues, and backup procedures required for a smooth transition to a newer version.

Methods for All Users (No Admin Rights Needed)

If you can log in to Tableau Server to view dashboards, you can use these simple methods directly in your browser.

Method 1: Using the Help Menu Icon

This is by far the quickest and most common way to check the version. It takes less than ten seconds.

  1. Log in to your Tableau Server instance through your web browser.

  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, locate the help icon - it looks like a question mark (?) or an information symbol (i) inside a circle, depending on your version.

  3. Click on the icon. A dropdown menu will appear.

  4. From the menu, select "About Tableau Server."

A pop-up window will appear, clearly displaying the full Tableau Server version number, including the long build number. You'll see something like "Version: 2023.1.4 (20231.23.0611.1925) 64-bit."

Method 2: Check the Server Login Page (Sometimes)

On some older, non-SSO (Single Sign-On) configured instances of Tableau Server, the version number might be displayed at the bottom of the main login screen. Before you even enter your username and password, you may see the version details in the footer of the page.

This isn't a guaranteed method, as many organizations customize their login screens or use SSO, which hides this page. However, it's worth a quick glance if you're ever logged out.

Methods for Server Administrators

If you have administrative access to the machine where Tableau Server is installed, you have several more powerful ways to find the version information.

Method 3: Use the TSM Command Line (CLI)

The Tableau Services Manager (TSM) is the standard tool for managing your Tableau Server instance from the command line, available for versions 2018.2 and newer. It's the most reliable way for an administrator to get a direct version reading.

For Windows:

  1. Log in to the Windows Server where Tableau Server is running.

  2. Open the Command Prompt as an Administrator. You can do this by searching for cmd in the Start Menu, right-clicking it, and selecting "Run as administrator."

  3. Type the following command and press Enter:

    tsm version

The command prompt will return a straightforward response that looks something like this:

This gives you both the TSM version and the all-important Tableau Server version cleanly and immediately.

For Linux:

  1. Log in to your Linux machine via SSH or directly.

  2. Go to the TSM scripts directory, usually located at /opt/tableau/tableau_server/packages/scripts.<version>/.

  3. Execute the tsm version command:

    sudo /opt/tableau/tableau_server/packages/scripts.<version_code>/tsm version

The output will be the same as the Windows version, clearly stating your Tableau Server version.

Method 4: Use the TSM Web Interface

For administrators who prefer a graphical interface, the TSM Web UI also displays the version prominently.

  1. On the server machine (or another machine that can access it), open a web browser.

  2. Navigate to the TSM URL, which is typically your server's address on port 8850: https://<your-server-name>:8850.

  3. Log in using your TSM administrator credentials.

  4. Once you're logged in, the Tableau Server version is displayed in the top right corner of the page, right below your username. You don't have to navigate through any menus, it's right there on the main "Status" or "Configuration" page.

Method 5: Check Programs and Features (Windows Only)

You can use the classic Windows method for checking installed program versions.

  1. On the Windows Server machine, open the Control Panel.

  2. Go to "Programs" > "Programs and Features." (In some newer versions of Windows Server, you might find this under "Settings > Apps > Apps & features").

  3. Scroll through the list of installed applications until you find "Tableau Server."

  4. The version will be listed in the "Version" column right next to the application name. This is a quick way to see the version without needing to run any commands or log into any portals.

Method 6: Inspect File Properties (Windows Only)

This is a more hands-on approach but useful if your server is unresponsive or you can't access other tools. You can check the version by looking at the file details of key Tableau executables.

  1. Navigate to the Tableau Server's bin directory on the server machine. The exact path depends on your installation, but it will look something like this:C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau Server\packages\bin.<version>\

  2. Find a core executable file, such as tablicsrv.exe, vizqlserver.exe, or tdsservice.exe.

  3. Right-click on the file and choose "Properties."

  4. Go to the "Details" tab.

  5. Here you'll find "File version" and "Product version" fields. The "Product version" number directly corresponds to your Tableau Server version.

Understanding Tableau Version Numbers

Tableau version numbers follow a simple, predictable format: YYYY.M.P.

  • YYYY: This is the year of the major release (e.g., 2023).

  • M: This is the major release number for that year. Tableau typically has three major releases per year, so this will be .1, .2, or .3. A higher number means a more recent release with more features.

  • P: This is the maintenance or patch release number. This starts at 0 and increments as Tableau releases fixes for bugs and security vulnerabilities. For example, 2023.1.5 has had five maintenance releases applied.

For example, if you see version 2023.1.5, you know it's from the first big feature release of 2023 and has the latest security fixes available for that specific release branch.

Final Thoughts

With these methods, you can quickly and easily determine your Tableau Server version, whether you're a dashboard viewer or a system administrator. The user-friendly "About Tableau Server" page is perfect for most users, while administrators have the command line and TSM web interface for reliable server management.

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