32-bit And 64-bit Windows: Frequently Asked Questions

Related topics × Hardware in Windows All about hardware in Windows

• Common PC and device terms
• All about computer memory
• All about device screens and displays
• All about graphics processing units (GPUs)
• All about neural processing units (NPUs)
• All about processors (CPUs)
• All about SSD, HDD, and storage types

Add and remove hardware

• Add a hardware device to a Windows device
• Safely remove hardware in Windows

Bluetooth

• Check if a Windows 11 device supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio
• Connect to a Bluetooth network in Windows
• How to find Bluetooth settings in Windows
• Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows
• Send and receive files over Bluetooth in Windows
• Supported Bluetooth profiles
• Turn Bluetooth on or off in Windows
• What Bluetooth version is on a Windows device
• Troubleshoot Bluetooth

Camera

• How to use the Windows Camera app
• Manage app permissions for a camera in Windows
• Manage cameras with Camera settings in Windows 11
• Windows Studio Effects
• Troubleshoot Camera

Drivers

• Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers
• Microsoft Basic Display Adapter in Windows
• Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows
• Troubleshoot Drivers

Keyboard

• Get to know the touch keyboard
• Windows keyboard tips and tricks
• Enable and disable the touch keyboard in Windows
• Troubleshoot Keyboard

Mouse and Pen

• Change mouse settings
• Use a pen with Windows
• Enable and disable the virtual touchpad in Windows
• Troubleshoot Mouse

Printers and Scanners

• Add or install a printer in Windows
• How to download and install the latest printer drivers
• Install and use a scanner in Windows
• Modern print platform
• Set a default printer in Windows
• Share a printer as a network printer
• View a printer's print queue in Windows
• Troubleshoot Printers and Scanners

Processors

• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions
• Find out how many cores a processor on a Windows device has
• Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ

Touch

• Enable and disable the touch keyboard in Windows
• Enable and disable the virtual touchpad in Windows
• Enable and disable a touchscreen in Windows
• Fix touchpad problems in Windows
• Touch gestures for Windows
• Turn tablet mode on or off in Windows
• What to try if a touchscreen doesn't work in Windows

Skip to main content Sign in with Microsoft Sign in or create an account. Hello, Select a different account. You have multiple accounts Choose the account you want to sign in with. Related topics Hardware in Windows All about hardware in Windows

• Common PC and device terms
• All about computer memory
• All about device screens and displays
• All about graphics processing units (GPUs)
• All about neural processing units (NPUs)
• All about processors (CPUs)
• All about SSD, HDD, and storage types

Add and remove hardware

• Add a hardware device to a Windows device
• Safely remove hardware in Windows

Bluetooth

• Check if a Windows 11 device supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio
• Connect to a Bluetooth network in Windows
• How to find Bluetooth settings in Windows
• Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows
• Send and receive files over Bluetooth in Windows
• Supported Bluetooth profiles
• Turn Bluetooth on or off in Windows
• What Bluetooth version is on a Windows device
• Troubleshoot Bluetooth

Camera

• How to use the Windows Camera app
• Manage app permissions for a camera in Windows
• Manage cameras with Camera settings in Windows 11
• Windows Studio Effects
• Troubleshoot Camera

Drivers

• Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers
• Microsoft Basic Display Adapter in Windows
• Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows
• Troubleshoot Drivers

Keyboard

• Get to know the touch keyboard
• Windows keyboard tips and tricks
• Enable and disable the touch keyboard in Windows
• Troubleshoot Keyboard

Mouse and Pen

• Change mouse settings
• Use a pen with Windows
• Enable and disable the virtual touchpad in Windows
• Troubleshoot Mouse

Printers and Scanners

• Add or install a printer in Windows
• How to download and install the latest printer drivers
• Install and use a scanner in Windows
• Modern print platform
• Set a default printer in Windows
• Share a printer as a network printer
• View a printer's print queue in Windows
• Troubleshoot Printers and Scanners

Processors

• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions
• Find out how many cores a processor on a Windows device has
• Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ

Touch

• Enable and disable the touch keyboard in Windows
• Enable and disable the virtual touchpad in Windows
• Enable and disable a touchscreen in Windows
• Fix touchpad problems in Windows
• Touch gestures for Windows
• Turn tablet mode on or off in Windows
• What to try if a touchscreen doesn't work in Windows

Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10

Here are answers to some common questions about the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

How do I upgrade from the 32-bit to the 64-bit version of Windows?

Upgrading from the 32-bit version to the 64-bit version of Windows requires that you reformat your hard disk, install the 64-bit version of Windows, and then reinstall everything else that you had on your device. For more information, see Create installation media for Windows.

Note: Windows 11 and later are 64-bit only.

How can I tell if my Windows device is running a 32-bit or a 64-bit version of Windows?

Windows 11Windows 10

Windows 11 doesn't have a 32-bit version and is 64-bit only. To confirm:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut:Open About

2. In the System> About window that opens, the architecture version of Windows can be found next to System type under Device specifications. It's listed as the operating system type.

Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more

1. Select Start and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut:Open About

2. In the About window that opens, the architecture version of Windows can be found next to System type under Device specifications. It's listed as the operating system type.

Which version of Windows should I install: the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version?

Windows 11Windows 10

Windows 11 doesn't have a 32-bit version and is 64-bit only. Installs will always be 64-bit.

Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more

To install a 64-bit version of Windows, you need a CPU that's capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows. The benefits of using a 64-bit operating system are most apparent when you have a large amount of random-access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system, a 64-bit system can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and switching between them frequently. Almost all modern devices have a CPU that's capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows.

How do I tell if my computer can run a 64-bit version of Windows?

Windows 11Windows 10

Windows 11 doesn't have a 32-bit version and is 64-bit only so any device running Windows 11 is capable of a 64-bit version of Windows. To confirm:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut:Open About

2. In the System> About window that opens, the architecture version of Windows can be found next to System type under Device specifications. It's listed as the processor type.

Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more

1. Select Start and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut:Open About

2. In the About window that opens, the architecture version of Windows can be found next to System type under Device specifications. It's listed as the processor type.

Find out how to choose between the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office.

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