Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10

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

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

  1. Right-click the Start menu and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut: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.

  1. Right-click the Start menu and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut: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.

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

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.

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. Right-click the Start menu and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut: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.

  1. Right-click the Start menu and then select Settings > System > About . Or select the following About shortcut: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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