

To see if you have 64-bit Windows installed on Windows 10, head to Settings > System > About. Windows 10 through Windows 7 are available in both flavors. If you have a 32-bit CPU, you can't install Windows 11 at all. Windows 11 is only available as a 64-bit version. Conversely, while it's possible to install 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit processor, you must run 64-bit Windows to take full advantage of a 64-bit CPU's benefits. If you have a 32-bit processor, your only option is to install 32-bit Windows. 32-bit processors are still present in some old computers, but have been almost entirely overtaken by 64-bit CPUs today. 64-bit machines can process much more information at once, making them more powerful. Like Windows, processors are either 32-bit or 64-bit. Whether you can install a copy of 32-bit or 64-bit Windows depends on the processor inside your computer. We've discussed the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows elsewhere, which we'll summarize briefly here. Let's discuss the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, and which one you should choose next time you install Windows.ģ2-Bit and 64-Bit: What's the Difference? And worse, choosing the wrong option could hamper your system performance down the road. If you're not sure what these mean, this question might confuse you. When you create a bootable Windows installer or install the OS from a disc, you'll have to decide whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit operating system.
