Just like its predecessors, Windows 10 is also available in both 32-bit and 64-bit types. If you installed Windows 10 yourself or upgraded to Windows 10 from a previous version of Windows, you likely know how to check if you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit type of Windows 10.
There are many instances where you need to know the type of Windows operating system that you’re running on your PC. For example, while downloading hardware drivers, you need to select the type of Windows 10 to begin the download as 64-bit drivers can’t be installed on 32-bit Windows install.
To figure out which type of Windows 10 installed and running on your PC, please follow the directions in one of the two methods given below.
For those of you wondering, it’s not possible to perform an in-place upgrade from 32-bit Windows to 64-bit Windows. You need to perform a clean install of 64-bit Windows.
Method 1 of 2
Check the type of Windows 10 in System properties
Step 1: Right-click on the File Explorer entry in the Start menu, click More and then click Properties to open System window.
Step 2: Here, under the System section, check the type of the operating system to know the type of your Windows 10 operating system. If the type is x64, you will see a 64-bit operating system entry instead of a 32-bit operating system.
And if you see a “32-bit operating system, x64-based processor” as system type, your PC is running a 32-bit version of Windows 10 on a 64-bit capable PC.
Method 2 of 2
Determine the type of Windows 10 in the Settings app
Step 1: Open Settings app either by clicking its icon in the Start menu or using the Windows logo and I hotkey.
Step 2: Click on the System (Display, notifications, apps, power) category and then click About.
Step 4: Check the entry labeled System type to know the type of Windows 10 installed on your PC. If will be either a 64-bit operating system or a 32-bit operating system.
I hope this helps you!
Felicia Gordon says
I have windows 10 home version and trying to find out what bit size my computer on. However the steps listed aren’t compatible with my program. When I click the start button there is no file explorer and when I click of the file on the task bar there is no “more” to click. Can you tell me what I need to do for my version. The buttons on my start menu are power, settings, pictures, documents and my profile. In the second pane where things are listed alphabetically under F there is only feedback hub and Foxfire. I would appreciate any assistance that can be given.
admin says
@ Coffee-turtle, the keyboard shortcut you mentioned works great. The problem is that Break key is not present in most of the most laptops. So I didn’t mention about the key.
Thanks for your input.
coffee-turtle says
Win+Break