PC experts and software developers always recommend users to install a 64-bit type of a program on 64-bit Windows operating system. Although you might not see a dramatic performance improvement by upgrading 32-bit program to 64-bit, an x64 program will perform better than an x86 program on an x64 based computer.
Upgrade Firefox 32-bit to Firefox 64-bit
A large number of Mozilla Firefox users are not aware of the availability of Firefox 64-bit. The web installer of Firefox automatically downloads and installs the 32-bit Firefox even on a 64-bit Windows PC. Because of this, users have been running 32-bit Firefox on Windows 64-bit although the Firefox 64-bit has been out there for more than a year now.
A lot of users who want to upgrade 32-bit Firefox install to 64-bit don’t want to uninstall the 32-bit Firefox first and then install the 64-bit Firefox as doing so will remove saved passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history.
NOTE: Refer to our 3 ways to check if you are running 32 or 64-bit Firefox guide to make sure that you are running 32-bit Firefox before attempting to upgrade!
There are two ways to upgrade Firefox 32-bit to Firefox 64-bit on a Windows PC. The first method is to uninstall Firefox 32-bit and then install Firefox 64-bit by manually downloading Firefox 64-bit offline installer. The second method is for users who would like to upgrade to 64-bit without uninstalling the current Firefox 32-bit. Since the first method is easy and everyone knows about it, we are talking only about the second method in this article.
Upgrade Firefox 32-bit to 64-bit without reinstalling
Here is how to upgrade Firefox 32-bit install to Firefox 64-bit on a Windows PC.
Important: Firefox 64-bit cannot be installed on 32-bit Windows. Please make sure that you are running 64-bit Windows 10/8/7 (see how to check if you are running 32 or 64-bit Windows 10) before attempting to upgrade Firefox 32-bit to 64-bit.
Step 1: Head over to this page of Mozilla. Locate your language and click 64 Download link to begin downloading the full offline installer of Firefox 64-bit. Please note that 64-bit Firefox is also available for Linux. So, be sure to click 64 Download link for Windows.
Step 2: Close Firefox browser, if it’s running.
Step 3: Run the downloaded 64-bit Firefox offline installer and follow on-screen directions to get it installed. This will install Firefox 64-bit on your Windows 10 PC without uninstalling the old 32-bit install.
Step 4: Launch Firefox now using Start/taskbar search to launch Firefox 64-bit. Follow our directions in how to check if you are running 32 or 64-bit Firefox guide to make sure that you have successfully upgraded Firefox 32-bit to 64-bit. All the best!
NOTE: When you install Firefox x64 bit, it doesn’t remove Firefox 32-bit from your PC but replaces the Firefox entry in the Start menu list. So, when you launch Firefox using Start menu or taskbar search, Windows 10 launches Firefox 64-bit instead of 32-bit. If for some reason, you want to use Firefox 32-bit, you can find under C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox directory.
To downgrade to Firefox 32-bit, please download Firefox 32-bit offline installer (using the above mentioned link/page), run the installer, and follow simple on-screen instructions. Simple as that!
Nikke says
I have several desktop workspaces “Ctrl+Win+arrow” and only two firefox instances were remembered. Also gone from history, recently closed
Other than that uninstalling the 64 bit and reinstalling as per the instructions here I got away from 34 bit while retaining logins bookmraks and tabs and at least some addons
GordonB says
YES, Bookmarks, Passwords, History are all retained in your existing profile(s). It’s awesomely painless upgrade. Many addons will work as well. Also, yes, you can uninstall the 32-bit version afterwards. But it may be a good idea to keep it for a little while.
joe raibley says
Are all the bookmarks, passwords, history, etc., reflected in the new 64 bit version?
Al says
Hi, you’ve got an error in title: REINSALL.
(The article is perfect!)
Greetings from Argentina, EVERY post worths reading.
Thanks, keep up.
Don Fisher says
If I install the 64-bit version, can I just uninstall the 32-bit version afterwards? Any problems with that?
Ken says
I’ve been using the 64-bit version for more than 6 months, & I estimate that it’s 50% faster than the 32-bit version. I haven’t clocked it, but it feels a lot snappier on the graphics-intensive Web-sites I use.
coffee-turtle says
Is the performance advantage measurable? (How big of a difference does it make?)
Will plugins/addons work as usual on 64-bit?
Thank you.