How to make up one's mind if yous have a 32-bit or 64-bit CPU

Updated: 03/12/2022 by Reckoner Hope

Computer CPU

The steps to determine whether your computer has a 32-bit or 64-bit processor (CPU) depend on the operating organization installed. Below are the steps to determine the processor blazon for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Windows 8, ten, and eleven

Run into the following steps to decide your CPU type and how many bits the processor has in Windows eight, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

  • Blazon organization information in the Windows search box and select the System Information icon.

Or, if y'all do not have a search box (because you have disabled information technology):

  1. Open a File Explorer window past pressing Windows key+E.
  2. On the left, correct-click This PC.
  3. In the context menu, select Backdrop to open up the System Properties window.

Properties in File Explorer.

  1. In the System Properties window, find your Arrangement type, which lists your operating organization and CPU type.

Find your System type.

Tip

To make up one's mind the processor'south manufacturer (e.g., AMD or Intel) and its model, encounter the Processor line.

Before versions of Windows

With earlier versions of Windows, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Start menu > All Programs. Open up the Accessories folder, then the System Tools folder. In the System Tools folder, select the Organisation Information option.

System Information - 64-bit CPU

  1. Expect for the System Type selection under the Particular column on the correct side of Organization Data. In the Value column, the associated value tells you lot which type of CPU the calculator has in it. If the System Type value includes "x86" in information technology, the CPU is 32-flake. If the System Type value includes "x64" in it, the CPU is 64-fleck.

Determine if using 32-fleck or 64-bit version of Windows

Microsoft Windows is bachelor in 64-bit and 32-bit. 32-bit processors tin can only run 32-bit versions of Windows. Withal, 64-bit processors can run either the 64-fleck or 32-flake versions.

To decide if the version of Windows on your figurer is 32-bit or 64-chip, choose your version and follow the steps.

  • Windows Vista and later
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 2000 and prior

Make up one's mind if Windows Vista and later is 32-fleck or 64-fleck

  1. Press and agree the Windows primal and the Pause key.

Tip

Some laptops don't have a Suspension primal. Instead, the Break primal is a secondary function of a part primal, and you need to press the Fn key and that office key.

  1. The System window, adjacent to Organisation type, lists 32-bit Operating System for a 32-bit version of Windows and 64-fleck Operating System if you lot're running the 64-bit version. Below is a film and an example of this window.

64-bit version of Windows system information

Make up one's mind if Windows XP is 32-bit or 64-chip

  1. Press and concord the Windows central and the Pause key, or open the Organisation icon in the Control Panel.
  2. On the Full general tab of the System Properties window, if information technology has the text Windows XP, the computer runs the 32-bit version of Windows XP. If it has the text Windows XP Professional person x64 Edition, the calculator runs the 64-bit version of Windows XP.

Decide if Windows 2000 and prior is 32-bit or 64-fleck

Windows operating systems, from Windows 95 to Windows 2000, are all 32-scrap. There are no 64-bit versions of these operating systems.

Apple macOS

On a macOS figurer, follow these steps to determine if the processor is 32-chip or 64-bit.

  1. Click the Apple tree icon in the card bar at the upper-left corner.
  2. Select the Well-nigh This Mac pick in the Apple menu.
  3. On the Near This Mac window, click the More Info option.
  4. Open the Hardware section and find the Processor Name attribute. One time listed, perform an Net search, using the CPU's processor proper noun every bit a keyword, to determine if it's a 32-bit or 64-bit CPU.
Processor 32-bit or 64-bit
Intel Core Duo or Solo 32-bit
Intel Cadre two Duo 64-bit
Any Intel Xeon processor 64-bit
Intel Cadre i3 64-chip
Intel Core i5 64-bit
Intel Core i7 64-bit

The table above shows that all the most recent Mac computers are 64-bit processors.

Linux

Access the command line interface on the Linux operating organisation, and enter the following command.

grep flags /proc/cpuinfo

Await for "lm" in the control output. If lm is found in the output, and then the CPU is 64-bit. If you don't run into lm or come across i386, i486, i586, or i686 in the output, and then the CPU is 32-bit. Beneath is an example output of the command above with lm in the information.

flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx            lm            constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr sse4_1 lahf_lm

Determine if the Linux kernel is 32-bit or 64-chip

Using the uname command, you tin decide if your Linux kernel is 32-fleck or 64-bit by running the command below.

uname -a

The command above displays an output like to the example output beneath.

SMP Tue Feb 12 00:fifteen:43 EST 2008            x86_64            x86_64 GNU/Linux

If y'all see x86_64 in the output, it is x86 and 64-flake.