How to Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer

Easy ways to check if your PC's CPU architecture is 32-bit or 64-bit

This wikiHow teaches you how to determine your Windows computer's bit count, which typically will be either 32- or 64-bit.

Things You Should Know

  • In your Windows 10 or 8 Settings, head to "System" and then "About."
  • On Windows 7, right-click the Computer icon on your desktop and choose "Properties."
  • You can run 32-bit programs on 64-bit PCs, but not the other way around.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Windows 10 and 8

  1. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 1
    1
    Open Start
    Windows Start
    .     Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start window will pop up.
    • You can also just right-click Start (or press ⊞ Win+X) and click System in the resulting pop-up menu. If you do this, skip the next two steps.
  2. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 2
    2
    Open Settings
    Windows Settings
    .     Click the gear-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner of the Start window. This will open the Settings window.
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  3. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 3
    3
    Click System. It's a computer monitor-shaped icon in the Settings window.
  4. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 4
    4
    Click About. This tab is at the bottom of the left-hand column of options. Doing so brings up a list of your computer's attributes.
  5. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 5
    5
    Look for the "System type" heading. It's near the bottom of the "Device specifications" section toward the bottom of the window. You'll see either "64-bit" or "32-bit" to the right of "System type"; this is your computer's bit count.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Windows 7

  1. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 6
    1
    Open Start
    Windows 7 Start
    .     Either click the Windows logo in the bottom-right corner of the screen, or press the ⊞ Win key.
  2. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 7
    2
    Right-click Computer. It's on the right side of the Start window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
    • If the My Computer app is on your desktop, you can right-click it instead.
    • If you're using a laptop with a trackpad, tap the trackpad with two fingers instead of right-clicking.
  3. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 8
    3
    Click Properties. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  4. Image titled Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer Step 9
    4
    Look for the "System type" heading. It's below the "Installed RAM" heading on this page. You'll see either "64-bit" or "32-bit" to the right of "System type"; this is your computer's bit count.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is there an easy way to install a 64-bit processor?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, open up the PC. Look for a big fan. Unscrew the fan. Underneath the fan is a processor. Take out the processor. Put in a 64 bit processor (must purchase separately). Apply thermal paste. Put the fan back on. Close the computer.
  • Question
    I'm building a new computer and have selected the AMD Athlon 760k Richland 3.8GHz. Is this a 64-bit processor?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This is, in fact, a 64-bit processor.
  • Question
    What is a 64 bit PC?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.
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Warnings

  • Attempting to run a 64-bit program on a 32-bit system will generally result in problems.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 655,827 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 27
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 655,827
Categories: Windows
Article SummaryX

1. Right-click the Start icon.
2. Click System.
3. Click the About tab.
4. Look for 32-bit or 64-bit to the right of the "System type" heading.

Did this summary help you?
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