How to decide if yous have a 32-bit or 64-bit CPU

Updated: 03/12/2022 by Computer Hope

Computer CPU

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

Windows 8, x, and 11

See the post-obit steps to determine your CPU type and how many bits the processor has in Windows 8, Windows ten, and Windows 11.

  • Type arrangement data in the Windows search box and select the System Information icon.

Or, if you do not have a search box (because you have disabled it):

  1. Open a File Explorer window by pressing Windows key+Due east.
  2. On the left, right-click This PC.
  3. In the context menu, select Properties to open the System Backdrop window.

Properties in File Explorer.

  1. In the Organisation Properties window, find your Organization type, which lists your operating system and CPU blazon.

Find your System type.

Tip

To determine the processor's manufacturer (e.g., AMD or Intel) and its model, see the Processor line.

Earlier versions of Windows

With before versions of Windows, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Start bill of fare > All Programs. Open the Accessories folder, then the System Tools binder. In the System Tools folder, select the Organisation Information pick.

System Information - 64-bit CPU

  1. Look for the System Type option under the Item column on the right side of System Data. In the Value cavalcade, the associated value tells y'all which type of CPU the computer has in it. If the System Type value includes "x86" in it, the CPU is 32-bit. If the Arrangement Type value includes "x64" in information technology, 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-chip. 32-chip processors can merely run 32-chip versions of Windows. However, 64-bit processors can run either the 64-chip or 32-scrap versions.

To determine if the version of Windows on your calculator is 32-scrap or 64-fleck, cull your version and follow the steps.

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

Determine if Windows Vista and later is 32-bit or 64-flake

  1. Printing and hold the Windows key and the Pause cardinal.

Tip

Some laptops don't have a Intermission cardinal. Instead, the Suspension key is a secondary office of a role key, and you need to press the Fn fundamental and that function key.

  1. The Organization window, side by side to System type, lists 32-bit Operating Organisation for a 32-bit version of Windows and 64-chip Operating Arrangement if you're running the 64-bit version. Beneath is a picture and an case of this window.

64-bit version of Windows system information

Determine if Windows XP is 32-bit or 64-scrap

  1. Press and concord the Windows key and the Pause cardinal, or open the System icon in the Control Console.
  2. On the General tab of the Arrangement Backdrop window, if it has the text Windows XP, the computer runs the 32-fleck version of Windows XP. If it has the text Windows XP Professional person x64 Edition, the calculator runs the 64-chip version of Windows XP.

Make up one's mind if Windows 2000 and prior is 32-scrap or 64-bit

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

Apple tree macOS

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

  1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar at the upper-left corner.
  2. Select the About This Mac selection in the Apple menu.
  3. On the About This Mac window, click the More than Info option.
  4. Open the Hardware department and observe the Processor Name aspect. In one case listed, perform an Internet search, using the CPU'southward processor proper name as a keyword, to determine if it's a 32-bit or 64-fleck CPU.
Processor 32-chip or 64-bit
Intel Cadre Duo or Solo 32-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo 64-bit
Any Intel Xeon processor 64-bit
Intel Core i3 64-bit
Intel Core i5 64-bit
Intel Core i7 64-scrap

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

Linux

Admission the command line interface on the Linux operating system, and enter the post-obit command.

grep flags /proc/cpuinfo

Expect for "lm" in the command output. If lm is found in the output, then the CPU is 64-bit. If you don't see lm or see i386, i486, i586, or i686 in the output, then the CPU is 32-bit. Below is an example output of the command above with lm in the data.

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

Make up one's mind if the Linux kernel is 32-bit or 64-scrap

Using the uname command, y'all can determine if your Linux kernel is 32-bit or 64-fleck past running the command below.

uname -a

The control in a higher place displays an output similar to the case output below.

SMP Tue February 12 00:15:43 EST 2008            x86_64            x86_64 GNU/Linux

If yous see x86_64 in the output, it is x86 and 64-bit.