How to Check if Your Computer Is 64 Bit

Last Updated: January 6, 2023

This article explains how to determine whether your computer/server is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of a MS Windows Operating System.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Checking Windows 7/Vista/Server 2008/R2

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Perform the following steps on your computer:
- Click on the Start Button.
- Type 'System' in the Start Search box
- Click "System" in the Programs list.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

In the "System" window it will state either "32-bit Operating System" or "64-bit Operating System".

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Checking Windows XP/2000/Server 2003

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Type the following: sysdm.cpl and click OK.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-Check-if-Your-Computer-Is-64-Bit-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Under "System Type" it will either state "x86" if a 32-bit version of Windows is installed, or "EM64T" if a 64-bit version of Windows is installed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Checking Windows 10

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Windows10_64_bit.png\/460px-Windows10_64_bit.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Windows10_64_bit.png\/583px-Windows10_64_bit.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":113,"bigWidth":583,"bigHeight":143,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1

Type in the "Control Panel" search box.
2

Click "Control Panel". Next, press "System & Security". Press "System" and read the results.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Checking Windows 11

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Settings-system-about.png\/460px-Settings-system-about.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Settings-system-about.png\/728px-Settings-system-about.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1

Open Windows Settings page. Open Windows Settings by pressing Win+I on the keyboard and the System page will be shown at first by default.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/About-system-type.png\/460px-About-system-type.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/About-system-type.png\/720px-About-system-type.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":358,"bigWidth":720,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2

Choose and view About. Scroll down to About at the bottom of System. Click on it so you can view the information in System type .

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Checking Mac OS X

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/939183-5.jpg\/v4-460px-939183-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/939183-5.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-939183-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/939183-6.jpg\/v4-460px-939183-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/939183-6.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-939183-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2
Type the following: "uname -a" at the prompt.
- Note: do not use quotes. These were placed for emphasis.
- Note: ensure to insert the blank space between "uname" and "-a" strings.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/939183-7.jpg\/v4-460px-939183-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/939183-7.jpg\/aid939183-v4-728px-939183-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3
Read the text. The terminal will display two lines of text. At the end of the second line, you will find wording such as:
1. RELEASE_I386 i386 ; the latest "i386" means that you're running 32bits kernel
2. RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64 ; the latest "x86_64" means that you're running 64bits kernel

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Log in

How to Check if Your Computer Is 64 Bit

Steps

Checking Windows 7/Vista/Server 2008/R2

Checking Windows XP/2000/Server 2003

Checking Windows 10

Checking Windows 11

Checking Mac OS X

Expert Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories