How To Install 32-bit Program & Apps In 64-bit Windows Pc

If you use the 64-bit version of Windows 10, you can run both 64-bit and 32-bit applications, but you probably want to make sure that at least most essential apps are using a 64-bit architecture for better performance.

Although apps are visually identical between architecture, there's a benefit of performance when it comes to 64-bit. A 64-bit application can access more than 4GB of memory making the app more efficient and faster over the 32-bit version.

You don't have to use 64-bit for all apps, but it's ideal, specially for those that will benefit from accessing more memory, such as Google Chrome, Visual Studio, and many others. If you want to tell if an app is 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 10 includes a couple quick ways to find out using Task Manager and File Explorer.

In this guide, you'll learn the steps to quickly determine whether the apps installed on Windows 10 are 64-bit or 32-bit architecture.

How to determine app is 64-bit or 32-bit using Task Manager
How to determine app is 64-bit or 32-bit using File Explorer

How to determine app is 64-bit or 32-bit using Task Manager

To check if an app is using a 64-bit or 32-bit architecture on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.
Click the Details tab.
Right-click a column header and choose the Select columns option.

Task Manager select column information
Check the Platform option.

Task Manager platform option
Click the OK button.
Confirm the 64-bit and 32-bit apps running on your computer.

Check app is 64-bit or 32-bit with Task Manager

Once you complete the steps, you'll understand the app architectures running on your computer.

In future releases of Windows 10, Task Manager will include an Architecture option that will also show you whether apps are 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)

How to determine app is 64-bit or 32-bit using File Explorer

To tell whether a Windows 10 app is 32-bit or 64-bit, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Click on This PC from the left navigation pane.
Under the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the C drive where Windows 10 is installed.
Confirm the 64-bit applications opening the Programs Files folder.

Check app architecture using File Explorer
Confirm the 32-bit applications opening the Programs Files (x86) folder.

After you complete the steps, you'll know which apps you need to upgrade to 64-bit architecture for better performance.

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