How to Determine the Bit Count for a Windows Computer

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

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

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Windows 10 and 8

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Windows 7

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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

How do you check your computer bits?

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

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1
Open 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.
Open 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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It's a computer monitor-shaped icon in the Settings window.
This tab is at the bottom of the left-hand column of options. Doing so brings up a list of your computer's attributes.
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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Windows 7

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Open Start
. Either click the Windows logo in the bottom-right corner of the screen, or press the ⊞ Win key.
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.
This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
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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Question

Is there an easy way to install a 64-bit processor?

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.

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I'm building a new computer and have selected the AMD Athlon 760k Richland 3.8GHz. Is this a 64-bit processor?

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This is, in fact, a 64-bit processor.

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What is a 64 bit PC?

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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Running a 32-bit program on a 64-bit computer is completely fine, and is often necessary when using older programs on your PC.

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You can typically determine a Windows computer's bit count by looking at its system specifications in a store or online.

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