How to tell if a Windows computer has a 64-bit CPU or OS

Question

How you can check if your Windows computer

• Has an x86 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) processor?
• Is running a 32 bit or 64 bit operating system?

Answer 1

If you are on 64-bit XP, under C:\ you will see a "Program Files" as well as "Program Files (x86)" folder.

System properties will also reflect a 64-bit OS:

Answer 2

Almost all processors produced since 2006 support the 64-bit instruction set, and can run either a 32-bit or a 64-bit operating system. Running a 64-bit OS requires an x86-64 CPU, but you do not need a 64-bit OS to use one of these CPUs.

Hardware

Almost all AMD processors since the Athlon 64 have supported 64-bit instructions. If you have an AMD processor, it probably can run a 64-bit OS.

Almost all Intel processors since the Core 2 series have supported 64-bit. If you have a Core 2, or Core i_x processor, it can run a 64-bit OS. The only exceptions are a few of the Atom netbook processors. To check whether your processor version supports x64, look it up in Intel's processor database.

Software

Mac OS X has supported x64 since OS X 10.4 Tiger, and has been x64 only since 10.6 Snow Leopard.

There have been 64-bit versions of Windows since Windows 2000 Server, but did not enter mainstream until Windows Vista. Many computers sold with Windows today come with 64-bit Windows 7. You can check whether you have 64-bit Windows installed by going to My Computer and clicking on System Properties.

Answer 3

If you are running Windows XP then you are most likely running a 32-Bit Operating System, since the 64-Bit WinXP Version is extremely rare (for a good reason since it's largely unsupported).

If the PC itself is 64-Bit compatible is trickier to find out in that case. Try downloading CPU-Z and check if Instructions lists something like EM64T, AMD64, x86-64 or similar. If in doubt, please post what CPU-Z displays for Name, Specification and Instructions.

Answer 4

Using autoit, run this script:

If @CPUARCH = "x86" Then
    $CPUARCH = "32-bit"
Else
    $CPUARCH = "64-bit"
EndIf

If @OSARCH = "x86" Then
    $OSARCH = "32-bit"
Else
    $OSARCH = "64-bit"
EndIf

MsgBox(64,"OS and CPU Architechure","The CPU is " & $CPUARCH & " and the OS is " & $OSARCH)

There is a compiled version here if you don't want to download autoit and compile it yourself. Note, this will work on 2K/XP/VISTA/7

Answer 5

Below is a list of methods for checking whether your currently installed Operating System is 32 or 64 bit, and whether your processor can support a 64 bit OS.

Note that the methods will vary depending on your version of Windows.

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Any Windows Version

Operating System

If you are using a 64 bit version of Windows, you will have Program Files (x86) and Program Files on your C:\ drive.

If you are using a 32 bit version of Windows, only the Program Files folder will be present.

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Windows 10

Operating System & Processor

Right click the Start Button then click System.

The OS and Processor type will be shown under the System heading next to System Type.

Source: WD Support - How to determine if Windows OS is 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)

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Windows 8

Operating System & Processor

From the Desktop, press ⊞ Win + i (Windows Key + i), then click PC Info.

The OS and Processor type will be shown under the System heading next to System Type.

Source: Picohelp - How to Check if Windows 8 is 32-bit or 64-bit Version

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Windows 7/Vista/Server 2008

Operating System

Open the Start Menu, right click Computer, and select Properties. The OS type will be listed under System.

Source: WikiHow - Check if Your Computer is 64-Bit

Processor

This method may require Administrator rights.

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click Performance Information and Tools.

2. Click View and print detailed performance and system information.

3. In the System section, you can see what type of operating system you're currently running under System type, and whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable. (If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing.)

Source: Microsoft Support - 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions

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Windows XP

Operating System

Open the Start Menu, right click My Computer, and select Properties. The General tab will show if your system uses a 64 bit-OS under the System header.

Screenshot courtesy of John T

Answer 6

All the other answers don't actually prove that your system is 64bit. They simply tell you whether or not you have a 64bit OS installed. I can suggest you do that too. But, if your copy of windows isn't 64bit (because you can install 32 bit windows on 64bit systems) then I suggest you install CPU-Z.

Once you've install it, run CPU-Z and look for the EM64T under instructions on the CPU tab.

Answer 7

Command line, in Windows:

wmic computersystem

Just the system type:

wmic computersystem get systemtype

Terminal, in Linux:

sudo lscpu

Just the system type:

sudo lscpu | grep Architecture

Answer 8

Right click on My Computer and then click on Properties.

Answer 9

There is a fast option to run the command line:

wmic os get osarchitecture

my output is

OSArchitecture

64-bit