How to determine if you lot take a 32-flake or 64-bit CPU

Updated: 03/12/2022 by Reckoner Hope

Computer CPU

The steps to determine whether your calculator has a 32-bit or 64-bit processor (CPU) depend on the operating organisation installed. Below are the steps to decide the processor blazon for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Windows 8, 10, and 11

See the post-obit steps to make up one's mind your CPU type and how many bits the processor has in Windows 8, Windows ten, and Windows 11.

  • Type system data in the Windows search box and select the Arrangement Information icon.

Or, if you lot practice not have a search box (because y'all have disabled it):

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

Properties in File Explorer.

  1. In the System Backdrop window, discover your Organisation type, which lists your operating organisation and CPU type.

Find your System type.

Tip

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

Before versions of Windows

With before versions of Windows, follow these steps.

  1. Open up the Beginning menu > All Programs. Open the Accessories folder, so the Organisation Tools folder. In the System Tools folder, select the System Data option.

System Information - 64-bit CPU

  1. Look for the System Blazon option under the Detail column on the right side of System Information. In the Value column, the associated value tells yous which type of CPU the computer has in it. If the System Type value includes "x86" in it, the CPU is 32-flake. If the System Type value includes "x64" in it, the CPU is 64-bit.

Determine if using 32-fleck or 64-scrap version of Windows

Microsoft Windows is available in 64-chip and 32-scrap. 32-bit processors tin can simply run 32-bit versions of Windows. However, 64-scrap processors tin can run either the 64-bit or 32-bit versions.

To determine if the version of Windows on your computer is 32-bit or 64-scrap, choose your version and follow the steps.

  • Windows Vista and afterwards
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 2000 and prior

Determine if Windows Vista and afterward is 32-fleck or 64-bit

  1. Press and hold the Windows key and the Suspension key.

Tip

Some laptops don't have a Pause key. Instead, the Pause key is a secondary function of a part key, and you need to press the Fn key and that role key.

  1. The Organization window, next to System blazon, lists 32-bit Operating System for a 32-bit version of Windows and 64-bit Operating Organization if you're running the 64-bit version. Below is a picture and an example of this window.

64-bit version of Windows system information

Determine if Windows XP is 32-flake or 64-fleck

  1. Press and hold the Windows cardinal and the Break key, or open the Organisation icon in the Control Panel.
  2. On the Full general tab of the System Backdrop window, if it has the text Windows XP, the computer runs the 32-bit version of Windows XP. If it has the text Windows XP Professional person x64 Edition, the calculator runs the 64-bit version of Windows XP.

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

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

Apple macOS

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

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

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

Linux

Access the command line interface on the Linux operating organization, and enter the post-obit control.

grep flags /proc/cpuinfo

Await for "lm" in the command output. If lm is found in the output, then the CPU is 64-bit. If you lot don't meet lm or see i386, i486, i586, or i686 in the output, then the CPU is 32-fleck. Below is an case output of the control above with lm in the information.

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-bit

Using the uname command, you can determine if your Linux kernel is 32-bit or 64-flake by running the control below.

uname -a

The command above displays an output similar to the example output beneath.

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

If you encounter x86_64 in the output, information technology is x86 and 64-bit.