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I'm one of today's best-selling computer book writers, with more than 15 million books in print.

This website keeps you up-to-date on my books, and your computers. Each week, I answer a reader's question on-line.

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What version of Windows do I have, and is it 32-bit or 64-bit?

To see your Windows version, click the Start button, right-click Computer (or My Computer), and choose Properties.Q: I’m trying to install a program, but I don’t know if my computer has a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows.

I don’t even know what version of Windows I have. PC technicians usually repair my PC, and I don’t know what version came with my computer.

How can I find out if my PC meets the requirements for this program?

A: Many of today’s programs want to know not only what version of Windows lives on your PC, but whether it’s 32-bit or 64-bit. Luckily, these arcane details can be found fairly easily.

To discover what version of Windows lives on your PC, follow these three simple steps:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Right-click the menu item named “Computer” or “My Computer” (shown above) and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.
  3. When the System Properties window appears, read the information to discover your version of Windows, and whether it’s 32-or 64-bit.

If you don’t see a Start menu button in Step 1, then you’re running Windows 8, so jump to the Windows 8 section at the end of this article.

Here’s how to decipher that window’s information whether your computer runs Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8:

Windows XP

Windows XP's System Properties window

Following those steps in Windows XP brings up a window like the one above.

First, find the window’s System section (circled in red). There, you see that this computer runs Windows XP Professional.

It’s actually Windows XP Professional Version 2002, a special version which lets you run temperamental Windows XP programs within Windows 7. The other main Windows XP version is Windows XP Home.

It’s also running Service Pack 3. (Every version of Windows XP should be running Service Pack 3, which brings it up-to-date with security fixes.) Service Packs arrive through Windows Update.

Finally, nearly every version of Windows XP is a 32-bit version. But if this version was one of the few that ran 64-bit, the window above would mention that.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista's System Properties window

Following those steps in Windows Vista brings up a window like the one above.

First, find the window’s Windows Edition section (top, circled in red). There, you see that this particular computer runs Windows Vista Ultimate. Other popular versions include Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, and Business.

It’s also running Service Pack 2. (Every version of Windows Vista should be running Service Pack 2, which brings it up-to-date with security fixes.)

Unlike Windows XP, Windows Vista came widely distributed in both 32- and 64-bit versions. To see your version, look in the System’s section’s System Type area (bottom, circled in red). The example above is a 32-bit version of Windows Vista.

Windows 7

Windows 7's System Properties window

Following those steps in Windows 7 fetches a window like the one above.

First, find the window’s Windows Edition section (top, circled in red). There, you see that this computer runs Windows 7 Ultimate.

It’s also running Service Pack 1. (Every version of Windows 7 should now be running Service Pack 1, which brings it up-to-date with security fixes.)

Like Windows Vista, Windows 7 came distributed in both 32- and 64-bit versions. To see your version, look in the System’s section’s System Type area (bottom, circled in red). The example above is a 64-bit version of Windows 7.

Windows 8

If your computer lacks a Start menu, you’re running Windows 8. Here’s how to see what version of Windows 8 you’re running, and whether it’s 32- or 64-bit:

From the Start screen, open the Desktop tile.

From the desktop, fetch the Charms bar and choose Settings.

From the Settings pane, choose PC Info, and the screen below appears.

Windows 8 System page

In the Windows Edition section at the top, you can see this version is Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. (Other common versions are Windows 8 Home and Windows 8 Pro.) To see whether your version of Windows 8 is 32-bit or 64-bit, look in the System section under System Type. In the figure above, you can see that this is the 64-bit version.

The moral? When a program presents a complicated list of System Requirements, you can see if your computer’s up to snuff by clicking the Start button, right-clicking “Computer” or “My Computer,” and choosing Properties from the pop-up menu. (Windows 8 works a little differently, of course, as many new computer owners have discovered.)

Comments

Comment from Shawnlee
Time May 21, 2013 at 6:14 pm

Just want to thank you for making it so easy to find out if I have a 32bit or 64bit.Every freaken place I looked for answers kept on saying R click my computer and then click properties and it will show me,BUT Nobody says anything about Xp professional 2002 serv pack 3,are 32bit and will show only when its a 64bit..Thanks.I appreciate someone who explain everything in detail,so computer dummies like myself can also learn!!

Comment from Shirley King
Time July 28, 2015 at 2:17 pm

This also answered my question about whether I had 32 or 64 bit windows Xp installed using Windows XP Professional. Thank you for your great explanation.

Comment from KONSTANTINOS P…
Time February 20, 2016 at 11:53 am

Besten Dank! (German language)

Comment from Brian Chambless
Time September 27, 2018 at 9:05 am

xp doesnt tell you if its 32 or 64 in system properties

Comment from Andy Rathbone
Time September 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

>Brian: As I mention above in the article, “Finally, nearly every version of Windows XP is a 32-bit version. But if this version was one of the few that ran 64-bit, the window above would mention that.”

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