“Beginning with Windows 10, version 2004, all new Windows 10 systems will be required to use 64-bit builds and Microsoft will no longer release 32-bit builds for OEM distribution.”
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What does this mean for you?
If you’re unsure of the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit systems, don’t worry, you probably won’t be affected by the change to Microsoft’s minimum hardware requirements (opens in new tab). That’s because Microsoft will continue to support existing 32-bit PCs with feature and security updates released through non-OEM channels. You also shouldn’t worry about a new laptop losing support – every Windows 10 laptop released in the past few years is a 64-bit system. To find out if your laptop is 64-bit or 32-bit, search “system information” in Windows Search. On that screen, look for “System Type.” Here, you’ll either see x64 (64-bit) or x32 (32-bit). There’s no promise for how long Microsoft will continue to support 32-bit systems, and we wouldn’t be surprised if they were phased out altogether in the near future.
