How To Change Windows 10 32 Bit To 64 Bit

Microsoft gives you the 32-bit version of Windows 10 if you upgrade from the 32-bit version of Windows 7 or 8.one. Simply you can switch to the 64-bit version, assuming your hardware supports it.

If you had a 32-scrap versions of Windows 7 or 8.1 installed on your PC and upgraded to Windows 10, Microsoft automatically gave you the 32-bit version of Windows ten. But, if your hardware supports using a 64-fleck operating system, yous tin upgrade to the 64-scrap version of Windows for free.

RELATED: How to Upgrade from Windows 7 or viii to Windows 10 (Right Now)

Make Certain Your Processor is 64-scrap Capable

First thing'due south first. Before fifty-fifty thinking of upgrading to 64-chip Windows, you'll need to confirm that the CPU in your computer is 64-fleck capable. To do so, head to Settings > System > About. On the right-hand side of the window, look for the "System blazon" entry.

Yous'll run into ane of iii things here:

64-chip operating system, x64-based processor. Your CPU does support 64-chip and you already take the 64-chip version of Windows installed.
32-bit operating system, x86-based processor. Your CPU does not support 64-bit and you have the 32-flake version of Windows installed.
32-bit operating organisation, x64-based processor. Your CPU supports 64-bit, but you have the 32-bit version of Windows installed.

If you encounter the first entry on your system, you don't really need this article. If you see the second entry, you won't be able to install the 64-fleck version of Windows on your organization at all. But if you run into the last entry on your system—"32-bit operating arrangement, x64-based processor"—then yous're in luck. This means yous're using a 32-bit version of Windows 10 but your CPU tin run a 64-fleck version, so if y'all see it, it'due south time to move on to the adjacent department.

Make Sure Your PC's Hardware Has 64-flake Drivers Bachelor

Fifty-fifty if your processor is 64-scrap compatible, you might desire to consider whether your calculator's hardware volition work properly with a 64-bit version of Windows. 64-bit versions of Windows require 64-bit hardware drivers, and the 32-bit versions y'all're using on your current Windows ten system won't work.

Modernistic hardware should certainly offering 64-fleck drivers, only very erstwhile hardware may no longer exist supported and the manufacturer may have never offered 64-bit drivers. To check for this, you tin visit the manufacturer's commuter download web pages for your hardware and see if 64-bit drivers are available. You lot shouldn't necessarily need to download these from the manufacturer's website, though. They are probable included with Windows 10 or automatically will be downloaded from Windows Update. But sometime hardware—for example, a particularly ancient printer—simply may not offer 64-bit drivers.

Upgrade by Performing a Clean Install

Y'all'll need to perform a clean install to become to the 64-bit version of Windows 10 from the 32-bit one. Unfortunately, there's no direct upgrade path.

RELATED: How to exercise a Clean Install of Windows 10 the Like shooting fish in a barrel Way

Warning: Dorsum up your of import files earlier standing and likewise make sure you have what you lot need to reinstall your programs. This process will wipe your whole hard deejay, including Windows, installed programs, and personal files.

Start, if you haven't upgraded to Windows 10 yet, you'll demand to use the upgrade tool to upgrade. You'll get the 32-bit version of Windows 10 if you were previously using a 32-chip version of Windows 7 or 8.1. But the upgrade process will give your PC a Windows 10 license. After upgrading, be sure to cheque that your electric current 32-bit version of Windows 10 is activated under Settings > Update & security > Activation.

In one case you're using an activated version of the 32-bit Windows 10, download the Windows 10 media creation tool from Microsoft. If you're using the 32-bit version of Windows 10 at the moment, you'll have to download and run the 32-chip tool.

When you run the tool, select "Create installation media for another PC" and utilize the tool to create a USB drive or burn a disc with Windows 10. Every bit you lot click through the wizard, y'all'll exist asked whether you want to create 32-bit or 64-bit installation media. Select the "64-chip (x64)" compages.

Side by side, restart your calculator (you did back everything up, right?) and boot from the installation media. Install the 64-flake Windows 10, selecting "Custom install" and overwriting your current version of Windows. When yous're asked to insert a product primal, skip the process and proceed. You'll take to skip two of these prompts in total. After you attain the desktop, Windows 10 will automatically bank check in with Microsoft and activate itself. You'll now be running the 64-bit edition of Windows on your PC.

If y'all desire to get back to the 32-bit version of Windows, you'll demand to download the media creation tool—the 64-bit version, if yous're running the 64-fleck version of Windows 10—and use information technology to create 32-bit installation media. Kick from that installation media and practice some other make clean install—this time installing the 32-bit version over the 64-bit version.

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