Distinguish between 32-bit and 64-bit programs: Detailed explanation of convenient methods and principles

Do you understand the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit programs? How to quickly determine whether a file or program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Why do you need to distinguish them? This article will answer these questions and provide you with several simple and easy check methods.

Today, most Windows systems are 64-bit. On a 64-bit system, you can run 32-bit and 64-bit programs at the same time, otherwise it won't work. Therefore, it is crucial to distinguish the number of bits of a program. 32-bit Windows and programs support up to 3GB of memory, while 64-bit supports more than 4GB of memory, so 64-bit programs usually run faster. Regarding how to determine whether your Windows system is 32-bit or 64-bit, you can refer to other articles (for example: five ways to determine whether your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit).

Next, we will explain how to check the number of bits of a file or program:

Method 1: Use Task Manager to view the program architecture

Task Manager provides a convenient way to check because it lists all running applications.

Step 1: Right-click the blank space in the taskbar and select "Task Manager".

Step 2: Select the Details tab.

Step 3: Right-click any column title and select "Select Column".

Step 4: In the pop-up window, check "Platform" and then click "OK".

Step 5: Return to the main interface of the Task Manager to view the number of bits of each program.

Method 2: Check the program file location

If you install the application in the default path, you can determine the number of bits of the program by its location.

Step 1: Press Win E to open File Explorer and enter "Local Disk (C:)".

Step 2: You will find two folders: "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)". If the program is in the "Program Files (x86)" folder, it is 32-bit; if it is in the "Program Files" folder, it is 64-bit.

Method 3: Use Notepad to view the number of file bits

This method is suitable for checking the number of bits of a file. Requires the Notepad tool. If you do not have it installed, please download and install it yourself.

Step 1: Right-click the executable file and select "Edit with Notepad".

Step 2: After opening the file, press Ctrl F to open the search window.

Step 3: Enter "PE" in the "Find Target" column, and then click "Find Next". Check the content after the first appearance of "PE".

The following figure shows the example. If the letter is "L", the file is 32-bit;

If it is "d?", the file is 64-bit.

Additional Tips

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Summarize

This article introduces three methods to check the number of files or program bits. The first two methods are simpler and more direct. When using the third method, please carefully search for relevant information. Hope this article helps you.

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