Thank you! It was driving me nuts to know if the 64-bit version actually did get installed or not for the Zoom Desktop Client (win 10). If you install Zoom via their website (not MSI version like Ninite uses), then it gets installed in the /users folder, instead of C:\Program Files, where most 64-bit programs get installed.
You can use the ‘file’ command to find out if an .exe file is 64-bit or 32-bit. The ‘file’ command is not present by default on Windows. You need to install it. In my case, it was included with the Ubuntu app that I installed from the Microsoft Store. To use it, I start the Ubuntu app, which opens a bash window. Then I type, for example:
alpha@nh-lenovo-win10~$: file “/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe”
/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe: PE32+ executable (GUI) x86-64, for MS Windows
alpha@nh-lenovo-win10~$: file “/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Dropbox/Client/Dropbox.exe”
/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Dropbox/Client/Dropbox.exe: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows
The two examples above show that on my machine, Chrome is 64-bit and Dropbox is 32-bit.
Of course ‘file’ can do much more than that and Ubuntu is much more than just ‘file’, but the Linux users already know that 🙂
You know – You don’t really need the platform column in task manager. At least not since 64bit Windows 7… I believe Windows Task Manager always tags every 32bit application with “(32 bit)” in the name. So if the program is running just open task manager and expand the name column so you can see it. It’s when the program is NOT running (and you’re not sure you WANT to run it) that things get more interesting… 😉
15 Responses to “5 ways to tell whether a Windows program is 64-bit or 32-bit”
Thank you! It was driving me nuts to know if the 64-bit version actually did get installed or not for the Zoom Desktop Client (win 10). If you install Zoom via their website (not MSI version like Ninite uses), then it gets installed in the /users folder, instead of C:\Program Files, where most 64-bit programs get installed.
This was really helpful. I didn’t knew about the task manager method. Thanks a bunch
Another method:
Open the finder of notepad by “Ctrl +f”. Then type “PE”, if you find “L” next to “PE” this means that Program is 32 bit.
You can use the ‘file’ command to find out if an .exe file is 64-bit or 32-bit. The ‘file’ command is not present by default on Windows. You need to install it. In my case, it was included with the Ubuntu app that I installed from the Microsoft Store. To use it, I start the Ubuntu app, which opens a bash window. Then I type, for example:
alpha@nh-lenovo-win10~$: file “/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe”
/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe: PE32+ executable (GUI) x86-64, for MS Windows
alpha@nh-lenovo-win10~$: file “/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Dropbox/Client/Dropbox.exe”
/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Dropbox/Client/Dropbox.exe: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows
The two examples above show that on my machine, Chrome is 64-bit and Dropbox is 32-bit.
Of course ‘file’ can do much more than that and Ubuntu is much more than just ‘file’, but the Linux users already know that 🙂
Your first tip using Task Manager is invalid for Windows 10 as of 10/19. There is no “Platform” option available from the context menu.
Nevermind, it’s there. I’m stupid. Good tips.
Nice! Thank you kindly.
You know – You don’t really need the platform column in task manager. At least not since 64bit Windows 7… I believe Windows Task Manager always tags every 32bit application with “(32 bit)” in the name. So if the program is running just open task manager and expand the name column so you can see it. It’s when the program is NOT running (and you’re not sure you WANT to run it) that things get more interesting… 😉
Very useful article – It helped me a lot. Thanks!!
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Thanks alot, now i can check if its 32 or 64 bit.
Well, I could only try the second and third method since it was a portable file, but it seems they both gave me different results.
Dear JACOB
The third method is just for installed softwares.
Thank you.
THANK YOU!!! I was downloading files with the same name and couldn’t install each one of them and now I can label which one is x86 or x64