Is there a 32 bit version of Windows 11
The official Microsoft page at Microsoft-Windows-11
states as requirement:
- Processor 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible
- 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
Does this mean there will be no 32-bit edition of Windows 11?
As far as I know, usually one can run 32 bit Windows on any CPU, so the CPU requirement may be totally unrelated.
I cannot find any data whether a 32 bit version will exist. I see unofficial downloads for both 32 bit and 64 bit, but these may well be not the final word. Does anyone have a definite official statement?
UPDATE
I found the following for Windows 10 at Windows 10 Requirements
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. This does not impact 32-bit customer systems that are manufactured with earlier versions of Windows 10; Microsoft remains committed to providing feature and security updates on these devices, including continued 32-bit media availability in non-OEM channels to support various upgrade installation scenarios
This is for Windows 10, not 11, but there seems to be a trend here. Logically it makes sense, but looking for official statements specifically for Windows 11 and certainty here.
The thing is - how does a customer upgrade to Windows 11 if he runs Windows 10 32 bit? That still is supported right now, per the above statement (on "non OEM channels").
Solution 1:
Does this mean there will be no 32-bit edition of Windows 11?
That’s exactly what it means, Windows 11 requires a processor support for (x86-64, AMD64, Intel 64). However, 32-bit applications will continue to run on Windows 11, through WoW64.
As far as I know, usually one can run 32 bit Windows on any CPU, so the CPU requirement may be totally unrelated.
I cannot find any data whether a 32 bit version will exist. I see unofficial downloads for both 32 bit and 64 bit, but these may well be not the final word. Does anyone have a definite official statement?
Microsoft has indicated implicitly that only 64-bit versions of Windows 11 will exist. The leak version of the Insider Preview build of Windows 11 is 64-bit.
This is evident by Windows 10 have the processor requirement that indicates the following:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
Where Windows 11 requirements have indicated the following:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
By requiring a 64-bit processor Microsoft has made it clear a 32-bit version of Windows 11 will not exist. If they planned to release a 32-bit version then they wouldn’t have added the 64-bit requirement.
how does a customer upgrade to Windows 11 if he runs Windows 10 32 bit? That still is supported right now, per the above statement (on "non OEM channels").
The customer doesn’t upgrade to Windows 11 since the machine you describe would NOT satisfy the soft and hard floor requirements for Windows 11. If the machine has 4 GB of memory you might be able to perform a clean installation of Windows 11. However, the machine would also have to have a 64-bit processor.
Solution 2:
Not only do you have to have a 64bit processor, so no there will be no 32bit version. Also I got this error when trying to upgrade to 11
