Is windows 10 X86 or X86-64

I have a n HP laptop running Windows 10. When attempting to download LibreOffice I am asked if my operating system is X86 or X86-64. how do I respond?
Ken Wiater

A) First determine your hardware and OS (Windows or Linux) bit width (either 32 or 64).

From the start button search for This PC. Open it.
Then in the left pane right click This PC and select Properties.
Look under System-- at System Type: This will tell you your hardware and OS bit width (32 or 64 bit).


B) Now the next part is a little confusing, so go thru it carefully:

1) OS on hardware:
1a) 64 bit OS (Windows or Linux) will only run on 64 bit hardware. Simple right?
1b) 32 bit OS can run on both 32 and 64 bit machines (hardware). The trade off is that 32 OS on 64 hardware is slower. 64 on 64 is better, but read on below.
1c) And obviously, 32 bit hardware can only run 32 bit OS or LO (LibreOffice).

2) LO (LibreOffice) on OS:
2a) 32 bit LO will run on both 32 and 64 bit OS.
2b) 64 bit LO will only run on 64 bit OS.

3) Choosing LO:
3a) **Most of the time, if you have a 64 bit OS, you’ll want 64 bit LO.
3b) If you have 32 bit OS you’ll always need 32 bit LO.
3c) But there are sometimes reason you might want to run 32 bit LO on a 64 bit OS, and here are two reasons:

  • Very rare these days: If the 64 bit version is unstable you might be better off w/ 32 bit version, or
  • Advanced: If in the future you need to run ODBC in 32 bit mode (like that’s the only ODBC connector available to you), then you need to use 32 bit LO.

(If you don’t know what ODBC is, don’t worry about it yet; it doesn’t work that well w/ LO at the moment anyway.)

Better text than I’d had made, as much as I know about things.

That depends on whether you have a 32 or 64 bit version of Windows. One way to find out in Windows 10; use the System settings app to find the OS information. Click Start, type About your PC. Click About your PC from the results.

It is no wonder you are confused because the question you are being asked is wrong.

You should be being asked “Are you running 32- or 64-bit Windows 10?” and you should reply 32-bit or 64-bit as appropriate.

X86 and X86-64 refer to the hardware which is not relevant because your PC is working so the CPU and OS must be matched. It is the OS which is important. In fact, a 64 bit CPU can run both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows and programs.

X86 is an Intel 32-bit CPU and X86-64 is an Intel 64 bit CPU so if you are running on an AMD CPU you cannot answer. But you can always answer Are you running 32- or 64-bit Windows 10?, which is what they want to know.

Start > right-click Computer (or r-click the Computer icon) > Properties tells you. It also says whether you have an Intel CPU or an AMD CPU.

Properties

If this helps then please tick the answer and/or show you like it with an uptick.