Running 32-Bit Programs on a 64-Bit Windows 10 System

Introduction

In recent years, the prevalence of 64-bit operating systems has made 32-bit programs increasingly uncommon. While many users have made the switch to 64-bit versions of Windows 10, many still have 32-bit programs that they need to run on their systems. Fortunately, it is possible to run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit Windows 10 system, though there are a few steps that must be taken in order to ensure compatibility. In this article, we’ll discuss how to run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit Windows 10 system.

Checking Your System for Compatibility

The first step in running 32-bit programs on a 64-bit Windows 10 system is to make sure that your system is compatible with the program. To do this, you’ll need to check the system requirements for the program you’re trying to run. If the system requirements include 32-bit Windows, then your system should be able to run the program.

Enabling the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

The next step is to enable the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This tool is designed to help users run older programs on newer systems. To enable the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, open the Start menu and type “troubleshoot” into the search bar. Click on “Troubleshoot Settings”, then scroll down to “Program Compatibility Troubleshooter” and click on “Run the Troubleshooter”.

Running the Program in Compatibility Mode

The next step is to run the 32-bit program in Compatibility Mode. This will enable the program to run on your 64-bit Windows 10 system. To do this, right-click on the program’s shortcut or executable file, then select “Properties”. In the Properties window, click on the “Compatibility” tab. Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”, then select the version of Windows that the program is designed for. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Installing the 32-Bit Version of Windows 10

If the program you’re trying to run is not compatible with Compatibility Mode, then you’ll need to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10. This can be done by downloading the Windows 10 32-bit installation ISO from the Microsoft website, burning it to a DVD or USB drive, and then running the installation from the drive.

Enabling the Windows 10 Virtualization Feature

The last step is to enable the Windows 10 Virtualization feature. This will allow you to run 32-bit programs on your 64-bit Windows 10 system without having to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10. To enable the Windows 10 Virtualization feature, open the Start menu and type “Turn Windows Features on or off” into the search bar. Click on the “Turn Windows Features on or off” option, then scroll down to “Windows Hypervisor Platform” and check the box next to it. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Conclusion

Running 32-bit programs on a 64-bit Windows 10 system is possible, though it may require a few extra steps. First, you’ll need to make sure that your system is compatible with the program you’re trying to run. Then, you’ll need to enable the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter and run the program in Compatibility Mode if possible. If not, you may need to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10 or enable the Windows 10 Virtualization feature. With the steps outlined above, you should be able to successfully run 32-bit programs on your 64-bit Windows 10 system.