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If you're not sure which Microsoft 365 product you have, see What version of Office am I using? Otherwise, pick your version of Microsoft 365 from below.

Important      You can't run add-ins or MDE files compiled in a 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 on a 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 and vice versa.

I know which version I want. How do I install it?

The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 is automatically installed unless you explicitly select the 32-bit version before beginning the installation process.

To install either the 32 or 64-bit version of Microsoft 365, Office 2021, or Office 2019, follow the steps in Install Office on a PC.

Important: If you install the 64-bit version, but want the 32-bit version instead, you must first uninstall the 64-bit version before installing the 32-bit version. The same is true if you installed the 32-bit version, but want to install the 64-bit version. See “Office (64-bit or 32-bit) couldn’t be installed” error.

If you're still not sure which version, 32-bit or 64-bit is a better choice for you, see the section below.

Reasons to choose the 64-bit version

Computers running 64-bit versions of Windows generally have more resources such as processing power and memory, than their 32-bit predecessors. Also, 64-bit applications can access more memory than 32-bit applications (up to 18.4 million Petabytes). Therefore, if your scenarios include large files and/or working with large data sets and your computer is running 64-bit version of Windows, 64-bit is the right choice when:

  • You’re working with large data sets, like enterprise-scale Excel workbooks with complex calculations, many pivot tables, data connections to external databases, Power Pivot, 3D Map, Power View, or Get & Transform. The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may perform better in these cases. See Excel specifications and limits, Data Model specification and limits, and Memory usage in the 32-bit edition of Excel.

  • You're using add-ins with Outlook, Excel, or other Office apps. While 32-bit applications can work with add-ins, they can use up a system's available virtual address space. With 64-bit apps, you have up to 128 TB of virtual address space which the app and any add-ins running the same process can share. With 32-bit apps, you might get as little as 2 GB of virtual address space which in many cases isn't enough and can cause the app to stop responding or crash.

  • You’re working with extremely large pictures, videos, or animations in PowerPoint. The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may be better suited to handle these complex slide decks.

  • You’re working with files over 2 GB in Project, especially if the project has many sub-projects.

  • You’re developing in-house Microsoft 365 solutions like add-ins or document-level customization. Using the 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 lets you deliver a 64-bit version of those solutions as well as a 32-bit version. In-house Microsoft 365 solution developers should have access to the 64-bit Office 2016 for testing and updating these solutions.

  • You’re working with the Large Number data type in Access, and while this data type is supported by 32-bit Access, you may see unexpected results when executing code or expressions that use native 32-bit VBA libraries. 64-bit VBA provides the LongLong data type which fully supports large numbers. For more information, see Using the Large Number data type.

Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

The following computer systems can only install 32-bit Microsoft 365. Check your Windows version.

  • 64-bit Windows 10 with ARM-based processor

  • 32-bit operating system with an x86 (32-bit) processor

  • Less than 4 GB RAM

Tip: If you have 64-bit operating system with an x64-based processor, you can choose to install 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft 365.

IT professionals, and developers in particular, should also review the following situations where the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 is still the best choice for you or your organization.

  • You have 32-bit COM Add-ins with no 64-bit alternative. You can continue to run 32-bit COM add-ins in 32-bit Microsoft 365 on 64-bit Windows. You can also try contacting the COM Add-in vendor and requesting a 64-bit version.

  • You use 32-bit controls with no 64-bit alternative. You can continue to run 32-bit controls in 32-bit Microsoft 365 like Microsoft (Mscomctl.ocx, comctl.ocx), or any existing 3rd-party 32-bit controls.

  • Your VBA code uses Declare statements Most VBA code doesn’t need to change when using in 64-bit or 32-bit, unless you use Declare statements to call WindowsAPI using 32-bit data types like long, for pointers and handles. In most cases, adding PtrSafe to the Declare and replacing long with LongPtr will make the Declare statement compatible with both 32- and 64-bit. However this might not be possible in rare cases where there is no 64-bit API to Declare. For more information about what VBA changes are needed to make it run on 64-bit Microsoft 365, see 64-Bit Visual Basic for Applications Overview.

  • You have 32-bit MAPI applications for Outlook. With a growing number of 64-bit Outlookcustomers, rebuilding 32-bit MAPI applications, add-ins, or macros for 64-bit Outlook is the recommended option, but if needed you can continue to run them with 32-bit Outlook only, as well. To learn about preparing Outlook applications for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms, see Building MAPI Applications on 32-Bit and 64-Bit Platforms and the Outlook MAPI Reference.

  • You’re activating a 32-bit OLE server or object. You can continue to run your 32-bit OLE Server application with a 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 installed.

  • You need 32-bit Microsoft Access .mde, .ade, and .accde database files. While you can recompile 32-bit .mde, .ade, and .accde files to make them 64-bit compatible, you can continue to run 32-bit .mde, .ade, and .accde files in 32-bit Access.

  • You require Legacy Equation Editor or WLL (Word Add-in libraries) files in Word. You can continue to use Legacy Word Equation Editor and run WLL files in 32-bit Word.

  • You have an old embedded media file in your PowerPoint presentation with no available 64-bit codec.

Ready to install?

To install either the 32 or 64-bit version of Microsoft 365, Office 2021, or Office 2019, follow the steps in Install Office on a PC.

I know which version I want. How do I install it?

The 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 is automatically installed unless you explicitly select the 64-bit version before beginning the installation process.

To install either the 32 or 64-bit version of Office 2016, follow the steps in Install Microsoft 365 or 2016 on a PC.

Important: If you already installed the 32-bit version, but want to install the 64-bit version instead (or vice versa), you must uninstall the version you don't want before installing the version you do want. See “Office (64-bit or 32-bit) couldn’t be installed” error.

If you're still not sure which version, 32-bit or 64-bit is a better choice for you, see the section below.

Reasons to choose the 64-bit version

Computers running 64-bit versions of Windows generally have more resources such as processing power and memory, than their 32-bit predecessors. Also, 64-bit applications can access more memory than 32-bit applications (up to 18.4 million Petabytes). Therefore, if your scenarios include large files and/or working with large data sets and your computer is running 64-bit version of Windows, 64-bit is the right choice when:

  • You’re working with large data sets, like enterprise-scale Excel workbooks with complex calculations, many pivot tables, data connections to external databases, Power Pivot, 3D Map, Power View, or Get & Transform. The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may perform better in these cases. See, Excel specifications and limits, Data Model specification and limits, and Memory usage in the 32-bit edition of Excel.

  • You’re working with extremely large pictures, videos, or animations in PowerPoint. The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may be better suited to handle these complex slide decks.

  • You’re working with files over 2 GB in Project, especially if the project has many sub-projects.

  • You’re developing in-house Microsoft 365 solutions like add-ins or document-level customization. Using the 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 lets you deliver a 64-bit version of those solutions as well as a 32-bit version. In-house Microsoft 365 solution developers should have access to the 64-bit Microsoft 365 2016 for testing and updating these solutions.

  • You’re working with the Large Number data type in Access, and while this data type is supported by 32-bit Access, you may see unexpected results when executing code or expressions that use native 32-bit VBA libraries. 64-bit VBA provides the LongLong data type which fully supports large numbers. For more information, see Using the Large Number data type.

Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

32-bit operating system with an x86 (32-bit) processor can only install 32-bit Microsoft 365. Check your Windows version.

Tip: If you have 64-bit operating system with an x64-based processor, you can choose to install 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft 365.

IT Professionals and developers in particular, should also review the following situations where the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 is still the best choice for you or your organization.

  • You have 32-bit COM Add-ins with no 64-bit alternative. You can continue to run 32-bit COM add-ins in 32-bit Microsoft 365 on 64-bit Windows. You can also try contacting the COM Add-in vendor and requesting a 64-bit version.

  • You use 32-bit controls with no 64-bit alternative. You can continue to run 32-bit controls in 32-bit Microsoft 365 like Microsoft Windows Common Controls (Mscomctl.ocx, comctl.ocx), or any existing 3rd-party 32-bit controls.

  • Your VBA code uses Declare statements Most VBA code doesn’t need to change when using in 64-bit or 32-bit, unless you use Declare statements to call WindowsAPI using 32-bit data types like long, for pointers and handles. In most cases, adding PtrSafe to the Declare and replacing long with LongPtr will make the Declare statement compatible with both 32- and 64-bit. However this might not be possible in rare cases where there is no 64-bit API to Declare. For more information about what VBA changes are needed to make it run on 64-bit Microsoft 365, see 64-Bit Visual Basic for Applications Overview.

  • You have 32-bit MAPI applications for Outlook. With a growing number of 64-bit Outlookcustomers, rebuilding 32-bit MAPI applications, add-ins, or macros for 64-bit Outlook is the recommended option, but if needed you can continue to run them with 32-bit Outlook only, as well. To learn about preparing Outlook applications for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms, see Building MAPI Applications on 32-Bit and 64-Bit Platforms and the Outlook MAPI Reference.

  • You’re activating a 32-bit OLE server or object. You can continue to run your 32-bit OLE Server application with a 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 installed.

  • You need 32-bit Microsoft Access.mde, .ade, and .accde database files. While you can recompile 32-bit .mde, .ade, and .accde files to make them 64-bit compatible, you can continue to run 32-bit .mde, .ade, and .accde files in 32-bit Access.

  • You require Legacy Equation Editor or WLL (WordAdd-in libraries) files in Word. You can continue to use Legacy WordEquation Editor and run WLL files in 32-bit Word.

  • You have an old embedded media file in your PowerPoint presentation with no available 64-bit codec.

Ready to install?

To install either the 32 or 64-bit version of Office 2016, follow the steps in Install Microsoft 365 or 2016 on a PC.

There are two versions of Office 2013 available for installation, 32-bit and 64-bit. We recommend the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 for most users, because it’s more compatible with most other applications, especially 3rd-party add-ins. However, consider the 64-bit version, especially if you're working with large blocks of information or graphics.

I know I want the 64-bit version. How do I install it?

To install Office 2013, see Install Office 2013.

Note: If you already installed the 32-bit version, but want to install the 64-bit version instead (or vice versa) you'll need to uninstall the version you don't want before going ahead with installing the version you do want. See “Office (64-bit or 32-bit) couldn’t be installed” error when trying to install.

If you're still not sure which is a better choice for you, see the sections below.

Reasons to choose the 64-bit version

The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 has some limitations; however it is a good choice when:

  • You work with extremely large data sets, like enterprise-scale Excel workbooks with complex calculations, many pivot tables, connections to external databases, and using Power Pivot, Power Map, or Power View. The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may perform better for you.

  • You work with extremely large pictures, videos, or animations in PowerPoint. The 64-bit version may be better suited to handle these complex slide decks.

  • You work with extremely large Word documents. The 64-bit version might be better suited to handle Word documents with large tables, graphics, or other objects.

  • You’re working with files over 2 gigabytes (GB) in Project 2013, especially if the project has several sub-projects.

  • You want to keep the 64-bit version that you’re already using. The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft 365 programs aren’t compatible, so you can’t install both on the same computer.

  • You’re developing in-house solutions, like add-ins or document-level customization.

  • Your organization requires that Hardware Data Execution Prevention (DEP) be enforced for Microsoft 365 applications. DEP is a set of hardware and software technologies that some organizations use to enhance security.

If none of these situations apply to you, the 32-bit version is most likely a better choice.

Note: The 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 works well with both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. If you’re installing the 64-bit version of Microsoft 365, you need the 64-bit version of Windows. If you’re not installing on Windows, you don’t need to be concerned about 32-bit or 64-bit options. To determine how to tell what version of Microsoft 365 you're using, go to What version of Office am I using?

If you decide to switch from 32-bit Microsoft 365 to 64-bit Microsoft 365, you must uninstall the 32-bit version first, and then install the 64-bit version.

Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

The 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 may perform better in some cases, but you need to know about limitations.

  • 32-bit operating system with an x86 (32-bit) processor can only install 32-bit Microsoft 365. Check your Windows version.

  • If you have 64-bit operating system with an x64-based processor, you can choose to install 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft 365.

IT Professionals and developers in particular, should look at the following situations, and review the linked overviews. If these limitations would affect you, the 32-bit version would be a better choice.

  • Solutions that use ActiveX controls library. ComCtl controls won’t work. There are several ways for developers to work around this and provide a 64-bit solution.

  • 32-bit third party ActiveX controls and add-ins won’t work. The vendor would need to create 64-bit versions of these controls.

  • Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) that contain Declare statements won’t work in the 64-bit version of Microsoft 365 without being updated. For more information about what VBA changes are needed to make it run on 64-bit Microsoft 365, see 64-bit Visual Basic for Applications Overview.

  • Compiled Access databases, such as .MDE, .ADE, and .ACCDE files won’t work unless they’re specifically written for the 64-bit version of Microsoft 365.

  • You have 32-bit MAPI applications for Outlook. With a growing number of 64-bit Outlook customers, rebuilding 32-bit MAPI applications, add-ins, or macros for 64-bit Outlook is a recommended option. To learn more about preparing Outlook applications for both 32- and 64-bit platforms, see Building MAPI applications on 32-Bit and 64-Bit Platforms and the Outlook MAPI Reference.

  • Microsoft 365 Excel Viewer, Access database engine of Access 2013, and Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Microsoft 365 system will block a 64-bit Office 2013 installation.

  • The legacy Equation Editor in Word isn’t supported on 64-bit Office 2016, but the equation builder feature in Word 2013 is supported on all platforms. Also, Word Add-in Libraries (WLL) are not supported in 64-bit Office 2013.

If you have specific add-ins that you use in the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365, they might not work in 64-bit Microsoft 365, and vice versa. If you’re concerned, check your current version of Microsoft 365 before installing the new one. Consider testing the add-in with 64-bit Microsoft 365, or finding out if a 64-bit version of the add-in is available from the developer.

Important: If you’re an administrator who is deploying Microsoft 365, we have more 64-bit technical info available on TechNet at 64-bit editions of Office 2013.

Ready to install?

Follow the instructions in:

See Also

Which Windows operating system am I running?

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