How to Find Out if Your Outlook Installation is 32-Bit or 64-Bit

Written By Rohan Wiese
Updated on March 10th, 2026

IT administrators have the option of installing Microsoft Outlook in either a 32-bit or 64-bit format. Which version you use depends on both the Office installation itself and the specifications of your system. The underlying architecture of MS Outlook plays a big role in how well add-ins work, how fast the program runs, and how it interacts with other software. This means that before you start adding plugins or trying to fix problems, it’s necessary to know which version you’re running. This article will show you how to quickly figure out if your Outlook is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Table of Contents

What Does 32-Bit and 64-Bit Mean in Outlook?

In Microsoft Outlook, 32-bit and 64-bit are the two different software architectures that are used during the installation. Outlook’s 32-bit version is suitable for better compatibility & it works well with most of the add-ins as well as the older applications. In contrast, the 64-bit version is built to handle large data files and improve performance on modern systems. Although many computers run 64-bit Windows, Microsoft often installs the 32-bit Outlook version by default for broader compatibility.

Why You Should Know Your Outlook Installation Type

Listed below are the reasons why users must know the version of Outlook.

Users can know the compatible Outlook add-ins and third-party plugins for productivity.
Moreover, knowing the version helps resolve Outlook errors and performance issues.
Additionally, it helps to install compatible Outlook recovery, backup, or migration tools.
Also, it ensures proper software deployment and system compatibility.

Best Methods to Find Out Outlook 32-bit or 64-bit

In this section, we will discuss the two possible ways to find out whether Outlook is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Using the Account Settings
Using Control Panel

Method 1: Check Outlook 32-Bit or 64-Bit Using Outlook Account Settings

This is the easiest way to identify whether your Outlook installation is 32-bit or 64-bit. Here you can identify the version directly from the application interface.

Steps to Identify 32-Bit or 64-Bit Application

Firstly, open the Microsoft Outlook application on your computer.
After that, click on the File tab from the top menu.
Select Office Account from the left panel.
Now, click on the About Outlook option.
A new window will appear, and it will display Outlook version details.

Here, in this panel, you can clearly see whether Outlook is installed as 32-bit or 64-bit.

Method 2: Check Outlook Bit Version Using Control Panel

You can also use the Control Panel to identify whether Outlook is installed as 32-bit or 64-bit. This method helps users to verify the installation type from the list of installed programs on their system.

Steps To Perform are as follows.

To begin, open the Control Panel on your Windows system.
Then, click on Programs & select Programs and Features.
Select Microsoft Office or Microsoft Outlook in the list of installed programs.
After that, select the program to view the details.
The version information will indicate whether the Outlook installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Important Note: Along with identifying the version of Outlook installation, they also need to recover their corrupted or inaccessible PST files, irrespective of the Outlook version. Then, they should opt for the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool for a quick and secure recovery. This software can repair the damaged PSTs; whether the Outlook version is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Conclusion

As we discussed above, it is necessary for users to identify whether their Outlook installation is 32-bit or 64-bit to achieve better compatibility with add-ins and quickly troubleshoot errors. You can check the Outlook architecture through Account Settings in the Microsoft Outlook interface itself or via the Windows Control Panel. This information helps users and administrators to avoid compatibility issues and achieve an efficient Outlook performance. By following these methods, you can quickly determine your Outlook version and ensure that plugins, integrations, or recovery tools work properly with your installation.

FAQs

Q1. How can I check if my Outlook is 32-bit or 64-bit?

Ans- You can check the Outlook bit version by opening Outlook and navigating to File >> Office Account >> About Outlook, where the version details display whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Q2. Why should I know my Outlook installation type?

Ans- Once you know the Outlook architecture, it will help you ensure compatibility with add-ins, plugins, and also help troubleshoot Outlook performance issues.

Q3. Is 64-bit Outlook better than 32-bit Outlook?

Ans- The 64-bit Outlook version handles larger mailbox data files and offers better performance, while the 32-bit version provides broader compatibility with most add-ins.

Q4. Can I change Outlook from 32-bit to 64-bit?

Ans- Yes, but you must uninstall the existing Office installation and reinstall Outlook in the required architecture.

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About The Author:

Rohan Wiese

Rohan Wiese is a Technical Content Writer at Aryson Technologies, specializing in databases, e-mail recovery, and e-mail migration solutions. He enjoys conducting research and generating information that assists database administrators, businesses, and novices in resolving issues with MS SQL Server, MySQL databases, Cloud Computing, and Microsoft Exchange.

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