Valve has recently announced that they will no longer be supporting 32-bit versions of Windows for their Steam application starting from January 1st, 2026. This decision means that only 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 will be compatible with Steam moving forward.
Currently, Windows 10 is the only 32-bit version of Windows that is still supported by Steam. Despite Microsoft’s upcoming end of support for Windows 10, Valve will continue to provide support for 64-bit versions of the operating system. However, it will no longer be possible to install the Steam app on a 32-bit version of Windows.
Interestingly, the current version of Steam is a 32-bit app across all versions of Windows. Valve has indicated that this will soon change, as future versions of Steam will only be compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows. This change is necessary as certain core features in Steam rely on system drivers and libraries that are not compatible with 32-bit Windows.
Although this shift away from 32-bit versions of Windows may seem significant, it will only impact a small percentage of Steam users. According to Valve’s Steam Hardware Survey, only 0.01 percent of systems reported are running the 32-bit version of Windows 10.
Overall, this change reflects Valve’s commitment to ensuring the best possible experience for Steam users on modern operating systems. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential for software developers to adapt and optimize their applications for the latest hardware and software configurations.
