Steam ends support for 32-bit Windows in January 2026
32-bit Windows will be left without Steam (photo: Getty Images)
Valve has officially confirmed that starting January 1, 2026, the Steam service will no longer support 32-bit versions of Windows. According to the FAQ, the only currently supported configuration remains Windows 10 in its 32-bit version, GamerBraves reports.
What this means for users
Steam users on Windows 32-bit will soon lose updates and security patches. The client will continue to work for some time after support ends, but Valve stated that customer support will no longer assist with issues on 32-bit systems.
Moreover, some functions may stop working, as many modern libraries and drivers require a 64-bit architecture.
Valve recommends that all affected users switch to a 64-bit version of Windows. This step aligns with the general industry trend: more and more software and hardware manufacturers are abandoning outdated systems in favor of optimized performance, security, and resource usage.
How many players use Windows 10 32-bit
According to the Steam hardware survey for August 2025, only about 0.01% of active systems run on Windows 10 32-bit. Most users are on Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit, so the change will affect only a tiny share of the audience.
Older systems, such as Windows 7 (64-bit), still appear in the statistics, but their share is also insignificant. It is worth noting that support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 on Steam ended on January 1, 2024.
Why Valve took this step
The reason is simple — the user base of 32-bit systems has practically disappeared. Supporting outdated architectures is becoming increasingly costly and complex. Dropping them will allow Valve to simplify development, improve performance in the future, and focus on security where it matters for the vast majority of users.
