Windows 10/11 64-bit closer to ARM

Windows 10

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by Claudiu Andone 

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Key notes

  • Originally, Windows 10 (not the mobile version) could run only on PCs that were powered by x86 and x64 processors. From 2018, Windows 10 desktop could run on machines that are powered by ARM64 processors with the Fall Creators Update or newer.
  • Windows 10 is going to take another step in the ARM lore. Recently, we have been provided with evidence to suggest that Microsoft is close to enabling the execution of Windows 10 64-bit code on ARM laptops.
  • If you want to learn more about this subject, you can read our articles from the Windows on ARM section.
  • Windows 10 is a huge chapter from our lives. Make sure you visit our Windows 10 Hub for a piece of our minds.
Windows 10 64-bit closer to ARM devices
Originally, Windows 10 (not the mobile version) could run only on PCs that were powered by x86 and x64 processors. From 2018, Windows 10 desktop could run on machines that are powered by ARM64 processors with the Fall Creators Update or newer.

Microsoft will bring 64-bit code to ARM devices

Well, now it seems like Windows 10 is going to take another step in the ARM lore. Recently, we have been provided with evidence to suggest that Microsoft is close to enabling the execution of Windows 10 64-bit code on ARM laptops.
Right now, ARM laptops use the WoW emulator for running Win32 code on x64 computers to run Win32 code on ARM64 code. It’s a way to go around the fact that 64bit Windows applications are not supported on Windows 10 ARM laptops.

ARM64EC will emulate on ARM64 machines

M_ARM64EC

The evidence explicitly mentions support for x64 code emulation on ARM64 from a recent GitHub commit.

It seems like the architecture will be named ARM64EC, for x64_64 on ARM64 machine types. The commit was made by Kenny Kerr, Engineer on the Windows team at Microsoft.

Although the name can be changed ten times before release and we don’t have even an approximate launch date, this is great news for ARM computers, low voltage computing in general, and, why not, Windows 10 to be adopted in full swing even on low powered devices.

Drop us a line in the comments if you have any significant insights.

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Claudiu Andone

Claudiu Andone Shield

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft. His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school. With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!