Steam will stop supporting Windows 32-bit systems in 2026

Valve has officially announced that it will end support for 32-bit versions of the Windows operating system in its Steam client. The change, scheduled to take effect on January 1st, 2026, marks the final step in the platform's transition to exclusively supporting 64-bit systems.

The decision is a practical one, driven by the small number of users still running these older operating systems. According to Valve, the latest Steam Hardware Survey data from August 2025 shows the user base for 32-bit Windows 10 has dwindled to just 0.01% of all active PCs on the platform. In contrast, 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and 11 now account for over 95% of Steam's user base.

After the January 1st deadline, the Steam client will no longer receive any updates on 32-bit systems, including critical security updates. Valve has also stated that Steam Support will cease offering technical assistance for any issues encountered on these unsupported platforms. While the client may continue to function for a short time, its core features rely on system libraries that are no longer being updated on the 32-bit architecture, meaning functionality will degrade and eventually break.

It is essential to note that this update only affects the Steam client running on a 32-bit OS; users with 64-bit versions of Windows will still be able to run their legacy 32-bit games without any issues. Valve's advice to the affected players is to upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows to continue receiving all client updates and ensure all features remain functional and secure.

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KitGuru says: Are you one of the few users still running Steam on a 32-bit Windows installation? Will you upgrade your OS or ignore the Steam store?

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