On September 18, Valve confirmed that Steam will cease support for the Windows 10 32-bit operating system, the last 32-bit OS that the platform currently supports, as of January 1, 2026. Valve recommended that Steam users who want to keep playing their favorite PC games on a Windows OS should upgrade to a 64-bit OS to avoid any technical issues.
Steam's move to drop Windows 10 32-bit is part of an ongoing trend to end support for the once-popular operating system. Following the launch of Windows 11 in 2021, Microsoft declared that Windows 10 mainstream support would end on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Following feedback from consumers, Microsoft announced that it would offer an extended security update program to Windows 10 users, though the costs will vary for commercial and individual users. However, access to new features and continued support for various PC games will require users to upgrade to Windows 11 at some point.
Politician Wants CEOs of Steam, Discord, Twitch, and Reddit to Testify Before Congress After Charlie Kirk Assassination
The US House Oversight Committee requests the CEOs of popular sites and apps to testify on Capitol Hill following Charlie Kirk's assassination.
When Is Steam Ending Windows 10 32-Bit Support?
- January 1, 2026
Although mainstream support for 32-bit operating systems has largely dwindled, an upcoming change from Steam will mark the end of an era. According to Steam's support page, the app will end support for Windows 10 32-bit systems on January 1, 2026. After that, updates of any kind will not be offered to affected users, and Steam will not be able to guarantee functionality or provide technical support for any issues related to 32-bit systems. Steam stated in its August 2025 Hardware Survey that the move would affect 0.01% of surveyed users. By comparison, Windows 11 64-bit was listed as the most popular operating system, used by 60.39% of surveyed Steam users. Windows 10 64-bit was listed in second place at 35.08%. Steam stated that, despite Microsoft's October 14 deadline, Windows 10 64-bit support will continue. 32-bit games and apps will still run on Steam.
Valve clarified that Steam itself relies on system drivers and libraries not supported by 32-bit versions of Windows, hence the push toward exclusive 64-bit operating system support. The move comes as more games continue pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11 or other 64-bit operating systems. With Microsoft's deadline fast approaching, games like Final Fantasy 14 will end mainstream support for Windows 10 on October 14.
Affected users who do not upgrade their PCs to a 64-bit OS will be unable to use Steam's latest features as they roll out. Ergo, Valve recommended that 32-bit Windows users update their systems to avoid any potential risks.
