Many users are wondering how to switch the Android operating system to 64-bit mode to improve performance. However, there is a fundamental technical misconception here that needs to be clarified immediately. Processor architecture is a physical characteristic of your device that cannot be changed programmatically by simply pressing a button in the menu. If your smartphone is equipped with a 32-bit chip, no manipulation of the settings will turn it into 64-bit.
However, modern devices often have hybrid architecturesupporting both operating modes, but by default can run applications in an outdated format. In such cases, we are not talking about enabling the mode for the entire phone, but about correctly setting up the environment or installing the appropriate versions of apps. Understanding the difference between capabilities hardware and settings operating system is critical for proper optimization.
In this article we will detail Let's look at how to check the real bit depth of your gadget, find out whether it supports working with heavy applications, and how to activate hidden functions for developers if your device is really ready to work with 64-bit code. This will help you get the most out of the available resources without the risk of damaging the system.
Physical limitations and processor architecture
The first thing you need to realize: bit system directly depends on the central processing unit (SoC) installed on the motherboard. Chip manufacturers such as Qualcomm, MediaTek or Samsungdesign chips with a specific register width. If the processor register has a width of 32 bits, it is physically unable to process data in 64-bit format in one clock cycle.
Attempts to install 64-bit firmware on a 32-bit device will lead to the fact that the smartphone simply will not turn on. Android kernel checks the instructions when loading processor, and if incompatible, the architecture blocks start. That is why the question “how to enable” is often transformed into the question “how to check support.”
⚠️ Attention: Never try to reflash the device with a custom build of Android with a different architecture (for example, arm64 on armeabi). This is guaranteed to lead to a “bricked” gadget, since low-level drivers are incompatible.
Modern industry standards dictate their own rules. Starting with Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google began actively promoting 64-bit support, and in more recent versions, such as Android 10 and higher, support for 32-bit applications becomes optional or is completely disabled in favor of pure arm64-v8a. This is done to improve memory security and performance.
If your smartphone is more than 7-8 years old (released before 2015), the likelihood that it supports 64 bits tends to zero. In this case, updating the system will not provide a performance increase.
Checking the current system capacity
Before looking for activation methods, you need to know the current state of your device. The most reliable way is to use specialized utilities that read information directly from the kernel. The popular application CPU-Z or AIDA64 displays detailed information about the set of instructions.
Run diagnostics and find the section System or SoC. You are interested in the field Kernel Architecture or Instruction Sets. If you see the value arm64-v8athere, it means that your device is already running in 64-bit mode, and you do not need to enable anything additional. The presence of only armeabi-v7a indicates operation in 32-bit mode.
You can also use the built-in tools, although they are less informative. Go to Settings → About phone → Kernel version. Often the kernel version line contains an architecture marking, but this method requires care, since the recording format may differ between different vendors (Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei)
- 📱 Open the CPU-Z application and go to the System tab.
- 🔍 Find the line Kernel Architecture.
- ✅ If it says arm64, your phone already uses 64 bits.
- ❌ If only armeabi-v7a, then the processor is 32-bit or works in this mode.
It is important to understand that even with 64-bit processor, some system libraries may remain 32-bit to ensure backward compatibility with older software. This is a normal situation for the transition period, but it does not mean that the mode is not enabled.
Activation of 64-bit mode for applications
If your device supports the architecture arm64, but some games or heavy apps work incorrectly or slowly, the problem may lie in the runtime settings. In the developer menu, there are options that affect how the system manages memory and processes.
To access these settings, you must activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item Build number. After the notification “You have become a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu and find the new section For developers.
There is no direct checkbox "Enable 64 bits", but there are parameters that affect multithreading work. Pay attention to item Enable multi-threaded optimization (if it is in your firmware). Activating this function allows the system to more efficiently distribute tasks between processor cores, which is especially important for 64-bit computing.
Settings → For developers → Enable multi-threaded optimizationIt is also worth checking the emulation or compatibility settings if you are using a specific software In some custom firmware, such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience, you can find settings to force the use of certain libraries, but in stock versions of Android this is hidden from the user.
⚠️ Attention: Changing parameters in the "For Developers" menu can lead to unstable operation of certain applications or rapid battery drain. Write down the original values before making any changes.
☑️ Checking developer settings
The impact of bit depth on performance and games
The transition to a 64-bit architecture gives real advantages, but only if the software is optimized for it. The main advantage is memory addressing. A 32-bit system cannot effectively use more than 4 GB of RAM, while 64-bit supports theoretically up to 16 exabytes.
For modern games such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, the presence of 64-bit mode is critical. These games use large amounts of textures and complex calculations that simply do not fit into the address space of a 32-bit process. If you run such a game on a 32-bit system, it will either crash or run with serious freezes.
In addition, 64-bit processors have more general-purpose registers, which allows you to perform more operations in one clock cycle without accessing slow RAM. This directly affects FPS in games and the speed of opening heavy applications.
| Characteristics | 32-bit (armeabi-v7a) | 64-bit (arm64-v8a) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | More than 4 GB |
| Calculation accuracy | Standard | High (double accuracy) |
| Security | Basic | Advanced (ASLR, DEP) |
| Compatibility | Old applications | Modern games and software |
However, it is worth noting that 64-bit code takes up slightly more space in RAM compared to its 32-bit counterpart due to the increased size of pointers. On devices with a small amount of RAM (less than 2 GB) this may be unnoticeable, but on modern flagships with 8-12 GB of memory this nuance is leveled out.
64-bit mode reveals its potential only if there is sufficient RAM (from 4 GB) and optimized software.
Installing 64-bit versions applications
Often the problem is not in the system, but in what version of the application you downloaded. App stores such as Google Play, automatically detect the architecture of your device and offer the appropriate version. However, when installing APK files from third-party resources, the user may accidentally select a 32-bit assembly.
When downloading files, pay attention to the markings in the name or description. Look for marks arm64-v8a. If you only see armeabi-v7a, then the developer did not provide a 64-bit version, or your device is not supported. Universal assemblies contain code for all architectures, but weigh significantly more.
For advanced users, it is possible to force installation of 64-bit libraries via ADB if they are present on the system, but the application launches in 32-bit mode by mistake. This is a rare situation that requires connecting to a computer.
adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "package_name"Using the command line allows you to check which native libraries are included in a specific application. If you are a developer or enthusiast, you can analyze the APK file using the utility apkanalyzerincluded in the Android SDK to verify the presence of a folder lib/arm64-v8a inside the archive.
⚠️ Attention: App store interfaces and APK file structures may change with Google services updates. Always check the architecture requirements on the official page of the application developer.
What is ABI?
ABI (Application Binary Interface) is an interface that defines how an application interacts with the operating system at the processor level. For Android, the main ABIs are armeabi-v7a (32 bits) and arm64-v8a (64 bits). Selecting the wrong ABI will result in an installation error.
Compatibility issues and older devices
Owners of devices released between 2014 and 2016 often encounter borderline situations. At this time, there was a massive transition of the industry to 64 bits. Some processors, such as early versions Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 or MediaTek MT6752, supported 64 bits, but shipped with a 32-bit version of Android for memory reasons.
In such cases, the only way to "enable" 64 bits is to install custom firmware if the developer community has created a build on base LineageOS or Pixel Experience with a 64-bit kernel for your model. This is a complex process that requires unlocking the bootloader.
If the device processor is physically 32-bit (for example, popular in the past Snapdragon S4 or Exynos 4 Quad), then no firmware will help. The only solution is to replace the device with a more modern one. Attempts to run a 64-bit emulator on such hardware will lead to extremely low performance, unsuitable for use.
- 📅 Check the year of manufacture of your smartphone.
- 🛠 Check for the availability of custom firmware on the 4PDA or XDA forums.
- 💾 Make sure that the amount of RAM allows you to work with a 64-bit system (preferably from 2-3 GB).
It is also worth considering that with the release of Android 15, support for 32-bit applications may be completely removed from the system at the kernel level. This means that old applications will simply stop running on new phones, which is another argument in favor of switching to modern technology.
Before flashing the device, be sure to make a full backup of your data via TWRP or built-in tools, since changing the system architecture often requires a complete formatting of the Data section.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to turn a 32-bit phone into a 64-bit one using applications from the Play Market?
No, it is impossible. The processor architecture is laid down at the chip production stage and cannot be changed in software. Applications do not have access to modify the physical registers of the processor.
Why are some applications shown as 32-bit in the settings of my 64-bit phone?
This is done for compatibility. Many older apps don't have a 64-bit version, and Android runs them in a special compatible mode. At the same time, the system as a whole remains 64-bit.
Does the bit depth affect the battery charging speed?
Indirectly. 64-bit processes can be more efficient and complete tasks faster, allowing the processor to go to sleep earlier. However, 64-bit instructions themselves may consume slightly more power per clock. As a result, the balance is usually in favor of 64 bits.
How can I find out if my processor supports 64 bits without installing unnecessary apps?
Find the exact model of your processor on the Internet (for example, in the "About phone" section). Enter the query "processor name specs" and look at the Instruction Set or Architecture field. If there is a mention of ARMv8 or AArch64, there is support.
Is it necessary to update to Android 14 or 15 for 64-bit to work?
No, 64-bit support appeared in Android 5.0. The main thing is the presence of an appropriate processor. However, new versions of Android better optimize work with 64-bit applications and are gradually abandoning 32-bit support.