Mainstream Windows 10 support is ending in less than one month, but developers are not in a rush to end their software support. The operating system has hundreds of millions of users, and with Microsoft offering three years of additional support in the Extended Security Updates program (only one year for regular users), you can expect a lot of apps to stick around for a few more years. However, things are a bit different for those who use 32-bit Windows 10.
A lot of apps and services dropped 32-bit Windows support long ago, focusing their efforts on 64-bit editions with better security and performance. For example, AMD and Nvidia only offer drivers for 64-bit Windows 10 and 11. Valve is the latest company to pull the plug on 32-bit Windows 10. The company announced in a new support document that Steam will stop supporting 32-bit Windows 10 on January 1, 2026.
Like with Windows 7 support, Valve does not plan to cut away those still using 32-bit Windows 10 PCs. The platform will remain accessible, but users will not receive new features and security updates. Also, at some point, existing installations will lose access to the platform as it progresses to new technologies that are no longer available on 32-bit Windows versions. Valve says that the reason it drops 32-bit Windows 10 support lies within system drivers and "other libraries" that do not support 32-bit:
This change is required as core features in Steam rely on system drivers and other libraries that are not supported on 32-bit versions of Windows. Future versions of Steam will run on 64-bit versions of Windows only. We strongly encourage all 32-bit Windows users to update sooner rather than later.
According to the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey, only 0.01% of all participants use 32-bit Windows 10. Therefore, not a lot of users will be upset about the change, plus what sweetens the pill is the fact that Steam will remain accessible for some period, giving users plenty of time to plan an upgrade to at least 64-bit Windows 10, which will remain supported. Valve has no plans to end 64-bit Windows 10 support in the foreseeable future, so upgrading to it is the best course of action, assuming your PC can run it.