Do you know which version of the Raspberry Pi OS your device is running? Learn how to check it in a few simple steps.

Finding out whether your Raspberry Pi is running a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system can be crucial for certain tasks and software compatibility. Follow this guide to determine which version you have. …

Finding out whether your Raspberry Pi is running a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system can be crucial for certain tasks and software compatibility. Follow this guide to determine which version you have.

To check if your Raspberry Pi is running on a 32-bit or 64-bit OS, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal by pressing CTRL + ALT + T or by navigating to Menu -> Accessories -> Terminal.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

uname -m

3. The output of this command will indicate whether your Pi is running on a 32-bit or 64-bit OS. If you see armv7l or armv6l, then it’s a 32-bit OS. If you see aarch64, it’s a 64-bit OS.

For example:

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ uname -m
armv7l

In this case, the output is armv7l, which means that the Raspberry Pi is running on a 32-bit OS.

4. If you need to check your Raspberry Pi OS version as well, type:

cat /etc/os-release

The output will display information about your operating system, including the version number and codename. For example:

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ cat /etc/os-release 
PRETTY_NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)"
NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="10"
VERSION="10 (buster)"
VERSION_CODENAME=buster
ID=raspbian
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianForums"
BUG_REPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianBugs"

In this case, the OS version is Raspbian GNU/Linux 10 (buster).

Note that if you have a Pi 3 or later model with 64-bit support, it’s recommended to run a 64-bit OS for better performance and compatibility. However, not all software is available in a 64-bit version yet, so make sure to check the requirements before switching.

By following these steps, you can easily determine whether your Raspberry Pi is running on a 32-bit or 64-bit OS and ensure that you’re using the right version for your needs. If you need help with upgrading or installing a new operating system, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance in our community forums or documentation pages. Happy hacking!