To understand why Microsoft includes both files, you must look at the underlying processor technology of modern computers. What is Autoruns64.exe?
: Before making changes, save a baseline (File > Save). If your system acts up later, use File > Compare to see exactly what new items were added. autoruns 64 vs autoruns 64a
Autoruns is a popular utility developed by Sysinternals, a renowned company in the field of Windows system utilities. It is used to monitor and manage the auto-start locations in Windows, allowing users to control what programs and services start automatically when the system boots up. The utility comes in various versions, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions, to support different Windows architectures. This report focuses on comparing two specific versions: Autoruns 64 and Autoruns 64a. To understand why Microsoft includes both files, you
The Sysinternals suite provides different binaries to ensure the tool can run natively on the specific CPU architecture of your device. While a 64-bit ARM device can often emulate x64 software (like autoruns64.exe ), running the native 64a version ensures better performance and more accurate scanning of system locations that might be architecture-specific, such as certain registry keys or driver paths. Which One Should You Run? If your system acts up later, use File
| File | Architecture | Target Platform | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | autoruns.exe | x86 (32-bit) | Any Windows (via WoW64 on 64-bit) | | autoruns64.exe | x64 (AMD64 / Intel 64) | Traditional 64-bit desktops/servers (Intel/AMD) | | autoruns64a.exe | ARM64 | Windows on ARM (Snapdragon, Apple M1/M2/M3 via Parallels/VM, Surface Pro X/9/11) |
: Be aware that because Autoruns64.exe is a legitimate tool, some malware may attempt to disguise itself by using the same filename if it is found in non-standard directories like C:\Windows\System32 .