You would use this on hardware like the Surface Pro 9 (5G), Lenovo ThinkPad X13s, or other laptops featuring Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.
If you are on a standard 64-bit Windows PC, this is the version you should use. Understanding Autoruns64a.exe
Interestingly, if you run the 32-bit autoruns.exe on a 64-bit system, it is designed to detect your architecture and can automatically launch the 64-bit version for you. autoruns 64 vs autoruns 64a
When you download the Sysinternals Autoruns package, you’ll notice several different executable files. Choosing between and Autoruns64a.exe depends entirely on your computer's processor architecture. Quick Comparison: Which One Should You Run? Executable Architecture Autoruns64.exe x64 (AMD64/Intel 64) Most modern desktop and laptop PCs. Autoruns64a.exe ARM64
Because it is compiled specifically for 64-bit Intel/AMD systems, it runs natively without needing any emulation. You would use this on hardware like the
It has full access to the 64-bit areas of the Windows Registry and system files, which is critical for identifying malware that hides in 64-bit specific "Auto-start Extensibility Points" (ASEPs).
The "" in Autoruns64a.exe stands for ARM . This version is built specifically for devices running on ARM64 processors. Executable Architecture Autoruns64
It remains in the package primarily to support older 32-bit versions of Windows or minimal environments where 64-bit support is absent. Which autoruns executable to use? - Microsoft Q&A
