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How do I install 32-bit apps on Ubuntu 20.04 64-bit instead of 64-bit apps? I am using AMD Ryzen system with 16 GB ram and GT210 GPU

Asked by gesgersghsehs

If I install 'Firefox' for example it installs the 64-bit version but I want to install the 32-bit version instead. How do I do it?
I know there is the tarball folder like 'http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/92.0/linux-i686/en-GB/firefox-92.0.tar.bz2' but this is just one and its a simple folder that doesn't update at all?

How can I fix this issue?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Ubuntu doesn't support 32bits any more. You would need to build a LOT of 32bit stuff to run it.

Why 32bit Firefox? What is the usecase here please?

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gesgersghsehs (gesgersghsehs) said : 		#2

Firefox was an example!

Can Ubuntu still run 32 bit apps?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

32bit has been dropped by Ubuntu

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said (last edit ): 		#4

actionparsnip's comment is not fully complete.

https://ubuntu.com/blog/statement-on-32-bit-i386-packages-for-ubuntu-19-10-and-20-04-lts tells that 32bit versions are built for a limited list of packages (mainly _libraries_) to allow some legacy packages to be installed.
The list of the libraries can be found in https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/community-process-for-32-bit-compatibility/12598

What you need for that to work is adding i386 as foreign architecture to the dpkg settings (see manpage for dpkg).

If you find a 32bit application that depends only on shared libraries that are provided in Ubuntu's i386 packages, then this should work. Please note that Ubuntu does not provide 32bit _applications_ any more (in Ubuntu 19.10 and later).

Still the question is: What do you expect to gain from installing the 32bit version of a program instead of the 64bit version?

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