Using Previous MATLAB Releases
If you need to use a previous MATLAB® release for compatibility purposes, use the information below to determine the best option for older platforms. Previous MATLAB releases are available from the Downloads page.
| PLATFORM AVAILABILITY | |
| Platform | Release | 
| Windows® | |
| Windows 7 | R2021b | 
| 32-bit MATLAB | R2015b | 
| Windows XP | R2015aSP1 | 
| Mac | |
| macOS 10.13 “High Sierra” | R2020a | 
| 32-bit MATLAB | R2010a | 
| PowerPC Macs | R2007b | 
| Linux® and UNIX® | |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | R2020a | 
| 32-bit MATLAB | R2012a | 
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | R2013a | 
| Solaris | R2009bSP1 | 
MEX Files
MEX source files, and anything they call, must be compiled for a specific bitness. For example, 32-bit and 64-bit MEX files use different file name extensions (.mexw32 and .mexw64 respectively), so it is possible to have both 32-bit and 64-bit MEX binaries in the same folder.
Differences in the MEX API to support large data sets may require some accommodation. See How Do I Update MEX Files to Use the Large Array Handling API for further discussion.
Differences in Fortran MEX files for 64-bit versions of MATLAB may require some accommodation:
MAT Files
With large data sets that use the -7.3 MAT-file format, it is possible for the 64-bit version of MATLAB to produce a MAT-file that is too large for the 32-bit version of MATLAB.
Functional Differences Between 32-bit and 64-bit MATLAB
There are a small number of functional differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of MATLAB. This table summarizes the differences:
| Product | 32-bit Version | 64-bit Version | 
| MATLAB Compiler™ | Supports 32-bit Excel | Supports 64-bit Excel | 
| Data Acquisition Toolbox™ | Supports a broad range of DAQ devices from National Instruments™ and other manufacturers. Supports 32-bit device drivers authored by vendors 
 Supports  | Supports a broad range of DAQ devices from National Instruments and other manufacturers. Provides an SDK for vendors to create custom adaptors for their hardware 
 Supports  | 
| Instrument Control Toolbox™ | Supports a broad range of 32-bit VXI plug&play, IVI-C, IVI-COM, and MATLAB high-level drivers 
 Supports GPIB adaptors from multiple vendors, including Keysight™ (Agilent®) and National Instruments. Supports 32-bit VISA implementations from Keysight (Agilent) National Instruments and Tektronix | Supports a broad range of 64-bit VXI plug&play, IVI-C, and MATLAB instrument drivers 
 Supports Keysight (Agilent) and National Instruments GPIB adaptors and 64-bit implementations of VISA libraries from Keysight, National Instruments, and Rohde & Schwarz | 
| Vehicle Network Toolbox™ | Supports CAN hardware from multiple vendors, including Vector, Kvaser, PEAK-Systems, and National Instruments NI-CAN devices | Supports CAN hardware from multiple vendors, including Vector, Kvaser, PEAK-Systems, and National Instruments NI-XNET devices |