What are the differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit installers of Flash Player? Does the 64-bit installer also contain the 32-bit plugin?
I'm asking as I've noticed that installing the 64-bit version of Flash, will also update the 32-bit version. I downloaded and installed the current latest version of the 64-bit non-IE version of Flash. I checked the Flash version check page and the about:plugins page on my installation of the browsers, Opera (64-bit) and Firefox (32-bit) in my computer, and the versions of Flash for both have been upgraded to the current latest version.
In Opera (which is the 64-bit version), I checked that I am using the 64-bit (native) version of Flash, not the 32-bit version of the plugin. I am using Windows 7, 64-bit.
I also remember one instance where I installed the 32-bit non-IE version of Flash, and upon checking the about:plugins page, the 64-bit Flash plugin used by my 64-bit Opera got updated too (along with the 32-bit Firefox plugin). So, this makes me wonder if there are differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit installers at all.
Note: Although my experience and the info I am personally looking for only covers the non-IE, Windows versions of the Flash installer, I also would like to ask for info on the differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit version of the IE Flash installers, and the non-Windows Flash installers, to make this question relevant to others.
Best Answer
(I found this information as I was researching stuff to add to my question, so I answered this question myself.)
Starting from Flash Player version 11.3, there is now one 'universal installer' of Flash for Windows (combining the 32-bit and 64-bit versions) - one for the IE browser and another one for non-IE browsers. If you have the 64-bit version of Windows, the Flash 'universal installer' will install both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Flash.
(I.e. starting from Flash Player v11.3, the 32-bit and 64-bit installers for the same browser types are the same.)
Sources: