MATLAB and Simulink Requirements

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
Supports 32-bit Excel in R2015b and up

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 daq.createSession and the legacy analoginput and analogoutput device interfaces

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 daq.createSession interface only

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