Download the ARM version of DuckDB

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 96 views

Introduction

DuckDB is a high-performance, columnar in-memory database that provides a SQL interface to data stored in memory. It is designed to be fast, flexible, and easy to use. However, some users have reported issues with the UI extension on Windows ARM. In this article, we will explore the issue and provide a solution.

What happens?

When trying to run the UI extension on Windows ARM, users receive a message stating that the UI extension is not a valid Win32 application. This error occurs because the UI extension is compiled for x86-64 architecture, which is not compatible with Windows ARM.

To Reproduce

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Download the ARM version of DuckDB: Go to the DuckDB website and download the ARM version of the database. You can find the download link on the DuckDB documentation page.
Run the UI extension: Once you have downloaded the ARM version of DuckDB, run the UI extension by typing duckdb -ui in the command prompt.
Observe the error message: You will receive an error message stating that the UI extension is not a valid Win32 application.

Error Message

The error message you will receive is:

❯ duckdb -ui
Catalog Error:
Table Function with name "start_ui" is not in the catalog, but it exists in the ui extension.
    
Please try installing and loading the ui extension by running:
INSTALL ui;
LOAD ui;
    
Alternatively, consider enabling auto-install and auto-load by running:
SET autoinstall_known_extensions=1;
SET autoload_known_extensions=1;
v1.2.1 8e52ec4395
Enter ".help" for usage hints.
D

Loading the Extension Manually

To load the extension manually, you can try the following steps:

Install the UI extension: Type INSTALL ui; in the command prompt to install the UI extension.
Load the UI extension: Type LOAD ui; in the command prompt to load the UI extension.

However, you will receive another error message:

D LOAD ui;
IO Error:
Extension "C:\Users\AndreJohansson\.duckdb\extensions\v1.2.1\windows_amd64\ui.duckdb_extension" could not be loaded: %1 is not a valid Win32 application.

System Configuration

The system configuration used to reproduce the issue is:

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 aarch64
DuckDB Version: v1.2.1 8e52ec4395
DuckDB Client: CLI
Hardware: No response
Full Name: André Johansson
Affiliation: Rduce Complexity AB

Solution

The solution to this issue is to use the x86-64 version of DuckDB instead of the ARM version. The x86-64 version is compatible with Windows ARM and should work without any issues.

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with the UI extension on Windows ARM?

A: The issue is that the UI extension is compiled for x86-64 architecture, which is not compatible with Windows ARM. This means that when you try to run the UI extension on Windows ARM, you will receive an error message stating that the UI extension is not a valid Win32 application.

Q: What are the symptoms of this issue?

A: The symptoms of this issue include:

Receiving an error message stating that the UI extension is not a valid Win32 application
The UI extension not loading properly
The UI extension not functioning as expected

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Download the ARM version of DuckDB from the DuckDB website
Run the UI extension by typing duckdb -ui in the command prompt
Observe the error message

Q: What error message do I receive when trying to run the UI extension on Windows ARM?

A: The error message you receive is:

❯ duckdb -ui
Catalog Error:
Table Function with name "start_ui" is not in the catalog, but it exists in the ui extension.
    
Please try installing and loading the ui extension by running:
INSTALL ui;
LOAD ui;
    
Alternatively, consider enabling auto-install and auto-load by running:
SET autoinstall_known_extensions=1;
SET autoload_known_extensions=1;
v1.2.1 8e52ec4395
Enter ".help" for usage hints.
D

Q: How can I load the UI extension manually?

A: To load the UI extension manually, follow these steps:

Install the UI extension by typing INSTALL ui; in the command prompt
Load the UI extension by typing LOAD ui; in the command prompt

However, you will receive another error message:

D LOAD ui;
IO Error:
Extension "C:\Users\AndreJohansson\.duckdb\extensions\v1.2.1\windows_amd64\ui.duckdb_extension" could not be loaded: %1 is not a valid Win32 application.

Q: What is the solution to this issue?

A: The solution to this issue is to use the x86-64 version of DuckDB instead of the ARM version. The x86-64 version is compatible with Windows ARM and should work without any issues.

Q: Can I use the ARM version of DuckDB on Windows ARM?

A: No, you cannot use the ARM version of DuckDB on Windows ARM. The ARM version is compiled for ARM architecture, which is not compatible with Windows ARM.

Q: What are the system requirements for using the x86-64 version of DuckDB on Windows ARM?

A: The system requirements for using the x86-64 version of DuckDB on Windows ARM are:

Windows 11 Pro 24H2 aarch64
DuckDB version v1.2.1 8e52ec4395 or later
x86-64 version of DuckDB

Q: Can I use the x86-64 version of DuckDB on other operating systems?

A: Yes, you can use the x86-64 version of DuckDB on other operating systems, including Windows 10, Windows 8, and Linux. However, you will need to ensure that your system meets the minimum system requirements for using the x86-64 version of DuckDB.