diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1fde6baa..0f0bb582 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ on:
           description: Vulkan SDK Version
           required: false
           default: latest
+        arch:
+          description: Windows only, Target architecture (x64 or Win32)
+          required: false
+          default: Win32
 jobs:
   setup-all-matrix:
     if: ${{ github.event.inputs.extra_tests == 'true' || github.event.inputs.extra_tests == 'matrix' }}
@@ -81,7 +85,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           vulkan-config-file: tests/vulkan_sdk_specs/linux.json
           vulkan-components: Vulkan-Headers, Vulkan-Loader
-          vulkan-use-cache: true+
+          vulkan-use-cache: true
       - name: Test Vulkan SDK Install
         run: |
           echo "Vulkan SDK Version=='$VULKAN_SDK_VERSION'"
@@ -137,7 +141,7 @@ jobs:
   #         cmake --build tests/build --config release
   #         PATH=$PATH:$VULKAN_SDK/bin ./tests/build/test_vulkan
   # 
-  setup-windows-with-version-powershell:
+  setup-windows-with-arch:
     if: ${{ contains(github.event.inputs.extra_tests, 'default') }}
     runs-on: windows-latest
     steps:
@@ -146,19 +150,34 @@ jobs:
         with:
           vulkan-query-version: 1.3.204.0
           vulkan-components: Vulkan-Headers, Vulkan-Loader
-          vulkan-use-cache: true
+          vulkan-use-cache: false
+          arch: ${{ github.event.inputs.arch }}
 
+      - name: resolve arch Win32 --> x86 if needed
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          if [[ ${{ inputs.arch }} == 'Win32' ]] ; then
+            echo "resolvedArch=x86" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          else
+            echo "resolvedArch=x64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          fi
+        
       - uses: seanmiddleditch/gha-setup-vsdevenv@v4
+        with:
+          arch: ${{ env.resolvedArch }}
+      
       - name: Test Vulkan SDK Install
-        shell: powershell
+        shell: bash
         run: |
-          echo "Vulkan SDK Version=='$env:VULKAN_SDK_VERSION'"
-          if (!$env:VULKAN_SDK_VERSION) { throw "vulkan sdk install error" }
+          echo "Vulkan SDK Version==$VULKAN_SDK_VERSION"
+          if [[ -z "$VULKAN_SDK_VERSION" ]] ; then
+            echo "vulkan sdk install error"
+            exit 1
+          fi
           cd tests
-          cmake -G "Visual Studio 16 2019" -B build -S . -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_RELEASE=.
+          cmake -A ${{ inputs.arch }} -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -B build -S . -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_RELEASE=.
           cmake --build build --config release
-          $ENV:PATH="$ENV:PATH;$ENV:VULKAN_SDK/bin"
-          tail -100 build/CMakeFiles/*.log
+          PATH="$PATH:$VULKAN_SDK/bin"
           ./build/test_vulkan
   # 
   setup-macos-with-latest:
@@ -170,7 +189,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           vulkan-query-version: 1.3.204.0
           vulkan-components: Vulkan-Headers, Vulkan-Loader, Glslang
-          vulkan-use-cache: true+
+          vulkan-use-cache: true
       - name: Test Vulkan SDK Install
         run: |
           echo "Vulkan SDK Version=='$VULKAN_SDK_VERSION'"
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index cb979c70..18061d45 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -20,8 +20,13 @@ inputs:
     description: 'specify whether to cache VULKAN_SDK/ results between runs (using github actions/cache)'
     default: false
     required: false
+  arch:
+    description: 'Build architecture, Windows only (x64 or Win32)'
+    default: x64
+    required: false
 runs:
   using: "composite"
+
   steps: 
     - uses: humbletim/vsdevenv-shell@e87fcf2359929606ba32db358baef5ede4737aed
 
@@ -88,27 +93,47 @@ runs:
         cat $VULKAN_SDK_BUILD_DIR/env
         echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 
+    - name: resolve arch
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        #  resolve arch to x86 for vsdenv when cmake arch target is Win32 (WINDOWS ONLY); x64 for everything else
+        
+        if [[ $RUNNER_OS == 'Windows' ]] ; then
+          echo "Is Windows: true"
+          if [[ ${{ inputs.arch }} == 'Win32' ]] ; then
+            echo "resolvedArch=x86" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          else
+            echo "resolvedArch=x64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          fi
+        else
+          echo "resolvedArch=x64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        fi
+
     - name: Configure Vulkan SDK Components
       if: steps.vulkan-cached-sdk.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-      shell: vsdevenv x64 bash {0}
+      shell: vsdevenv ${{ env.resolvedArch }} bash {0}
       run: |
         # cmake configure
         set -a
         . $PWD/_vulkan_build/env
+
+        archParam=""
         if [[ $RUNNER_OS == 'Windows' ]] ; then
           CC=cl.exe
           CXX=cl.exe
+          archParam="-A ${{ inputs.arch }}"
         fi
-        cmake -S $GITHUB_ACTION_PATH -B ${VULKAN_SDK_BUILD_DIR} \
-          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
-          -DVULKAN_SDK=${VULKAN_SDK} \
-          -DVULKAN_SDK_CONFIG="${VULKAN_SDK_CONFIG_FILE}" \
-          -DVULKAN_SDK_COMPONENTS="${VULKAN_SDK_COMPONENTS}" \
+        
+        cmake ${archParam} -S $GITHUB_ACTION_PATH -B ${VULKAN_SDK_BUILD_DIR} \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DVULKAN_SDK=${VULKAN_SDK} \
+        -DVULKAN_SDK_CONFIG="${VULKAN_SDK_CONFIG_FILE}" \
+        -DVULKAN_SDK_COMPONENTS="${VULKAN_SDK_COMPONENTS}" \
         || { cat _vulkan_build/CMakeFiles/*.log ; exit 4 ; }
 
     - name: Build Vulkan SDK Components
       if: steps.vulkan-cached-sdk.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-      shell: vsdevenv x64 bash {0}
+      shell: vsdevenv ${{ env.resolvedArch }} bash {0}
       run: |
         # cmake build
         set -a