The role of the magic SysNative folder under Windows

In fact, the %WINDIR%\\SysNative folder does not exist. It is just a redirection mechanism provided by 64-bit Windows systems.

We already know that 64-bit Windows distinguishes between 64-bit and 32-bit system files through System32 and SysWoW64 two-part folders. When a 32-bit application tries to access the System32 folder, the system will automatically put it. Go to the SysWoW64 folder so that 32-bit applications can run on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems (without changing System32 to SysWoW64 for 64-bit systems).

This raises a question. How do 32-bit applications access the real System32 folder, which is the folder where 64-bit system files are stored? The answer is through the SysNative folder. This folder does not exist, it is not found in the Explorer, but when a 32-bit application tries to access this folder, 64-bit Windows will redirect it to the real System32 folder, thus providing A way for 32-bit applications to access 64-bit system files. Please refer to MSDN for details.