diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
index 9672455df7..b84d6033a7 100644
--- a/docs/installation.md
+++ b/docs/installation.md
@@ -639,12 +639,18 @@ memory has no original file offset. For FAT Mach-O, offsets refer to the origina
 container file. Results retain Hopper's image-relative offset, the observed slice
 base, and the source executable path.
 Loader selection reads the Mach-O container header, including FAT files with a
-single architecture. For FAT64, REA validates the architecture table and selected
-Mach-O header, prepares a private thin image, and loads it with Hopper's native
-Mach-O loader. It checks the entire source's SHA-256 while copying the slice;
-source identity and reported offsets still refer to the original container.
-An ambiguous architecture subtype requires an explicitly extracted thin image;
-REA does not guess. Configured loader arguments remain explicit overrides.
+single architecture. For FAT32 and FAT64 containers, REA validates the
+architecture table and selected Mach-O header, prepares a private thin image,
+and loads it with Hopper's native Mach-O loader instead of Hopper's implicit
+FAT slice choice. For arm64 targets, REA ranks subtype bases 0 (plain arm64) and
+2 (arm64e), ignoring capability bits for ranking while retaining the raw subtype
+for slice identity. These slices' function-entry encodings decode under
+`--aarch64`, ahead of Apple's arm64e.x1 variant (base subtype 12), which is
+selected only when it is the arm64 family's only candidate. REA checks the
+entire source's SHA-256 while copying the slice; source identity and reported
+offsets still refer to the original container. Any other ambiguous architecture
+subtype requires an explicitly extracted thin image; REA does not guess.
+Configured loader arguments remain explicit overrides.
 FAT64 is distinct from the CPU architecture: FAT32 containers can contain 64-bit
 executable images. This preparation avoids the Raw Binary loader dialog observed
 with native FAT64 loading on Hopper 6.1.0-demo.
diff --git a/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.test.ts b/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.test.ts
index 7c3c715f23..e5b5745049 100644
--- a/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.test.ts
+++ b/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
 import { expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { hopperLoaderArgsForTarget } from "./HopperAnalysisProfile.js";
+import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../tests/fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
+import {
+  hopperLoaderArgsForTarget,
+  resolveHopperAnalysisProfile,
+} from "./HopperAnalysisProfile.js";
 
 it("routes physical universal Mach-O containers through Hopper's FAT loader", () => {
   const result = hopperLoaderArgsForTarget(
@@ -21,3 +29,65 @@ it("routes physical universal Mach-O containers through Hopper's FAT loader", ()
     value: ["-l", "FAT", "--aarch64", "-l", "Mach-O"],
   });
 });
+
+it("prepares a verified thin arm64e slice for a FAT32 system container", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-profile-");
+  const writeUInt32 = (buffer: Buffer, offset: number, value: number): void => {
+    buffer.writeUInt32BE(value, offset);
+  };
+  const slices = [
+    { cpuType: 0x01000007, cpuSubtype: 3 },
+    { cpuType: 0x0100000c, cpuSubtype: 0x80000002 },
+    { cpuType: 0x0100000c, cpuSubtype: 0x8000000c },
+  ];
+  const container = Buffer.alloc(3 * 4096 + 64);
+  writeUInt32(container, 0, 0xcafebabe);
+  writeUInt32(container, 4, slices.length);
+  slices.forEach((slice, index) => {
+    const offset = 4096 * (index + 1);
+    const entry = 8 + index * 20;
+    writeUInt32(container, entry, slice.cpuType);
+    writeUInt32(container, entry + 4, slice.cpuSubtype);
+    writeUInt32(container, entry + 8, offset);
+    writeUInt32(container, entry + 12, 64);
+    writeUInt32(container, entry + 16, 12);
+    writeUInt32(container, offset, 0xfeedfacf);
+    writeUInt32(container, offset + 4, slice.cpuType);
+    writeUInt32(container, offset + 8, slice.cpuSubtype);
+  });
+  const arm64eOffset = 8192;
+  const path = join(directory, "system.fat");
+  await writeFile(path, container);
+  const result = await resolveHopperAnalysisProfile(
+    {
+      path,
+      sha256: createHash("sha256").update(container).digest("hex"),
+      kind: "executable",
+      format: "mach-o-universal",
+      architecture: "arm64",
+      availableArchitectures: ["x86_64", "arm64"],
+      universalSlice: { offset: arm64eOffset, size: 64 },
+    },
+    {
+      launcherPath: path,
+      loaderArgsOverride: [],
+      provider: { id: "hopper", name: "Hopper Disassembler", version: null },
+    },
+  );
+  if (!result.ok) throw new Error(result.error.message);
+  const parameters = result.value.profile?.parameters;
+  expect(parameters).toMatchObject({
+    macho_container: "fat32",
+    prepared_image: {
+      method: "fat32_thin_slice",
+      source_offset: arm64eOffset,
+      byte_length: 64,
+      cpu_type: 0x0100000c,
+      cpu_subtype: 0x80000002,
+    },
+    loader: {
+      source: "derived",
+      arguments: ["-l", "Mach-O", "--aarch64"],
+    },
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.ts b/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.ts
index 74618a60cd..85159ee315 100644
--- a/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.ts
+++ b/src/hopper/HopperAnalysisProfile.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export const resolveHopperAnalysisProfile = async (
   let preparedImage: HopperMachOImage | undefined;
   if (
     target.kind === "executable" &&
-    machoContainer === "fat64" &&
+    (machoContainer === "fat64" || machoContainer === "fat32") &&
     options.loaderArgsOverride.length === 0
   ) {
     const resolved = await resolveHopperMachOImage(target, options.signal);
diff --git a/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.test.ts b/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.test.ts
index d503a055b5..e4f81ec6a2 100644
--- a/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.test.ts
+++ b/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.test.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,109 @@
-import { chmod, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { chmod, readFile, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import { expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../tests/fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
 import { projectAnalysisError } from "../domain/analysisErrorProjection.js";
-import { resolveHopperMachOImage } from "./HopperMachOImage.js";
+import {
+  prepareHopperMachOImage,
+  resolveHopperMachOImage,
+} from "./HopperMachOImage.js";
+
+const CPU_TYPES = { x86_64: 0x01000007, arm64: 0x0100000c } as const;
+const FAT32_ALIGNMENT = 12;
+const FAT32_SLICE_SIZE = 64;
+const ARM64E = 2;
+const ARM64E_X1 = 12;
+const ARM64E_WITH_CAPABILITIES = 0x80000002;
+const ARM64E_X1_WITH_CAPABILITIES = 0x8000000c;
+
+interface FatFixtureSlice {
+  readonly cpuType: number;
+  readonly cpuSubtype: number;
+  /** Thin-slice byte order, independent of the container's table byte order. */
+  readonly little?: boolean;
+}
+
+interface Fat32Fixture {
+  readonly container: Buffer;
+  readonly sliceOffsets: readonly number[];
+}
+
+/** Synthesize a FAT32 container whose slices are 4096-aligned thin headers. */
+const buildFat32Container = (
+  slices: readonly FatFixtureSlice[],
+  options: { readonly littleEndianTable?: boolean } = {},
+): Fat32Fixture => {
+  const littleTable = options.littleEndianTable === true;
+  const writeTableUInt32 = littleTable
+    ? (buffer: Buffer, offset: number, value: number): number =>
+        buffer.writeUInt32LE(value, offset)
+    : (buffer: Buffer, offset: number, value: number): number =>
+        buffer.writeUInt32BE(value, offset);
+  const unit = 2 ** FAT32_ALIGNMENT;
+  const sliceOffsets = slices.map((_slice, index) => unit * (index + 1));
+  const lastOffset = sliceOffsets[sliceOffsets.length - 1] ?? unit;
+  const container = Buffer.alloc(lastOffset + FAT32_SLICE_SIZE, 0);
+  // The magic VALUE is 0xcafebabe in the table's byte order: little-endian
+  // storage yields the FAT_CIGAM magic a big-endian reader observes.
+  writeTableUInt32(container, 0, 0xcafebabe);
+  writeTableUInt32(container, 4, slices.length);
+  for (const [index, slice] of slices.entries()) {
+    const entry = 8 + index * 20;
+    const offset = sliceOffsets[index]!;
+    writeTableUInt32(container, entry, slice.cpuType);
+    writeTableUInt32(container, entry + 4, slice.cpuSubtype);
+    writeTableUInt32(container, entry + 8, offset);
+    writeTableUInt32(container, entry + 12, FAT32_SLICE_SIZE);
+    writeTableUInt32(container, entry + 16, FAT32_ALIGNMENT);
+    const writeThinUInt32 =
+      slice.little === true
+        ? (buffer: Buffer, fieldOffset: number, value: number): number =>
+            buffer.writeUInt32LE(value, fieldOffset)
+        : (buffer: Buffer, fieldOffset: number, value: number): number =>
+            buffer.writeUInt32BE(value, fieldOffset);
+    writeThinUInt32(container, offset, 0xfeedfacf);
+    writeThinUInt32(container, offset + 4, slice.cpuType);
+    writeThinUInt32(container, offset + 8, slice.cpuSubtype);
+  }
+  return { container, sliceOffsets };
+};
+
+const writeFixture = async (
+  directory: string,
+  name: string,
+  fixture: Fat32Fixture,
+): Promise<string> => {
+  const path = join(directory, name);
+  await writeFile(path, fixture.container);
+  return path;
+};
+
+const fat32Target = (
+  path: string,
+  fixture: Fat32Fixture,
+  architecture: "arm64" | "x86_64",
+) => ({
+  path,
+  sha256: createHash("sha256").update(fixture.container).digest("hex"),
+  kind: "executable" as const,
+  format: "mach-o-universal" as const,
+  architecture,
+  availableArchitectures: ["x86_64", "arm64"] as const,
+  universalSlice: { offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[0]!, size: FAT32_SLICE_SIZE },
+});
+
+const requireResolved = (
+  result: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof resolveHopperMachOImage>>,
+) => {
+  if (!result.ok)
+    throw new Error(
+      `FAT fixture resolution failed: ${JSON.stringify(projectAnalysisError(result.error))}`,
+    );
+  return result.value;
+};
 
 it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32" || process.getuid?.() === 0)(
   "reports a FAT64 source that became unreadable as a host read denial",
@@ -36,7 +134,7 @@ it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32" || process.getuid?.() === 0)(
   },
 );
 
-it("rejects an ELF target before attempting FAT64 source preparation", async () => {
+it("rejects an ELF target before attempting FAT source preparation", async () => {
   const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-mips-boundary-");
   // No file is created: format validation must precede any filesystem lookup.
   const path = join(directory, "mips.elf");
@@ -54,6 +152,235 @@ it("rejects an ELF target before attempting FAT64 source preparation", async ()
   expect(result.error).toMatchObject({
     _tag: "BinaryTargetError",
     path,
-    reason: "Hopper FAT64 image preparation requires a Mach-O target",
+    reason: "Hopper FAT image preparation requires a Mach-O target",
   });
 });
+
+it("selects the plain-arm64-decodable arm64e slice from an Apple-style FAT32 container", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-arm64e-");
+  // /bin/* system binaries: x86_64, arm64e (cpusubtype 2), arm64e.x1 (subtype 12).
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.x86_64, cpuSubtype: 3 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "system.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({
+    method: "fat32_thin_slice",
+    architecture_count: 3,
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[1],
+    byte_length: FAT32_SLICE_SIZE,
+    cpu_type: CPU_TYPES.arm64,
+    cpu_subtype: ARM64E,
+  });
+});
+
+it("ranks capability-bearing arm64 subtypes by base and retains raw identity", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory(
+    "rea-hopper-fat32-capabilities-",
+  );
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    {
+      cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64,
+      cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1_WITH_CAPABILITIES,
+    },
+    {
+      cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64,
+      cpuSubtype: ARM64E_WITH_CAPABILITIES,
+    },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "system.fat", fixture);
+  const selected = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(selected).toMatchObject({
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[1],
+    cpu_subtype: ARM64E_WITH_CAPABILITIES,
+  });
+});
+
+it("fails closed when capability variants share the preferred arm64e base", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory(
+    "rea-hopper-fat32-capability-ambiguity-",
+  );
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: 0x80000002 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: 0x81000002 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "ambiguous.fat", fixture);
+  const result = await resolveHopperMachOImage(
+    fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64"),
+  );
+  if (result.ok || result.error._tag !== "BinaryTargetError")
+    throw new Error(
+      "Expected ambiguous FAT selection to return a BinaryTargetError",
+    );
+  expect(result.error.reason).toContain("selection for arm64 is ambiguous");
+});
+
+it("prefers cpusubtype 2 over 12 regardless of FAT32 table order", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-order-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "reordered.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({
+    cpu_subtype: ARM64E,
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[1],
+  });
+});
+
+it("prefers a plain arm64 slice over arm64e in a FAT32 container", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-plain-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: 0 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "plain.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({
+    cpu_subtype: 0,
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[0],
+  });
+});
+
+it("keeps a lone arm64e.x1 FAT32 slice selectable to preserve today's open behavior", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-lone-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "lone.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({ cpu_subtype: ARM64E_X1 });
+});
+
+it("still fails closed when two arm64e.x1 FAT32 slices compete", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-ambig-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "ambiguous.fat", fixture);
+  const result = await resolveHopperMachOImage(
+    fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64"),
+  );
+  if (result.ok) throw new Error("Ambiguous FAT32 selection succeeded");
+  expect(
+    projectAnalysisError(result.error).details?.reason ?? result.error,
+  ).toMatch(/selection.*ambiguous/u);
+});
+
+it("selects the single x86_64 slice of a FAT32 container for an x86_64 target", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-intel-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.x86_64, cpuSubtype: 3 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "universal.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "x86_64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({
+    cpu_type: CPU_TYPES.x86_64,
+    cpu_subtype: 3,
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[1],
+  });
+});
+
+it("parses a little-endian FAT32 table without tying it to slice byte order", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-le-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container(
+    [
+      { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.x86_64, cpuSubtype: 3 },
+      { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+      { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+    ],
+    { littleEndianTable: true },
+  );
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "little.fat", fixture);
+  const result = requireResolved(
+    await resolveHopperMachOImage(fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64")),
+  );
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({
+    method: "fat32_thin_slice",
+    cpu_subtype: ARM64E,
+    source_offset: fixture.sliceOffsets[1],
+  });
+});
+
+it("rejects a FAT32 slice whose declared range extends beyond the file", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-range-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+  ]);
+  fixture.container.writeUInt32BE(fixture.container.length + 16, 8 + 12);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "overrange.fat", fixture);
+  const result = await resolveHopperMachOImage(
+    fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64"),
+  );
+  if (result.ok) throw new Error("An overranging FAT32 slice was accepted");
+  expect(
+    projectAnalysisError(result.error).details?.reason ?? result.error,
+  ).toMatch(/extends beyond the file/u);
+});
+
+it("copies exactly the selected FAT32 slice bytes and verifies the source", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-copy-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.x86_64, cpuSubtype: 3 },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "system.fat", fixture);
+  const target = fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64");
+  const resolved = requireResolved(await resolveHopperMachOImage(target));
+  const destination = join(directory, "image.macho");
+  const prepared = await prepareHopperMachOImage(
+    path,
+    target.sha256,
+    resolved,
+    destination,
+  );
+  if (!prepared.ok) throw new Error(prepared.error.userMessage);
+  const arm64eOffset = fixture.sliceOffsets[1]!;
+  const copied = fixture.container.subarray(
+    arm64eOffset,
+    arm64eOffset + FAT32_SLICE_SIZE,
+  );
+  expect(await readFile(destination)).toEqual(copied);
+});
+
+it("rejects FAT32 preparation when the source table changed after resolution", async () => {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-hopper-fat32-race-");
+  const fixture = buildFat32Container([
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E },
+    { cpuType: CPU_TYPES.arm64, cpuSubtype: ARM64E_X1 },
+  ]);
+  const path = await writeFixture(directory, "system.fat", fixture);
+  const target = fat32Target(path, fixture, "arm64");
+  const resolved = requireResolved(await resolveHopperMachOImage(target));
+  const mutated = Buffer.from(fixture.container);
+  mutated.writeUInt32BE(0x01000007, 8);
+  await writeFile(path, mutated);
+  const destination = join(directory, "image.macho");
+  const prepared = await prepareHopperMachOImage(
+    path,
+    target.sha256,
+    resolved,
+    destination,
+  );
+  if (prepared.ok)
+    throw new Error("A mutated FAT32 source passed verification");
+  expect(prepared.error.userMessage).toMatch(/no longer agrees/u);
+});
diff --git a/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.ts b/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.ts
index ed81ea7495..4b0a48cf51 100644
--- a/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.ts
+++ b/src/hopper/HopperMachOImage.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import { AnalysisCancelledError } from "../domain/analysisErrorCore.js";
 import {
   readFatSliceDeclarations,
   validateFatSlice,
+  type FatSliceDeclaration,
 } from "../domain/apple/machoContainer.js";
+import { machoCpuSubtypeBase } from "../domain/apple/machoCpuIdentity.js";
+import type { HeaderArchitecture } from "../domain/binaryTargetTypes.js";
 import {
   HopperCancelledError,
   HopperStartError,
@@ -17,7 +20,10 @@ import { err, ok, type Result } from "../domain/result.js";
 
 /** Stable source coordinates committed before preparing an owned thin image. */
 export const hopperMachOImageSchema = z.strictObject({
-  method: z.literal("fat64_thin_slice"),
+  method: z.union([
+    z.literal("fat32_thin_slice"),
+    z.literal("fat64_thin_slice"),
+  ]),
   architecture_count: z.number().int().min(1).max(128),
   container_table_sha256: z.string().regex(/^[a-f0-9]{64}$/u),
   source_offset: z.number().int().nonnegative().max(Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER),
@@ -28,7 +34,7 @@ export const hopperMachOImageSchema = z.strictObject({
 
 export type HopperMachOImage = z.infer<typeof hopperMachOImageSchema>;
 
-/** Validate the selected FAT64 slice without depending on Apple's lipo tool. */
+/** Validate the selected FAT slice without depending on Apple's lipo tool. */
 export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
   target: BinaryTarget & { readonly kind: "executable" },
   signal?: AbortSignal,
@@ -45,14 +51,14 @@ export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
     );
   if (signal?.aborted) return err(new AnalysisCancelledError("open_binary"));
   if (target.format !== "mach-o" && target.format !== "mach-o-universal")
-    return invalid("Hopper FAT64 image preparation requires a Mach-O target");
+    return invalid("Hopper FAT image preparation requires a Mach-O target");
   let file: FileHandle;
   try {
     file = await open(target.path, "r");
   } catch (cause: unknown) {
     // Keep the OS error so a read-permission denial reports access_denied.
     return invalid(
-      `Cannot read FAT64 source for Hopper image preparation: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
+      `Cannot read FAT source for Hopper image preparation: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
       cause,
     );
   }
@@ -64,24 +70,29 @@ export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
     };
     const header = await read(0, 8);
     const magic = header.length === 8 ? header.readUInt32BE(0) : 0;
-    if (magic !== 0xcafebabf && magic !== 0xbfbafeca)
+    const isFatMagic = [
+      0xcafebabe, 0xcafebabf, 0xbebafeca, 0xbfbafeca,
+    ].includes(magic);
+    if (!isFatMagic)
       return invalid(
-        "FAT64 source header changed before Hopper image preparation",
+        "FAT source header changed before Hopper image preparation",
       );
-    const littleEndian = magic === 0xbfbafeca;
+    const wide = magic === 0xcafebabf || magic === 0xbfbafeca;
+    const littleEndian = magic === 0xbebafeca || magic === 0xbfbafeca;
+    const entrySize = wide ? 32 : 20;
     const count = littleEndian
       ? header.readUInt32LE(4)
       : header.readUInt32BE(4);
     const size = (await file.stat()).size;
-    const tableEnd = 8 + count * 32;
+    const tableEnd = 8 + count * entrySize;
     if (count === 0 || count > 128 || tableEnd > size)
       return invalid(
-        "FAT64 architecture table is truncated or exceeds the supported 128 entries",
+        "FAT architecture table is truncated or exceeds the supported 128 entries",
       );
-    const table = await read(8, count * 32);
+    const table = await read(8, count * entrySize);
     const parsed = readFatSliceDeclarations(table, {
       count,
-      wide: true,
+      wide,
       littleEndian,
     });
     if (parsed.status === "malformed") return invalid(parsed.reason);
@@ -93,24 +104,26 @@ export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
         return err(new AnalysisCancelledError("open_binary"));
       const rangeError = validateFatSlice(slice, size, tableEnd);
       if (rangeError !== null) return invalid(rangeError);
-      const reserved = littleEndian
-        ? table.readUInt32LE(slice.index * 32 + 28)
-        : table.readUInt32BE(slice.index * 32 + 28);
-      if (reserved !== 0)
-        return invalid(
-          `FAT64 architecture ${slice.index} has a nonzero reserved field`,
-        );
+      if (wide) {
+        const reserved = littleEndian
+          ? table.readUInt32LE(slice.index * 32 + 28)
+          : table.readUInt32BE(slice.index * 32 + 28);
+        if (reserved !== 0)
+          return invalid(
+            `FAT64 architecture ${slice.index} has a nonzero reserved field`,
+          );
+      }
       if (slice.size < 12)
         return invalid(
-          `FAT64 architecture ${slice.index} has a truncated Mach-O header`,
+          `FAT architecture ${slice.index} has a truncated Mach-O header`,
         );
       const embedded = await read(slice.offset, 12);
       if (embedded.length !== 12)
-        return invalid(`FAT64 architecture ${slice.index} became truncated`);
+        return invalid(`FAT architecture ${slice.index} became truncated`);
       const thinMagic = embedded.readUInt32BE(0);
       if (![0xfeedface, 0xfeedfacf, 0xcefaedfe, 0xcffaedfe].includes(thinMagic))
         return invalid(
-          `FAT64 architecture ${slice.index} does not contain a Mach-O image`,
+          `FAT architecture ${slice.index} does not contain a Mach-O image`,
         );
       const little = thinMagic === 0xcefaedfe || thinMagic === 0xcffaedfe;
       const identity = {
@@ -133,15 +146,15 @@ export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
         current !== undefined &&
         current.offset < previous.offset + previous.size
       )
-        return invalid("FAT64 slices overlap");
+        return invalid("FAT slices overlap");
     }
-    const selected = matches.length === 1 ? matches[0] : undefined;
+    const selected = selectHopperSlice(matches, target.architecture);
     if (selected === undefined)
       return invalid(
-        `FAT64 selection for ${target.architecture} is ${matches.length === 0 ? "missing" : "ambiguous"}; extract the exact architecture into a thin image before opening it`,
+        `FAT selection for ${target.architecture} is ${matches.length === 0 ? "missing" : "ambiguous"}; extract the exact architecture into a thin image before opening it`,
       );
     return ok({
-      method: "fat64_thin_slice",
+      method: wide ? "fat64_thin_slice" : "fat32_thin_slice",
       architecture_count: count,
       container_table_sha256: createHash("sha256")
         .update(header)
@@ -154,13 +167,35 @@ export const resolveHopperMachOImage = async (
     });
   } catch (cause: unknown) {
     return invalid(
-      `Cannot validate FAT64 image: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
+      `Cannot validate FAT image: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
     );
   } finally {
     await file.close();
   }
 };
 
+/**
+ * Plain arm64 (cpusubtype 0) and arm64e (cpusubtype 2) function-entry encodings
+ * decode under Hopper's --aarch64; Apple's arm64e.x1 variant (cpusubtype 12)
+ * does not, so it is selected only when it is the arm64 family's only candidate.
+ * Every other ambiguity stays fail-closed.
+ */
+const selectHopperSlice = (
+  matches: readonly FatSliceDeclaration[],
+  architecture: HeaderArchitecture,
+): FatSliceDeclaration | undefined => {
+  if (matches.length === 1) return matches[0];
+  if (architecture !== "arm64") return undefined;
+  for (const cpuSubtype of [0, 2]) {
+    const preferred = matches.filter(
+      (slice) => machoCpuSubtypeBase(slice.cpuSubtype) === cpuSubtype,
+    );
+    if (preferred.length === 1) return preferred[0];
+    if (preferred.length > 1) return undefined;
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
+
 /** Copy a selected slice and verify the entire original source in the same pass. */
 export const prepareHopperMachOImage = async (
   sourcePath: string,
@@ -170,6 +205,7 @@ export const prepareHopperMachOImage = async (
   signal?: AbortSignal,
 ): Promise<Result<string, HopperStartError | HopperCancelledError>> => {
   if (signal?.aborted) return err(new HopperCancelledError());
+  const tableEntrySize = image.method === "fat64_thin_slice" ? 32 : 20;
   try {
     const source = await open(sourcePath, "r");
     try {
@@ -177,7 +213,7 @@ export const prepareHopperMachOImage = async (
       try {
         const hash = createHash("sha256");
         const tableHash = createHash("sha256");
-        const tableEnd = 8 + image.architecture_count * 32;
+        const tableEnd = 8 + image.architecture_count * tableEntrySize;
         const thinHeader: Buffer[] = [];
         let position = 0;
         let copied = 0;
@@ -223,13 +259,13 @@ export const prepareHopperMachOImage = async (
         )
           return err(
             new HopperStartError({
-              userMessage: `FAT64 source ${sourcePath} no longer agrees with its committed architecture table or selected Mach-O header. Open the stable source again.`,
+              userMessage: `FAT source ${sourcePath} no longer agrees with its committed architecture table or selected Mach-O header. Open the stable source again.`,
             }),
           );
         if (observed !== sourceSha256 || copied !== image.byte_length)
           return err(
             new HopperStartError({
-              userMessage: `FAT64 source ${sourcePath} changed before launch: expected SHA-256 ${sourceSha256}, observed ${observed}; copied ${copied} of ${image.byte_length} selected bytes. Open the stable source again.`,
+              userMessage: `FAT source ${sourcePath} changed before launch: expected SHA-256 ${sourceSha256}, observed ${observed}; copied ${copied} of ${image.byte_length} selected bytes. Open the stable source again.`,
             }),
           );
         return ok(destination);
@@ -245,7 +281,7 @@ export const prepareHopperMachOImage = async (
       : err(
           new HopperStartError({
             cause,
-            userMessage: `Cannot prepare the selected FAT64 image from ${sourcePath}: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
+            userMessage: `Cannot prepare the selected FAT image from ${sourcePath}: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
           }),
         );
   }
diff --git a/src/hopper/HopperProvider.ts b/src/hopper/HopperProvider.ts
index e446e40448..684c8bb08d 100644
--- a/src/hopper/HopperProvider.ts
+++ b/src/hopper/HopperProvider.ts
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ export class HopperProvider implements AnalysisProviderCandidate {
           ...(preparedImage === undefined
             ? []
             : [
-                "REA loaded a verified thin Mach-O slice from the original FAT64 source. Identity and file offsets refer to the original file. The owned temporary image and its Hopper document close together, including on MCP shutdown.",
+                "REA loaded a verified thin Mach-O slice from the original FAT source. Identity and file offsets refer to the original file. The owned temporary image and its Hopper document close together, including on MCP shutdown.",
               ]),
           ...(CAPABILITIES.find(
             (descriptor) => descriptor.operation === operation,