How to run Windows apps on Android with Winlator

Key operations

• You can use Winlator, a PC emulator for Android devices, to run your favorite Windows apps.
• You won’t find Winlator in the Play Store, but you can download the APK file from its GitHub page.
• After a quick initial setup, you can run Windows apps as long as their files are in the Downloads folder on your Android device.

If you’ve ever thought about porting your favorite Windows apps and games to your Android device, you’re in luck because we’re here to show you how you can use Winlator to emulate Windows apps right on your phone.

Download and install Winlator

Winlator is an Android application that uses Wine and Box86 to compile and run Windows applications on Android. Unfortunately, it’s not available on the Play Store, which means you’ll have to manually download the Android app after downloading the APK file. You can do this by following these steps:

1. First, go to Settings > Applications and tap the browser you normally use. Now scroll down, select Install unknown apps option, then turn it on Allow from this source.
2. Go to Winlator’s GitHub page and download the latest release available. You may see a warning that the APK file may be harmful; touch Download it anyway continue.
3. After it finishes downloading, you will get a banner at the top inviting you to open the app. Touch Openthen select Install confirm.

Installing Winlator on Android

When you first open Winlator, it will download some dependencies and additional files. After doing this, you may need to tweak some settings to ensure a smooth experience. For example, if you plan to play games or run applications that may not work well with a touchscreen, we recommend that you connect a keyboard and mouse to your phone.

Now, to install Winlator on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. Touch + (plus) icon in the upper right corner to create a new container.
2. If you have a relatively older or weaker device, lower the resolution by touch Screen size and choosing a lower resolution like 800×600.
3. If your phone has a Mali GPU (mostly found in MediaTek SoCs), switch Graphics driver setting on VirGL (universal). However, if it’s powered by a Snapdragon chip, take your pick turnip (adreno).
4. Finally tap Tick in the lower right corner to create a container.

Running your Windows apps on Android

Now that you’ve set up the container, you can finally run your apps by following these steps:

1. Make sure all the necessary Windows application files are in the Downloads folder. This includes the application’s executable file (.exe) and other accompanying files.
2. Open Winlator again, tap three dots next to the container you created earlier and select it Jogging.

   

3. Winlator will now launch a Windows-like environment with a proper desktop and file manager. If you are not using a keyboard and mouse, you can move the cursor by dragging your finger across the screen and double-clicking anywhere.

   

4. Go to yours D: to drive using the file manager, which opens automatically at startup. Here you will see all the files in your Downloads map.
5. If your application requires installation or setup, double-click the .exe file to start the process and follow the on-screen instructions as you would install on a Windows computer. After installation, an icon for the application should appear on the desktop.

   

6. Now you can just double-click the desktop icon to launch the application.

Winlator makes it easy to run your favorite Windows apps and games right on your Android device. However, if you’re facing issues like freezes and frame drops, consider checking out our guide on how to improve your phone’s gaming performance.

As Winlator continues to evolve with software updates, you can expect even more improvements and optimizations, further improving the compatibility and performance of Windows apps and games on your phone.