Modern smartphones are quite powerful, even capable of running applications developed for desktop operating systems like Windows. In fact, there are tools that let you do just that - run Windows apps on Android devices. Winlator is perhaps one of the best ones currently available, and it is also quite easy to use. If you want to try running Windows apps on your Android phone using this tool, here is how you can do so.

Step 1: Allow installation of unknown apps

The Winlator app is not available on the Google Play Store, which means you will need to download the APK and sideload it onto your device.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device and tap on 'Apps'.
  2. Then tap on 'Special app access'.
  1. Next, tap on 'Install unknown apps'.
  2. Now, you can select the source from which you want to install the app.

Step 2: Download and set up Winlator

Once you've allowed the installation of unknown apps, you need to download and install Winlator.

  1. Visit the GitHub page where the Winlator APK is located and tap on the APK to download it.
  2. Once the APK is downloaded, tap on it to open it. You may see a warning that the file may be harmful. Ignore it and tap on 'Install'.
  1. When you open Winlator for the first time after installing it, it will download some additional files and dependencies. Wait for the process to complete and then tap on the '+' icon.
  2. Now, you need to set a resolution. It is best to set a low resolution like 800x600 if you are running Winlator on an older or low-end device. You also need to select your Graphics Driver here. For MediaTek devices or any other GPU, select VirGL (Universal), while Turnip (Adreno) is the driver for Snapdragon devices.
  1. Then, tap on the check mark button on the bottom right.
  2. Once the Container is set up, a 'Play' button should appear on the right. However, before you can use it, you need to copy the Windows application files you want to run on your device.

Step 3: Run Windows apps using Winlator

Connect the device to your computer and copy the files of the application you want to run to it, including the executable (.exe) and all supporting files.

  1. After copying the files, open Winlator and tap on the 'Play' icon on the right.
  1. Winlator will now show you a Windows-like environment with a file manager and a desktop which you can navigate using your finger or a connected mouse. If you have trouble doing so, swipe up from the bottom and tap on 'Magnifier' to increase the size of the elements on the screen.
  1. Navigate to the 'D' drive where your copied files will be present. If your app needs to be installed, double-tap on the .exe file to do so. Once it is installed, you will see its icon on the desktop.
  1. If the app does not need to be installed, double-tapping on the icon should launch it on your Android device.

Things to know

  • Depending on the Windows program you plan to run on your Android device, you may need to copy a lot of files. So, check beforehand and make sure your device has adequate free space available.
  • Windows programs require considerable resources, so you may not be able to run every program on your Android device. If you try to launch an extremely resource-intensive app, it may give an error or may fail to launch completely.
  • While, in theory, Winlator should be able to run multiple Windows apps simultaneously, it is not recommended that you do so as it can put considerable strain on your Android device, especially on older and low-end devices.
  • Winlator has been designed to work on devices with Snapdragon and MediaTek processors, so it may not work on Samsung phones with Exynos processors.