How to run Windows apps on Android using Winlator

If you have ever thought of bringing your favorite Windows apps and games to your Android device then you are in luck because today's article will show you how to use Winlator to emulate Windows apps directly on your phone.

Download and install Winlator

Winlator is an Android app that uses Wine and Box86 to translate and run Windows apps on Android. Unfortunately, it is not available in the Play Store, which means you will have to sideload the Android app manually after downloading the APK file. You can do so by following these steps:

1. First, go to Settings > Apps and tap on the browser you usually use. Now, scroll down, select the Install unknown apps option , then enable Allow from this source .
2. Visit Winlator's GitHub page and download the latest available release. You may see a warning that the APK file may be malicious; tap Download anyway to continue.
3. Once the download is complete, you'll get a banner at the top prompting you to open the app. Tap Open , then select Install to confirm.

Winlator Setup on Android

When you first open Winlator, it will download some dependencies and additional files. Once this is done, you may need to adjust some settings to ensure a smooth experience. For example, if you plan to play games or run apps that may not work well with a touchscreen, you may want to connect a keyboard and mouse to your phone .

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

1. Tap the + (plus) icon in the top right to create a new container.
2. If you have a relatively old or low-end device, reduce the resolution by tapping on Screen Size and selecting a lower resolution like 800x600.
3. If your phone has a Mali GPU (mostly found in MediaTek SoCs), change the Graphics Driver setting to VirGL (Universal) . However, if it is equipped with a Snapdragon chip, select Turnip (Adreno) .
4. Finally, click the check mark in the bottom right corner to create the container.

Run Windows apps on Android

Now that you have the container set up, you can finally run your application by following these steps:

1. Make sure that all the necessary files for the Windows application are in the Downloads folder. This includes the application's executable (.exe) file and other supporting files.

2. Reopen Winlator, click on the three dots next to the container you created earlier and select Run .

3. Winlator will now launch a Windows-like environment with a proper desktop and file manager. If you don't use a keyboard and mouse, you can move the cursor by dragging your finger across the screen and double-click by double-tapping anywhere.

4. Go to your D: drive using the file manager, which will automatically open on startup. Here you will see all the files in your Downloads folder.

5. If your application requires installation or setup, double-click the .exe file to start the process and follow the on-screen instructions just like you would install it on a Windows computer. Once installed, the application icon will appear on your desktop.

6. Now, just double-click the icon on your desktop to launch the application.

Winlator makes it easy to run your favorite Windows apps and games directly on your Android device. However, if you're experiencing issues like lag and dropouts, consider checking out our guide on how to boost your phone's gaming performance .

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