How to run Windows on the Raspberry Pi - Howchoo (2024)

Want to runWindowson the Raspberry Pi? Maybe you want to emulate the Raspberry Pi on Windows. Either way, there is a relationship between Windows and the Raspberry Pi.

Can you run Windows on the Raspberry Pi?

In short, yes. It’s possible to both install a native Windows image for the Pi and emulate older editions of Windows.

1 – Windows for the Raspberry Pi

If you want to run an official Windows image on the Raspberry Pi, you’ll needWindows 10 IoT Edition. This special edition is designed for basic IoT functions, it is not a complete Windows 10 interface.

You can find instructions on the Microsoft website forinstalling Windows 10 IoT Edition on a Raspberry Pi.

2 – Linux skins that resemble Windows

At the end of the day, you’ll be hard-pressed to run a full Windows operating system on the Raspberry Pi. If you’re mainly after the look and feel of Windows, you can look for a Windows themed Linux skin.

For example, this project on Gnome Look mimics the look and feel ofWindows 10.

3 – Emulators that run Windows software

If you want to run specific Windows software on the Pi but don’t care about the Windows GUI, you can try using software likeWinefor compatibility. This application is designed to help run Windows applications in a Linux environment, likeRaspberry Pi OS.

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4 – Virtual machines

You can emulate older Windows editions on the Raspberry Pi with the help of a virtual machine, likeQEMU. Versions like Windows 98 don’t require much power in the way of hardware, making the Raspberry Pi a feasible platform.

5 – Emulate the Raspberry Pi on Windows

When most people talk about emulating the Raspberry Pi, they’re referring to Raspberry Pi OS. If you’ve got a Windows machine, you can emulate Raspberry Pi OS with the help of software likeVirtualBox. You can use theRaspberry Pi Desktop imagewhen setting up the virtual machine.

If you found this guide useful, check out our guide onhow to install Android on a Raspberry Piandhow to install OpenCV.

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There are several ways to go about running a Minecraft server on the Raspberry Pi. In this guide, I’ll cover how to install Nukkit—a cross-platform Minecraft server that’s super easy to set up on the Raspberry Pi. This server should work with PCs, consoles, and tablets running Minecraft 1.14. I’ll be using a Raspberry Pi