How to Run Windows Programs on Android – Windows Emulator

We all love Windows OS because of its user interface and most important windows software. There is no doubt in the windows program is now available for Mac and Android. But still a few software which you can use only in Windows Machine, And we want to get them on Android. Yes by mirroring Windows device to Android is possible to run Windows programs on Android. But you need Windows PC for that, what if you don’t have one.

Run Android Apps on PC is the easy thing now, Because of some Best Android OS for PC. But run Windows Programs on Android still a mystery for many. Still, there are only a few options available that provide a windows environment on Android.

Is it possible to Run Windows Programs on Android – What is Windows Emulator?.

Yes, it is possible to run your favorite Windows software on Android. But as I said earlier there are only a few Windows Emulator for Android available and supports specific windows app.

Windows Emulator – Android Emulator provides an Android virtual environment, so we can run Android Apps on our Windows PC. And same as Windows Emulator create a virtual environment of windows that helps to install Windows programs on Android.

Best Windows Emulator for Android to Run Windows Programs on Android.

Crossover.

Crossover is the first Windows Emulator developed by CodeWeavers, It’s available for Mac, Linux, and Android Devices. It allows running windows programs on non-windows platforms. Still, there is a preview version available for android, the developer is trying to bring all functionality of windows to android. At the end of the year, you’ll get the final version of this app with all working windows programs.

Still, this app supports only a few specific windows programs and only Intel-based devices can install it. If you’re using the ARM-based Android device then you’ll get “App not installed Error”

What you can Do With Crossover?.

It emulates the windows interface on your Android devices, you can run multiple apps simultaneously just as you can do in windows. Also, you can use Windows programs alongside Android Apps without issues.

How to Download Crossover for Android Device.?

If you’re using the ARM-based device then don’t download this app it will not work for you. The app is still not available on the Google Play store, but you can get it from the third-party site just search google for “Crossover Apk Download.”

If you want to get it officially then you need to signup for initial access to the preview version. The app is still available only for developers to test bugs in the app.

How to use Crossover to Run Windows Programs on Android Device.?

Step: 1 After downloading Crossover APK, Install it on your Android Device. Open the app and you”ll able to see the App store like Google Play.

Step: 2 You can search for windows and if you got your desired programs then tap on it and use the Install button. And when downloading get a complete setup window of software will open and you can install software same as windows.

Install third-party windows programs.

Third-party windows programs mean which is not available on Crossover Store. To install them search crossover for “unlisted application”, After that click on install button select EXE file from your SD card. And installation process will start, the app is currently in beta version so some programs might not work.

ExaGear – Windows Emulator.

Apart from the crossover, ExaGear is also an under-development application to run Windows Program. It is not perfect and cost you around $30, If you’re a developer then you can give it a try. Otherwise, I will not suggest you spend money on this app. Alternatively, you can get this app from some third party sites but license issue is with it.

ExaGear doesn’t come with any pre-installed windows software, It’s just a framework or emulator to run windows programs. You need EXE and MSI file on your device to run. Installation of ExaGear doesn’t take more than 2 minutes, and it is good enough to run Microsoft Office and steam games. To use the windows program on Android you need to connect the external keyboard and mouse using an OTG cable.

Conclusion.

So these are the two methods or Windows Emulator that allows you to run Windows programs on Mac, Android, and Linux. Don’t waste your money on an ExaGear app, this article is just to provide information. If any program is not working with crossover and you don’t have a PC then buy raspberry pi 3 and run your favorite program.

How to run Windows app on Android devices

Although you may never wanted to run Windows app on your Android device, but what if you could? Well, now you can. Wine project was recently released on Android. for those who don’t know, Wine is a compatibility layer that makes Linux, macOS, and BSD capable of running Windows apps. However, as its acronym says Wine Is Not an Emulator. Here’s how to run Windows app on Android devices.

Run Windows app on Android

Before you start, make sure you have Unknown sources turned on. This allows you to install 3 rd party apps that are from outside Google Play Store. You can enable it through Settings > Security > Unknown Sources. Tap on OK when prompted with a warning.

Wine is available for free on their website. Make sure you download the correct version of the app based on your device’s architecture. Use an app like CPUz to know your device’s CPU architecture. After downloading the correct version, install the apk and open it. Wait till Windows environment is created.

After it launches, you’ll see a Windows-style Start menu. To interact with Wine, you may need a keyboard and mouse connected to your Android device to sue Wine properly, but you can also tap. When you tap the start button. You’ll find two menus – Control Panel and Run.

To run anything on Wine, you’ll first need to download and then install it. If you want to run a Windows executable file (.exe), you’ll first need to download it on your storage and then run it using the following command:

Here, I’m running a Windows .exe file that I’ve stored in Download folder on the sd card.

This is it. If your device won’t run Wine, that means it is not compatible. Don’t worry, the list of the compatible devices will increase over time.

You’ll soon be able to run Windows programs on select Android devices, thanks to WINE

While most Linux purists prefer to stick to programs natively designed to run on their favorite distros, there are times when a user runs into a wall. Maybe they absolutely need Microsoft Office, or perhaps their favorite game just isn’t Linux compatible. That’s where WINE and CrossOver come in handy, making it possible to run some Windows applications with relative ease. And now that same magic is making its way over to the world of Android.

For those that don’t know, WINE is an application layer that fills in the missing ‘bits’ that aren’t found on Linux and other non-Windows platforms (okay, an obvious oversimplification.. but you get the idea), allowing Windows programs to work at essentially the same speed as they would on Microsoft’s own OS. How well these programs work varies from nearly perfect to buggy as all get out.

Crossover is coming to Android by the end of this year, with WINE to follow sometime shortly after.

What WINE isn’t is an emulator, and is instead billed as a “compatibility layer”. In fact, WINE actually stands for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”. As for CrossOver? This is the commercial side of WINE, with more app/game specific optimizations. CrossOver actually funds WINE, and in return utilizes WINE’s progress to help further its own goals.

So back to the main topic here: Crossover is coming to Android by the end of this year, with WINE to follow sometime shortly after. It’s unclear how Crossover and WINE might differ from their Linux counterparts, but the end goal is the same: the ability to run popular Windows programs on your Android device. Considering that many traditional Windows programs aren’t designed with touch in mind, we imagine this will be more useful for tablet users that want to improve their productivity and aren’t afraid of attaching a keyboard and mouse to do it.

If the idea of running Windows programs sounds at all intriguing to you, don’t get too excited yet, as there is one big caveat. Because WINE and Crossover aren’t emulators, Windows programs will still require an x86 processor. That means that the majority of Android devices, which run ARM-based chips, won’t be able to utilize this tech. On the bright side, the number of Intel-powered Android devices is on the rise, especially in the budget tablet segment. Even the smartphone world is seeing a few well-received Intel-powered options, like the Asus ZenFone 2.

If you happen to have an Intel-powered Android device, or are considering getting one in the future, you can sign up to be notified when the CrossOver for Android “Technology Preview” is ready to go. What do you think, any situations where you think that being able to run Windows programs on Android would come in handy?

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How to Run Windows Apps on Android With Wine

If you want to run Windows apps on Android, this is how you do it.

Ever wanted to run Windows software on your Android device? Probably not. but what if you could? What if your Android device could finally act as a Windows desktop replacement, simply by running Windows software?

Recently, the Wine project has released an Android-compatible version. Long embraced by Linux users (mostly gamers) requiring a fix of their favorite Windows-only software, this option is now available on Android.

But does it work as well as expected? And why would you bother anyway, given the wealth of software available on Android? Let’s find out.

What Is Wine?

Often mistakenly described as an «emulator», Wine (a recursive acronym that stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator) is in fact a compatibility layer. This is a software library that makes Linux, macOS and BSD capable of running Windows application. Although some emulation is involved (specifically, the Windows runtime environment), Wine does not emulate an operating system.

Over the years, Wine has become increasingly popular as a way to run Windows software on other platforms. While installing a virtual machine is one option (perhaps, say, to run Microsoft Office on Linux), Wine is arguably simpler to set up.

Wine has been available for ARM devices (such as the Raspberry Pi) for some time. Now Wine has been released for Android.

How to Install Wine on Android

Before installing Wine on your Android device, you’ll need to ensure you can install APKs.

Typically, the ability to install software on your phone or tablet is restricted to any source beyond the Google Play Store by default. Enable this by opening Settings > Security and tapping the switch for Unknown sources. Click OK to confirm the action.

Wine is available as an APK file for Android from the Wine download site.

Download: Wine for Android (Free)

Several versions are available for ARM processors (most Android devices) and x86 processors (mostly tablets, but only a small number). Identify which architecture your device has before downloading (you can check this by finding the device on Wikipedia).

After downloading to your device (or to your PC, before syncing to your favorite cloud drive), it’s time to install.

Tap the APK file, and agree to installation. Wait as it unpacks, then approve the installation; you’ll be notified that Wine needs access to record audio, and modify, delete, and read the contents of your device’s SD card. Audio recording is required by some apps you might wish to use in Wine.

Once installation is complete, hit open, and wait while the Windows environment is created.

Which Windows Apps Can You Run?

While Wine will run some software on ARM devices, the best results will be found on those x86-based Android devices.

Since you’re probably on an ARM-based Android device, you’ll be limited to apps that have been adapted for use on Windows RT. XDA-developers has produced a list of apps that run on ARM-based Windows devices, so this is a good place to start.

Among these apps are useful tools such as Audacity, Notepad++, FileZilla, Paint.NET. You’ll also find some retro games that have been open sourced. These include Doom and Quake 2, as well as open source clone OpenTTD, a version of Transport Tycoon.

As Wine’s popularity on Android and ARM devices increases, however, this list is bound to grow. We understand the Wine project is developing a method of using QEMU to emulate x86 instructions on ARM hardware, so this bodes well for the future.

Some Features Are Missing. For Now

Certain libraries and APIs are required for games to run. Some common APIs are currently missing from Wine on Android.

Missing, but likely to appear at some stage, are Direct3D 12, Vulkan, and full OpenGL ES support (to enable Direct3D; this is currently limited). Introducing these in Wine for Android will expand the selection of applications that can be used.

However, Wine is under constant development. As such, these features can be expected in a future release. Happily, Wine supports Direct3D 10 and 11, Direct3D command stream, and the Android graphics driver. Meanwhile, we can also enjoy improved DirectWrite and Direct2D support.

Exploring Wine on Android

When the software environment launches, you’ll find a standard Windows 7-style Start menu (with Wine logo), and a command line box.

To interact with Wine, you’ll need a keyboard (and maybe a mouse) attached to your Android device.

At this stage, shortly after Wine 3.0 for Android has been released, there is no support for software keyboards, although tapping is okay. The size of the desktop might be a problem, however; on the device I tested this on, a Samsung Galaxy S2 tablet, the Start button was tiny. To fix this, I switched the orientation to portrait mode and then back to landscape.

This is why a mouse, or perhaps a stylus, is a good idea.

The command line interface works much as the standard Windows command prompt did (prior to PowerShell’s arrival).

Meanwhile, you can tap the Start button to find two menus. First is Control Panel, with sub-menus Add/Remove Programs, Game Controllers, and internet Settings. Second is Run.

Using Run. you can open a dialogue box to issue commands. For instance, launching internet Explorer is possible by entering iexplore.

All four options open a typical Windows-style screen to alter the settings.

Installing Software in Wine

To get something running in Wine, you’ll first need to download the application (or sync via the cloud) to your Android device. Save it in a memorable location, then navigate to it in the Wine Command Prompt window.

For instance, if I downloaded a Windows executable file (EXE) to my Android tablet, I’d save it to the Download folder. This can be reached in the command line with

To run the file in Wine for Android, simply input the name of the EXE file. (Some versions of Wine require you to prefix this with the wine command, but this isn’t necessary.)

If the ARM-ready file is compatible, it should run. Otherwise, you’ll see a bunch of error messages. At this stage, installing Windows software on Android in Wine isn’t an exact science.

Help, My Android Won’t Run Wine!

Having problems? Not all Android devices can run Wine. While it runs on my Galaxy Tab S2, it apparently doesn’t work on the Tab S. Similarly, the OnePlus 5T will run Wine, whereas the 2016 Google Pixel will not. Others with issues include the Xiaomi Mi5 and Huawei Mate 10.

Eventually compatibility will increase, and a list of supported devices will no doubt be created. Until then, it’s really a case of trial and error.

Meanwhile, if you own a Chromebook with Developer Mode enabled, you’ll be able to install Wine on a more suitable machine. Note that there is also a version of Crossover for Chrome OS, although this requires an x86 CPU.

Wine on Android: It’s Happening

In a development that seemed unlikely just five years ago, it is now possible to run Windows software on Android. While you might prefer to remote connect to a Windows PC via Android, or even stream games from your PC, this nevertheless offers a rare opportunity to take Windows with you.

The possibilities Wine on Android offers are considerable. While currently limited, it’s likely that what’s possible with Wine on your smartphone or tablet will increase over time, as bugs are ironed out and compatibility improved.

If you’d also like to run your Android apps and games on Windows, have a look at Nox:

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Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained. He also produces The Really Useful Podcast and has extensive experience in desktop and software support. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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