All you need to run Windows apps on your Android device is a PC emulator such as Winlator.
You’re in luck if you’ve ever considered using Winlator to imitate Windows software straight on your phone. We’ll walk you through the process of transferring your beloved Windows games and apps to an Android device.
Download and Install Winlator
Winlator is an Android software that translates and runs Windows apps on Android using Wine and Box86. Sadly, it isn’t available in the Play Store, thus after getting the APK file, you will need to manually sideload the Android app. To accomplish this, take the following actions:
1. To begin, navigate to Settings > Applications and select your default browser. Toggle on Allow from this source after choosing the Install unknown apps option after scrolling down.
2. Visit Winlator’s GitHub website to obtain the most recent version. A warning that the APK file might be dangerous may appear; click Download anyway to continue.
3. A banner at the top will appear after the download is complete, urging you to launch the application. To verify, select Install after tapping Open.
Setting Up Winlator on Android
Winlator will download various dependencies and extra files when you first launch it. After that’s finished, you may need to adjust a few settings to guarantee a seamless experience. For instance, we advise attaching a keyboard and mouse to your phone if you intend to play games or utilise programmes that might not be compatible with a touchscreen.
Now, do the following to install Winlator on your Android device:
1. To add a new container, tap the Plus (plus) symbol in the upper right corner.
2. To lower the resolution on a comparatively older or lower-end device, choose Screen Size and choose a lower resolution, such as 800×600.
3. If the Mali GPU in your phone is what’s commonly seen in MediaTek SoCs, then you should set the Graphics Driver to VirGL (Universal). But if it has a Snapdragon chip, go for Turnip (Adreno).
4. Lastly, to create the container, hit the tick mark in the lower-right corner.
Running Your Windows Apps on Android
Following these steps, you may now launch your programmes after setting up a container:
1. Verify that the Downloads folder has all of the required files for the Windows application. This consists of the application’s supporting files and executable (.exe).
2. Reopen Winlator, tap the three dots by the earlier created container, and choose Run.
3. At this point, Winlator will start a Windows-like interface complete with a desktop and file manager. You can double-click by double-tapping anyplace on the screen and move the pointer by dragging it across it if you’re not using a keyboard and mouse.
4. Using the file manager that launches automatically at startup, navigate to your D: drive. All of the files in your Downloads folder are visible to you here.
5. In the event that your software needs to be installed or setup, double-click the.exe file to start the process and follow the prompts on the screen to install it, just like you would on a Windows computer. The application should have a desktop icon after installation.
6. Currently, all you have to do to open the app is double-click the desktop icon.
You can easily run your favourite Windows games and apps straight on your Android mobile using Winlator. If you’re having problems with stuttering and frame drops, though, you might want to have a look at our article on optimising the gaming experience on your phone.
You can anticipate even more improvements and optimisations as Winlator develops through software upgrades, which will further boost the performance and compatibility of Windows games and apps on your phone.