Microsoft Expands Windows on Arm: Boosting x64 Software Compatibility for Snapdragon Devices
Microsoft Tests Major Windows on Arm Update to Boost Software Compatibility
Microsoft is currently testing a significant update for Windows on Arm, aimed at enhancing compatibility with x64 software and games. The update, part of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744, is now available to testers in the Canary Channel.
This development focuses on improving emulation capabilities for devices equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus processors. The primary goal is to enable a wider range of non-native ARM64 applications and games to run smoothly on Windows on Arm systems.
The enhanced emulation capabilities include support for 64-bit x86 software utilizing processor extensions such as AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C. This improvement could potentially allow games requiring AVX2, like Starfield and Helldivers 2, to function on Windows on Arm devices. However, it’s worth noting that 32-bit software will not detect the new emulator support, which may lead to issues for some programs.
Currently, many popular applications, including Photoshop, Hulu, and Chrome, already have native ARM64 versions. Nevertheless, some applications still require emulation, and others may not work at all despite the update. Microsoft has enabled the new emulator in limited use on retail PCs, allowing certain applications like Premiere Pro 25 to run on Arm.
While this update marks significant progress, it also highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving full compatibility for all software on Windows on Arm. Adobe’s efforts to develop a native version of Premiere Pro for Arm indicate continued industry-wide efforts to improve app compatibility.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Blender required emulation; it now has an ARM64 version available.
