Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to run Windows 11 on your Android phone? While it may sound like a far-fetched idea, it’s technically possible with an app called Limbo emulator.
If you’re a tech enthusiast who likes to tinker with devices, this might just be the project for you.
What is Limbo Emulator?
Limbo is an open-source emulator that allows you to run various operating systems on your Android device. It supports x86, ARM, PowerPC and SPARC architectures, and can emulate Windows, Linux, DOS, Solaris and more.
Limbo uses QEMU, a generic and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer, as its backend engine. With Limbo, you can create virtual machines on your phone or tablet and run different operating systems as if they were installed on a separate device.
Prerequisites for Installing Windows 11 on an Android Phone
To run Windows 11 on Android using Limbo Emulator, you will need the following:
- A flagship Android device. Preferably with Snapdragon 845 or above.
- 4GB RAM or more.
- A genuine copy of Windows 11 that works on the emulator.
- Limbo emulator.
Downloading and Installing Limbo Emulator on Your Android Phone
The next step is to download and install the Limbo emulator app on your Android phone.
- You can download Limbo Emulator directly from the developer’s page. Click this link to download. The app is also available on the F-Droid open-source app store.
- Before installing the APK, make sure “install from unknown resources” is selected in the settings of your device. Skip this step if you have it turned on.
- Wait for the installation process to complete.
Once the app is installed, you can proceed to create a virtual machine for Windows 11.
Creating a Virtual Machine for Windows 11 on Limbo Emulator
Unfortunately, dumping an ISO file on the emulator will not work. To proceed you would need to create a virtual disk image (VHD) for the Windows 11 operating system.
To do that, download and install a program called QEMU on your desktop/laptop computer. Once QEMU is installed, use it to create a virtual disk image for the Windows 11 operating system. Click this link to download QEMU.
Once this is complete, transfer the created virtual disk image file to your phone. Make sure to place it in a new folder with an identifiable name. Remember, this is the file that will be used to boot Windows 11 on Limbo Emulator.
Note: There is more than one way to create a virtual disk image (VHD). Feel free to explore other methods or apps. It is unclear if virtual images created by VMware or VirtualBox would be compatible with Limbo Emulator, which is based on QEMU at its core. Feel free to comment below!
Configuring the Windows 11 Virtual Machine on Limbo Emulator
To properly set up Windows 11, you might have to tinker with settings for the best performance. But for now, use the settings below.
Step 1: Click on the add new button, and give it a name
Step 2: On the Board (CPU) section, add these setting
- Machine type: PC
- CPU Model: SandyBridge
- CPU cores: 4
- RAM Memory (MB): 2040
- Enable MTTCG
Note: If you have a device that fully supports KVM, this would be the better option. The virtual OS would perform significantly faster and more efficiently.
Furthermore, for those who have rooted devices, you may be able to flash a kernel that has KVM support built in.
Step 3: Add a disk
This is where you can select the Windows 11 virtual disk file.
To add a disk, tap on None and select Open. Choose your Windows 11 VHD file from the folder where you copied it.
Step 4: Graphics settings
Set video display to vmware
Step 5: Audio settings
Set Sound Card to adlib
Step 6: Network settings
- Set Network to User
- Set Network Card to pcnet
Step 7: Advanced settings
Click High Priority on advanced settings.
(Depending on the version of the app, this option may not be available.)
Start Windows 11
Tap on the Play button at the top to start the emulation. Wait for a few minutes (or even longer) until Windows 11 boots up on your Android device.
Troubleshooting common issues while running Windows 11 on Limbo Emulator
Some of the most common issues include
- Black screen
- Unresponsiveness
- Freezing
- Crashes and boot loop
The fix these issues, you might have to tinker around with settings.
“Limbo supports light weight operating systems while large operating systems might be very slow or not work at all”
Quote from the official website
Can you play Windows games on Android using Limbo Emulator
Theoretically, yes, but they would have to be old games, and that’s still not a guarantee. You will most likely be disappointed with the performance.
Running Windows 11 on your Android device: Is it worth it?
Honestly, no! The hassle of getting Windows 11 to run on Limbo is not worth the effort. It’s slow even on the most powerful devices and configuration is not straightforward.
However, if you have a device that supports KVM, maybe the performance boost might just make up for it.
Also, the performance may vary depending on your device specifications and settings. Use this tutorial at your own risk and for educational purposes only.
