Installing a Windows program
Windows programs install the way they always have: download the installer from the maker’s website, then double-click it in Files. Wild OS recognises .exe, .msi and .msix files and opens a short window that tells you what will happen.
What you’ll see
Section titled “What you’ll see”Wild OS checks the program against its compatibility list, and who made it, then offers the best way to run it.
Installs in Windows mode
Section titled “Installs in Windows mode”Most programs. Choose Install in Windows mode, and the program’s own installer appears in a window, just as on Windows. Click through it as usual.
The window also shows:
- How well it should run, from Should run well to Not tested yet.
- Who made it: Verified publisher when the installer is signed by its maker, or Unknown publisher when it isn’t. Be careful with unknown publishers, as you would on Windows.
If Windows mode isn’t set up yet, the button says Set up Windows mode instead. See set up Windows mode.
A Linux version is available
Section titled “A Linux version is available”For Spotify, Discord, Steam, Zoom, Slack, browsers, VLC, GIMP, LibreOffice and many others, Wild OS says something like Spotify has a Wild OS version in the Store, so it doesn’t need Windows app support. Choose Show me to install it from the Store. It opens faster and needs no Windows at all.
For Microsoft Teams, you can choose Install Teams as a Wild OS app, which we recommend, or Install in Windows mode instead.
It won’t run
Section titled “It won’t run”Some things can’t run outside a real Windows PC, and Wild OS says so before you waste time:
- Games with kernel anti-cheat, such as Valorant and Fortnite. See games.
- Hardware drivers for Windows.
After it installs
Section titled “After it installs”The program appears in Start, with Runs in Windows mode under its name. Open it from Start and it appears as a normal window on your desktop, with its own taskbar icon.
Pin it to the taskbar by right-clicking its icon and choosing Pin to taskbar.
Opening a file from outside the shared folders
Section titled “Opening a file from outside the shared folders”Windows programs can only open files in your shared folders. If you open a file from somewhere else, Wild OS says Windows apps can only open files in your shared folders. Move it to Documents, then try again.