Best Windows XP Emulators for Windows PC

Windows XP is among the oldest and reliable operating systems (OS) in the Windows NT family. All the subsequent Windows OS are the upgraded versions of Windows XP in some way or another. 

However, Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, with its latest update being a decade old. While this may sound unfortunate, the end of support in no way means you cannot use the OS if you find it useful. 

You can use this operating system to relive your memories or run some old or low-end software. However, you will need a third-party platform or a Windows XP emulator to do so. 

A Windows XP emulator for Windows 10 or other versions is a platform that allows you to use your current operating system like the older one. You can use this tool to run Windows XP on Windows 10 effortlessly. 

Hence, this article walks you through the best XP emulators and their setup to help you make the most of your retro operating system. 

Windows XP Emulators for Windows 10 and their Setup Process

If you look for a Windows XP mode on Windows 10, you will find many tools to help you run Windows XP on your computer. However, the ones that we will be discussing (along with their setup process) are tried and tested to be the easiest and most reliable tools. 

Note: Before proceeding with XP emulators, download the Windows XP ISO file, as some tools may need it to run the operating system. 

1. VMWare Desktop Hypervisor

VMWare Desktop Hypervisor is among the most sought-after Windows XP emulators for Windows 10. You can follow the steps below to run Windows XP on Windows 10 using VMWare Desktop Hypervisor. 

• First, get the VMWare Desktop Hypervisor Workstation downloaded.

• Launch the Workstation after downloading it.

• Next, click Import Windows XP Mode VM to move further.

• You can now name the virtual machine as desired and click Import.

Once the OS import completes, VMWare Desktop Hypervisor will let you run Windows XP mode on Windows 10. 

Also know: How to Factory Reset your PC for a Fresh Start in Windows

2. Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a built-in tool in Windows computers. Hence, it allows you to run Windows XP on your PC without any third-party software. Below is how to use it. 

• First, use the Win+S key combination to access the search feature on your computer.

• Next, type Control Panel in the on-screen box and press the Enter key.

• In this step, click Programs, then choose Programs and Features.

• Next, open the Turn Windows features on or off settings.

• Double-click Hyper-V to view its contents.

• Check all options in the Hyper-V section.

• Let the tool scan your system.

• Once the scan is complete and the tool launches, click Hyper-V Manager.

• Choose the local virtualization server and click Action.

• Next, select the Virtual Switch Manager… option.

• You can now choose the option to create an External Virtual Switch and configure its properties.

• Once the above steps are complete, go back to the Hyper-V Manager page and create a New Virtual Machine Wizard.

• Click Action, choose New, and click Virtual Machine.

• When required, select the downloaded Windows XP ISO file and create a new virtual machine to run Windows XP on Windows 10/other versions.

3. Oracle VirtualBox

Oracle VirtualBox is another name on our list of the best Windows XP emulators. You can use this tool to effortlessly run your favorite Windows XP without any glitches. Below are the steps to perform this action. 

• First, download and install the Oracle VirtualBox setup on your system.

• Run the tool after completing the installation.

• Next, choose the New tab from the menu and assign details to the new Virtual Machine.

• In this step, select a hard drive.

• You can now choose the downloaded Windows XP ISO file to move to the next step.

• In this step, wait until the virtual machine set up completes before using Windows XP.

4. QEMU

QEMU is another versatile and open-source emulator for XP. To use this XP emulator, you are required to configure it with appropriate settings, for instance, the machine type, networking, and storage, and also install the necessary drivers. Below are the steps to configure it on your system. 

• First, you need to download and install QEMU from its official website.

• In the next step, place the Windows XP ISO file in a known directory.

• Next, right-click on your taskbar and choose Command Prompt or PowerShell from the on-screen menu to open it.

• You can now copy and paste the following command to create and run your Windows XP virtual machine.

qemu-system-x86_64 -boot d -cdrom “C:\path\to\windows-xp.iso” -m 512 -hda winxp.img -net nic -net user

Remember to replace C:\path\to\windows-xp.iso in the command above with your ISO file path. 

• You can now follow the on-screen directions to get Windows XP installed on your system.

Also know: How to Fix Windows Modules Installer Worker Using High CPU

Summing Up the Best Windows XP Emulators

Above, we looked at some of the most reliable XP emulators to run Windows XP on your PC with ease. While these emulators can easily get the job done, we recommend trying all of them to check which of them serves your needs the best. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the same, you can reach out to experts for help through the comments section. If we helped you, subscribe to our newsletter so that you do not miss out on our posts.