Native Windows software for ARM

Introduction

Windows on ARM (WOA) devices are powered by ARM architecture processors, which are different from the x86 architecture used by traditional Windows PCs. As a result, traditional Windows applications that are designed for x86 architecture may not run on WOA devices, in most cases, the software will be emulated if it’s not running on the same architecture as it’s designed for.

For the best performance on WOA devices, it is recommended to use native ARM64 applications. These apps are specifically compiled for ARM architecture and optimized for performance on WOA devices. While the selection of native ARM64 apps may be limited compared to x86 apps, the Windows ARM Apps repository on GitHub offers a solution by providing a collection of popular applications that have been compiled for ARM64 devices.

GitHub repository

I created a repository that lists apps that run natively on Windows ARM architecture. https://github.com/arminask/windows-arm-apps

The apps are compiled and made available for download, allowing ARM device users to enjoy a wider range of software on their devices. Some of the popular apps included in the repository are Google Chrome, Visual Studio Code, Slack, etc.

Of course, the list is not full and there are a dozen more Windows ARM apps, scouring the whole internet just to find software that’s compiled for ARM architerture is not easy. You can help contribute by creating a pull request and adding a new app to the armrepo.ver.lt

Future of WoA

I believe that Windows on ARM is the future. One of the key benefits of WOA is the long battery life and improved power efficiency offered by ARM processors. This makes WOA devices ideal for use in scenarios where battery life is important, such as in laptops or mobile devices. That’s why developers need to add support for ARM versions of their software.

Thanks for reading, I hope you learned something new.