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Windows 11 on Arm

Your Windows 11 on Arm PC can now run even more x86 apps and games thanks to Microsoft's latest Prism emulation update
Winsage
December 11, 2025

Your Windows 11 on Arm PC can now run even more x86 apps and games thanks to Microsoft’s latest Prism emulation update

Microsoft has updated its Prism emulator, allowing x86 applications to run on Windows 11 devices with Arm chips. This update improves performance, especially for applications using AVX or AVX2 extensions, and increases the number of compatible apps and games. The Prism emulator is a significant enhancement over the previous x86 app emulation layer from Windows 10, enabling most x86 applications to run smoothly on Snapdragon devices, comparable to traditional Intel PCs.
Qualcomm says 90% of top Windows games will run on Snapdragon X2 laptops — is Windows on Arm gaming finally here?
Winsage
November 21, 2025

Qualcomm says 90% of top Windows games will run on Snapdragon X2 laptops — is Windows on Arm gaming finally here?

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, which are expected to significantly enhance the performance and efficiency of Windows laptops. Initial benchmarks show that the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme performs well in single-core, multi-core, and GPU metrics, making it suitable for both productivity and gaming. Over 90% of the most played Windows games will be compatible at launch on devices using these new processors, which offer up to 2.3 times higher efficiency than previous models. Qualcomm has also launched the Snapdragon Control Panel to optimize game performance and ensure up-to-date drivers. The Snapdragon X2 Elite supports AVX2 emulation for running certain games via Microsoft's Prism Emulator, and there is ongoing development of kernel-level anti-cheat support for Windows on Snapdragon. Microsoft reports that 90% of user activity on Windows 11 on ARM involves native applications, indicating improved compatibility. New laptops featuring these Snapdragon processors are expected to debut in the first half of 2026, with previews potentially at CES in January.
KB5067115 Enhances Windows on Arm with Improved 64-bit App Emulation via Prism
Winsage
October 31, 2025

KB5067115 Enhances Windows on Arm with Improved 64-bit App Emulation via Prism

Microsoft has updated its Prism emulator in the Windows 11 25H2 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115), enhancing support for 64-bit x86 CPU features on Arm devices. This update improves app compatibility and performance for devices like the Surface Pro X and Lenovo ThinkPad X13s. It introduces Emulation Settings in Properties for developers to adjust emulation behavior for 32-bit applications. Additionally, the update includes the Ask Copilot feature in the taskbar and a Full Screen Experience option for more handheld devices.
Dev and Beta Channels Get a New Preview Quality Update, Bigger Changes to Come
Winsage
October 31, 2025

Dev and Beta Channels Get a New Preview Quality Update, Bigger Changes to Come

The Windows Insider Program is rebranding its updates, with the latest cumulative update preview build now called a Preview Quality Update. The update, Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update KB5067115, is available for users in the Dev and Beta channels. It upgrades Dev channel systems to Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26220.7051 and Beta channel systems to Windows 11 version 24H2 build 26220.7051. KB5067115 is classified as a recommended update for the Beta channel, indicating a shift towards testing 25H2 builds. New features in this update include: - Integration of Ask Copilot into the Taskbar's Search box, allowing access to Copilot Voice and Copilot Vision. - A Full-screen experience being extended to additional gaming handheld PCs, starting with the MSI Claw. - Support for Bluetooth LE-based shared audio broadcasts on Copilot+ PCs, enabling collaborative audio experiences. - Improvements to the x64 emulator in Windows 11 on Arm, enhancing CPU feature support and allowing more applications to function seamlessly.
Microsoft Claims 90% of Windows-on-Arm Usage Happens on Native Apps
Winsage
September 23, 2025

Microsoft Claims 90% of Windows-on-Arm Usage Happens on Native Apps

Microsoft reports that the Arm app ecosystem is thriving, with native Arm versions available for apps representing 90% of total user minutes. This indicates a shift towards native builds rather than relying on x86-to-Arm translation. As Windows 10 nears its end-of-life on October 14, 2025, Microsoft encourages users to transition to Arm-based Copilot+ AI PCs, highlighting various optimized applications for Windows 11 on Arm, including endpoint protection, VPN, endpoint management, productivity, and entertainment applications. Although the current selection of Windows-on-Arm laptops is limited, upcoming announcements from Qualcomm and NVIDIA are expected to increase the availability of Arm-based Windows PCs.
New VLC update adds official support for Windows 11 on Arm and fixes support for Windows XP
Winsage
September 23, 2025

New VLC update adds official support for Windows 11 on Arm and fixes support for Windows XP

The stable version of the VLC media player now officially supports Windows 11 on Arm PCs, with the release candidate build version 3.0.22 RC1 introducing native Arm64 support, enhancements, and bug fixes. This update restores support for Windows XP Service Pack 3. The release candidate can be accessed on VLC's GitHub page, while the official release will be available later. Many Windows applications have recently adopted support for Windows on Arm, with users now spending 90% of their time on Arm-based PCs running native applications.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
September 19, 2025

Microsoft celebrates Windows 11 on Arm progress as users now spend the majority of their time in natively compiled apps — compatibility is no longer a concern

Microsoft has reported that 90% of user engagement on Arm-based PCs is now with natively compiled applications for Windows 11 on Arm. The Arm app ecosystem is expanding, with native Arm versions available for apps representing 90% of total user minutes. Collaboration with Qualcomm, particularly through the Snapdragon X series of PC chips, has been crucial in this development. Major OEMs have adopted this technology, leading to new Arm-based PCs that compete with Apple Silicon. Adobe has released flagship applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro in native formats. Notable applications now natively compiled for Windows on Arm include 7 Zip, Google Drive, Dropbox, Trello, Todoist, Libre Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Camtasia, Paint.NET, Djay Pro, CapCut, Figma, Apple TV, Apple Music, Google Chrome, Telegram, WhatsApp, Spotify, Davinci Resolve, Blender, and Luminar Neo. The current generation of Snapdragon X processors supports applications still reliant on emulation, with robust performance. Qualcomm's next-generation Snapdragon PC chips, likely named Snapdragon X2, are expected to enhance performance and efficiency further.
Snapdragon X laptops now work with select Meta Quest headsets
Winsage
September 1, 2025

Snapdragon X laptops now work with select Meta Quest headsets

The Mixed Reality Link app now supports PCs powered by Snapdragon X processors, allowing connectivity with Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets. Previously limited to Intel and AMD PCs, the app's compatibility with Windows 11 on ARM has been noted, although official documentation from Microsoft has not confirmed this. Users have successfully connected devices like the Surface Pro 11 to the Mixed Reality Link. The Meta Quest 3S is priced at 9 and offers a powerful chipset and next-gen controllers, making it an affordable option in the VR headset market. It supports a wide range of Meta Quest games despite some trade-offs in field of view and display quality. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, priced higher, includes an Xbox controller and a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and has received positive feedback for its integration with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder are Now Native on Windows 11 on Arm
Winsage
July 30, 2025

Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder are Now Native on Windows 11 on Arm

Adobe has released public beta versions of Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder for Windows 11 on Arm architecture. These applications are expected to work well on Qualcomm Snapdragon X-based laptops and tablets. Certain features will be included in the final release of Premiere Pro, such as support for third-party extensions, ProRes support, and hardware-accelerated playback of H.264 and HEVC. However, some features will not be available, including the Loudness Radar effect and export to Wraptor DCP. For After Effects, issues include limited format support and the absence of certain features like Keylight and Mocha. Adobe recommends using the latest Qualcomm Adreno GPU driver for optimal performance. Beta versions of Audition and Media Encoder are also available for Windows 11 on Arm.
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