QEMU
QEMU is a free, open-source machine emulator and virtualizer that can emulate many processor architectures. It is used to run operating systems and programs built for other architectures, or to set up virtual machines. The Windows build on this page comes from qemu.weilnetz.de and is linked from QEMU's official website.
qemu.weilnetz.de · Official website
- ✓ Official source (winget)
- ✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 11.1.0
- Release date
- Aug. 11, 2026
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Installer type
- nullsoft
How do I use this?
Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.
winget install --id SoftwareFreedomConservancy.QEMU -eSHA256 (file verification)
f98a8aeb5f7faea9765b6dee28316c266cd179d80354a2fed8e50176f9a2e59fWe couldn't find a macOS version of QEMU in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
We couldn't find a Linux version of QEMU in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
We couldn't find a Android version of QEMU in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
QEMU 11.1.0: what's new?
Highlights
- Emulates x86, ARM, RISC-V and other architectures
- Creates and runs virtual machines
- Acceleration through Windows Hypervisor Platform
- Creates and converts disk images (qemu-img)
- Detailed hardware configuration from the command line
Who is it for?
For embedded developers, people experimenting with operating systems, security researchers and developers testing on other architectures.
Good to know before installing
- It requires command-line knowledge and can be complex for beginners.
- Emulating a different architecture is much slower than virtualizing the same one.
How to install
Windows
- Click the official download button on this page or use the winget command.
- Run the installer and follow the steps.
- Start a virtual machine with qemu-system-x86_64 on the command line; turn on Windows Hypervisor Platform for acceleration.
Alternatives
- VirtualBox
- VMware Workstation
- Hyper-V
Frequently asked questions
Does QEMU have a graphical interface?
QEMU is mostly used from the command line. If you want an easy interface, programs such as VirtualBox are a better fit.
How is it different from VirtualBox?
VirtualBox mostly virtualizes systems of the same architecture. QEMU can also emulate other architectures such as ARM and RISC-V.
Is QEMU free?
Yes. It is open source and free.