Run Windows 11 on phone Exciting news: You can now run Windows 11 directly on your smartphone, no virtual machines or remote desktops necessary! Thanks to Project Renegade, I have successfully booted Windows 11 on my OnePlus 6T, allowing me to play PC games like Crysis 3 and Tomb Raider. In this post, I will guide you through achieving this incredible accomplishment.
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How to Run Windows 11 on Your Phone
To run Windows 11 on your phone, you’ll need to understand the possibility of doing so, and then follow a series of steps to make it happen.
Understanding the Possibility
An obvious question arises: how can we run Windows 11 on a smartphone? The answer lies in the fact that Microsoft provides an ARM version of Windows, which can be found on Surface Pro X or other ARM-based PCs. Your phone, being based on an ARM processor, can potentially run Windows 11. The real challenge comes down to the booting process, specifically the UEFI.
Introducing Project Renegade
Your key to running Windows 11 on your phone lies in Project Renegade, an open-source project that helps you run Windows or Linux natively on a phone. They came up with the innovative idea of faking your Windows UEFI as a Linux kernel, allowing your phone to boot into Windows 11.
Project Renegade provides tools to compile UEFI by yourself or find one that works for your device. They’ve also gathered useful drivers and tuned them to adapt to your smartphone, particularly Snapdragon 845 platforms. If you’re using an 845 chip, you can definitely check this out.
Compiling UEFI and Booting Windows
Assuming you’ve got Project Renegade set up, you’ll need to compile UEFI and boot into Windows. This process can be a bit messy, with constant crashes and bluescreens. If either of those happens, you may have to reset your phone and restart from the beginning. Be prepared for a potentially frustrating experience!
Another important thing to note is that you’ll need to be patient and persistent. After tinkering, tweaking, and praying to the father of Windows, you’ll finally get to experience Windows 11 on your phone.
Tips for a Smooth Installation
One of the most critical aspects of running Windows 11 on your phone is ensuring a smooth installation process. Trust me, I’ve been through the struggles, and I’m here to share some valuable tips to help you avoid the pitfalls.
- Backup your data: Before attempting to install Windows 11 on your phone, make sure to backup all your important data, including contacts, photos, and files. You never know when things might go wrong.
- Choose the right drivers: Selecting the correct drivers for your phone’s hardware is crucial. Make sure to download the compatible drivers from Project Renegade or other trusted sources.
- Follow the instructions carefully: The installation process can be complex, so it’s vital to follow the step-by-step guide provided by Project Renegade or other tutorials.
- Be patient: Installing Windows 11 on your phone can take time, so be prepared to wait and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Assume that you’ll encounter some hiccups along the way, but with these tips, you’ll be better equipped to handle them.
Be Prepared for Crashes and Bluescreens
If you’re expecting a seamless installation process, think again. Be prepared for crashes and bluescreens, especially during the initial setup. It’s frustrating, but it’s a normal part of the process. Take a deep breath, restart your phone, and try again.
Tweaking and Tinkering for Success
Tweaking and tinkering with your phone’s settings and drivers can make all the difference in achieving a stable Windows 11 installation. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different configurations until you find what works best for your phone.
Understanding the intricacies of your phone’s hardware and software is key to successful tweaking. Take the time to research and learn about the specific components of your phone, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip and Adreno 630 GPU. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions when configuring your system.
Running PC Games on Your Phone
Your phone, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, is capable of running some decent triple-A titles. Yes, PC gaming on Windows 11, all on a smartphone!
Can It Run Crysis?
One of the most power-hungry games, Crysis 3, runs on this phone, albeit with some thermal issues. The game is a bit janky, but it works, and that’s amazing! We’re getting single-digit framerate, but remember, this is 1080p resolution, desktop-level graphics.
Running Other Games like CSGO and Euro Truck Simulator
There’s more to explore, like CSGO, which runs better than Crysis, with a native 1080p resolution and around 20-30 frames per second on average. And, why not try something even crazier, like Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Another interesting thing is that games like Euro Truck Simulator are not really that power-hungry, but seem to perform worse than Crysis. That’s a bit weird, and we can see the GPU usage is even lower than 30% in Task Manager. So, we got the CPU bottleneck again.
Overcoming CPU Bottlenecks and Optimizing Performance
Running games like Skyrim, we almost never fully utilize our GPU under low res. At the first moment, we can get a framerate of as high as 40, but as we move the camera to a complicated scene, the framerate drops significantly.
Games like Tomb Raider, however, got a really good performance. At 1080p, we got a solid 20 frames per second, no drops, no problems at all. And, if we lower the res to 540p and zoom in, we can get a 30, 40, or even 50 frames per second. That is butter smooth!
Final Words
With these considerations, I must say that running Windows 11 on a phone and playing PC games is an incredible feat. Although it’s not without its challenges, the results are truly impressive. From running Crysis 3 to playing Euro Truck Simulator 2 with a steering wheel, the possibilities are endless. Sure, there are still limitations, but the fact that we can even attempt to do this on a smartphone is a testament to the power of technology. I hope you enjoyed this journey with me, and I’ll see you in the next video!