> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/brunodev85/winlator/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Download and install Winlator on your Android device to run Windows applications via Wine and Box86/Box64.

Winlator is distributed as a standalone APK through GitHub Releases. There is no Play Store listing — all official releases come directly from the project repository.

<Note>
  Only install Winlator from the official [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/brunodev85/winlator/releases) page. Unofficial APKs from third-party sites may be modified or contain malware.
</Note>

## Requirements

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Android version" icon="android">
    Android 8.0 or later (API level 26+)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Device architecture" icon="cpu">
    ARM64 (64-bit) processor required
  </Card>

  <Card title="Free storage" icon="hard-drive">
    At least 2 GB of free storage for the system image and containers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Graphics" icon="monitor">
    OpenGL ES 2.0 support (nearly all modern Android devices)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Install Winlator

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download the APK">
    Go to the [Winlator GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/brunodev85/winlator/releases) and download `Winlator_10.1.apk` from the latest release (version 10.1).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Allow installation from unknown sources">
    Because Winlator is not distributed through the Play Store, Android requires you to allow installation from unknown sources.

    On most devices:

    1. Open **Settings** > **Apps** (or **Application Manager**).
    2. Tap your browser or file manager.
    3. Enable **Install unknown apps** (or **Allow from this source**).

    The exact path varies by Android version and device manufacturer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the APK">
    Locate the downloaded `Winlator_10.1.apk` file using your file manager and tap it to begin installation. Confirm when prompted by Android.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Grant permissions">
    When you first launch Winlator, Android will request the following permissions:

    | Permission               | Purpose                                                            |
    | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
    | `WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE` | Save container data, game files, and shortcuts to external storage |
    | `READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`  | Access `.exe` files and game assets stored on your device          |
    | `MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS`  | Configure audio output for Wine's audio drivers                    |

    Tap **Allow** for each prompt. Denying storage permissions will prevent Winlator from reading or writing game files.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the initial setup to complete">
    On the very first launch, Winlator installs its internal Linux filesystem image (`imagefs`). This is a compressed system archive bundled inside the APK that gets extracted to your device's internal storage.

    A progress dialog will appear with the message **Installing system files**. Do not close the app during this step — it typically takes 30–90 seconds depending on your device.

    <Note>
      If the installation fails, Winlator will display an error toast. This can happen if your device runs out of storage mid-extraction. Free up space and relaunch the app to retry.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

Once the setup dialog closes, Winlator is ready to use. Continue to [Quickstart](/quickstart) to create your first container and run a Windows application.