Microsoft will bring emulation of x64 applications in arm

Microsoft plans to bring 64-bit Intel application emulation to Windows 10 on ARM, according to a Neowin report. The publication cites "various sources", although Microsoft did not comment on it.

Plans to bring 64-bit Intel application emulation to Windows 10 on ARM

Those sources led the Neowin author to believe that x64 emulation could come in Windows 10 21H1, with Insiders being able to test it during 2020.

Windows 10 on ARM currently supports ARM and ARM64 applications natively and emulates 32-bit x86 applications. Until now, 64-bit applications were simply not supposed to be emulated, due to technical difficulties, performance, or some combination of both.

Lack of 64-bit emulation has meant that many programs simply don't run on ARM laptops, including Microsoft's recently released Surface Pro X. This machine uses a Microsoft SQ1 processor, a variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx. This would be a great help to Microsoft, PC vendors, and Qualcomm if implemented correctly.

Of course, there is the question of which version of an app should be presented to users for download in the Microsoft store and elsewhere. Ideally, for ARM users, it would be a native application (Adobe, for example, has promised to do so, but has not provided estimated dates). But if not, the store could offer 32-bit apps or performance-based 64-bit apps, or even let users choose.

Visit our guide on building an advanced PC

Microsoft declined to comment on the matter when asked and they have nothing to share at this time. Of course, they do not rule it out with these statements, so it must be currently in full development at least. We will keep you informed.

Tomshardware font