The Raspberry Pi is usually associated with Linux operating systems like Raspberry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian), Ubuntu, etc. But what about running Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi? Well, it would be great for sure. However, Windows 10 is still not officially supported for Raspberry Pi. Microsoft’s only OS for Pi is the old Windows 10 IoT Core that just lets you execute Visual Studio codes but cannot work as a standalone OS with its GUI.
Though it is so, it didn’t stop some passionate developers to find a way to run a full desktop version of Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi. They have made it possible with the WoR project. With that, they developed a tool to flash an ARM image of Windows 10 on an SD Card (or an SDD), that can boot on a Raspberry Pi.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to install Raspberry Pi Windows 10.
Contents
Requirements
- Raspberry Pi 4/3/2
- MicroSD Card (Faster is better, so a class A2 card is recommended)
- Ethernet Cable or Wi-Fi dongle
- Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor
Steps to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4/3/2
Step 1: Download the Required Files
In order to get started with the installation, you have 2 things to download.
1. The WoR Tool [https://www.worproject.ml/downloads]
When you download this you will get a zip file with everything inside it. Keep it for now. We’ll use it later.
2. UUP file for Windows 10 ARM
For downloading a UUP file you can use any one of the following websites. Each of them works a bit differently. On these websites, you only have to choose a Windows version, build number, language, and edition like Pro, Home, Ultimate, etc.
- https://uupdump.net/ (for Linux or Mac PC)
Download the file from this website only if your computer is not running on Windows OS. While on the website, I recommend selecting only one edition to keep the file size smaller and make the installation faster. Only check the required edition and leave others unchecked. Now choose the Download and convert to ISO option.
- https://uup.rg-adguard.net/ (for Windows PC only)
This site has got a much more intuitive interface where you can easily download the file. Use the drop-down arrows to choose the required version number, edition, build number, etc. Then click on the Download ISO compiler in One click! option in the download type. Download the cmd file by clicking on the link appearing on the right side. This will look something like this:
Step 2: Update Raspberry Pi Firmware
As usual, before doing something big, we have to update the firmware of our Raspberry Pi. To do the same, open a terminal and type the following command.
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgradeOnce done with that, stop your device and you don’t need the Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian) anymore.
Step 3: Build Windows 10 ISO File on your PC
The next step is to build the Windows 10 ISO image file using the cmd file that we’ve download in step 1. If you downloaded the file from the second website you will get the direct cmd file whereas if you have downloaded it from the first website (uupdump.net) then you need to extract the zip file to see a file named “uudp_download_windows.cmd“.
- Double click on the cmd file and you will see a terminal window. Press 0 when asked. It will immediately start to download some files for the process. This will be of a few gigabytes and take a lot of time if your internet connection is slow.
- Once the downloads are complete it will automatically start to build the ISO image file.
- This also will take some time. If you encounter any stuck somewhere in the process just press the Enter.
Step 4: Flash the ISO File with WoR Tool
Now it’s time to flash the ISO file that we build just now. Here comes the use of the WoR tool. It is a simple and easy-to-use flashing tool. To flash the ISO, follow the below steps.
- Firstly, extract the WoR_Release_….zip archive to a new folder on your computer.
- Find the wor.exe file and double-click on it.
- Select your preferred language from the drop-down list.
- Choose the target drive (your SD Card or SSD drive) and the model of your Raspberry Pi board.
- Once all those selected, now navigate and choose the ISO file that we’ve built.
- The next step is to select the driver package from the server. Simply select the latest package.
- Then select the UEFI firmware to flash. Here also select the latest version available.
- Check the configuration and click Next.
- So you have selected all the things to get started with the install. Just double-check everything and click Install.
The installation may take as long as 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the write speed of your SD Card. This is why I recommend getting an A1 or A2 class SD Card or else an SSD drive to get the job done much faster. On an SSD drive, it may take only about 15 minutes or so.
The First Boot
And now once the Raspberry Pi Windows 10 installation is completed and your device is ready, you can directly plug it (if you have an SSD) into the Pi or insert it if you have an SD card. Then boot it up.
Since it is the first boot, it will take some time to completely initialize and configure things according to your device and boot up. However, from the second boot onwards everything will be fine and will work as normal. If you are a beginner and don’t know how to set up a remote desktop on your Raspberry Pi, just relax – I’ve got that covered for you. Head over to this link: How to Setup Raspberry Pi Remote Desktop on Windows/ Linux/ Mac (5 Methods)
As usual with a typical Windows installation, you will need to configure some things manually: for example Cortana and the privacy policies that Windows normally tries to disable for you.
Once done with that, you will enter into a full-fledged Windows 10 on your cute little Raspberry Pi.
Overclock the Raspberry Pi
Now that you have successfully completed the Raspberry Pi Windows 10 installation, and thinking to boost the performance?
Well. That’s indeed a right thought. Overclocking a Raspberry Pi will help you get the most out of your SBC and take your projects to the next level. For this purpose, I have written a comprehensive article on how to overclock Raspberry Pi board. You can click on the link and refer to the article.
How Does Raspberry Pi Windows 10 Perform?
In my testing, the overall performance is pretty much decent and it’s smoothly usable. However, it has the following limitations.
- Resource limits will be reached quickly with some usage.
- CPU usage is almost 100% while streaming YouTube in Google Chrome.
- Bluetooth support is also limited as the RTS/CTS lines are not exposed.
- Problems with HDMI audio out.
Though it is having some limitations, you will get a nice Windows 10 experience on your tiny computer. You can get partially get rid of the resource exhausting problem by providing an A2 class 32/64 GB SD card or a super-fast SSD drive.
Now it’s your turn..
It’s now your turn to try the Raspberry Pi Windows 10 installation and share your experience. I’ve tried to make this tutorial as simple as possible and still if you have any queries just drop them in the comment section below.
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