How to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4 [Step-by-Step Guide]

If you're a Raspberry Pi 4 user, you might be curious whether it's possible to install and run Windows 10 on your device. Recently, we've witnessed Windows 10 gaining support on ARM-based platforms such as Samsung Exynos and Qualcomm Snapdragon. But does this extend to the Raspberry Pi 4 as well? In this article, you'll discover whether it's feasible to install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4.

You'll discover the hardware and software requirements you need to fulfill before installing Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi 4 computer. Additionally, tools will guide you in learning how to use a third-party utility to burn/flash a Windows 10 ISO file onto an SD card for booting it on your Raspberry Pi 4.

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Can I Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4?

Initially, Microsoft only permitted users to run the older version of Windows 10 IoT Core on their Raspberry Pi devices, which restricted them to using Visual Studio on the Pi without access to a standalone OS supported by a GUI. Consequently, no official Windows operating system was supported.

However, with recent advancements, it's now possible to run Windows 10 in its entirety on a Raspberry Pi 4. The following section will outline how to run a full desktop version of this operating system on your Raspberry Pi 4 device.

For alternative methods to install Windows without a product key, please refer to the following article:

How to Install Windows 10 Without Product Key

You can install Windows 10 without a product key by downloading the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft. This page provides a comprehensive guide on how to do it.

What Do You Need to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4? To install Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi 4, you'll need the following components: 1. **Raspberry Pi 4**: Ensure you have the latest model with sufficient RAM (ideally 4GB or more) for running Windows 10. 2. **SD Card**: You'll need a high-speed microSD card with a capacity of at least 32GB, although 64GB or higher is recommended for better performance. 3. **Windows 10 IoT Core Image**: Microsoft provides a version of Windows 10 designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including Raspberry Pi. Download the latest Windows 10 IoT Core image from the [Microsoft Developer Network](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/getstarted). 4. **SD Card Formatter**: Download and use a tool like [SD Card Association's SD Memory Card Formatter](https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/) to format your SD card before installing the operating system. 5. **Raspberry Pi Imager**: Install the official [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/) on your computer to write the Windows 10 IoT Core image to the SD card. 6. **USB Boot Compatibility**: Ensure your Raspberry Pi 4 is configured to boot from USB. This typically involves updating the boot order in the EEPROM. Follow the official instructions from the [Raspberry Pi Foundation](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/bootmodes/msd.md). 7. **USB Drive**: You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space to store the Windows 10 files during the installation process. 8. **Power Supply**: Use a high-quality power supply that can deliver at least 3A to power your Raspberry Pi 4 effectively. 9. **Keyboard and Mouse**: A USB keyboard and mouse are necessary for setting up and interacting with Windows 10. 10. **Monitor/TV**: Connect your Raspberry Pi 4 to a monitor or TV using an HDMI cable for display purposes. 11. **Networking**: Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity will be required for downloading updates and accessing online resources during setup. After gathering all the necessary components, follow the official instructions for installing Windows 10 IoT Core on your Raspberry Pi 4, and remember that the experience may differ from a traditional desktop version of Windows 10 due to hardware limitations.

Similar to setting up the default OS on your computer, there are certain prerequisites that need to be met before installing Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi 4. These ensure a smooth and uninterrupted operation of the operating system. Here's a table outlining the necessary hardware and software requirements:

How to Prepare the Raspberry Pi 4 SD Card for Installing Windows 10

Aside from the aforementioned requirements, there's one more thing you need to do before installing Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi: you'll need to format your SD card into a file format supported by Raspberry Pi 4 (FAT32). This task needs to be completed on a Windows system.

If you're uncertain about how to format your Raspberry Pi 4 SD card, we recommend utilizing tools Partition Master. This software enables you to swiftly format your SD card from any other file system to FAT32. Even beginners with little computer experience can easily grasp the formatting process.

Step 1. Locate your SD card and right-click on the partition you wish to format, then select "Format."

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. Click "Yes" on the pop-up window to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button on the toolbar, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting your SD card.

Further Reading:

How to Install Windows on Steam Deck in 2024? Comprehensive Guide

This article provides a detailed guide on installing the Windows operating system on Steam Deck, including a step-by-step tutorial and potential troubleshooting solutions.

How to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4

With all the necessary hardware and software in place, you can now proceed to install Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi 4. This process consists of several stages and might take some time. It's important to be patient as you progress through each step. Follow the instructions to install the operating system on your Raspberry Pi.

Stage 1. Update Your Raspberry Pi Firmware

Updating the firmware on your Raspberry Pi 4 computer ensures optimal functionality. Follow these steps to perform the update:

Step 1. Boot up your Raspberry Pi and click on the Terminal icon to open the Command-Line Interface. Alternatively, you can access the command line by pressing Ctrl + Alt + F1.

Step 2. Next, paste the following commands in the Command Line:

sudo apt update translates to: sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt full-upgrade This command translates to: Sudo apt full-upgrade

The above commands will update your Raspberry Pi 4 firmware to the latest version. You can now power off your device and move on to the next step.

Stage 2: Download the Required Tools

Before installing Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi, the essential tools you'll need are a UUP file and the WoR (Windows on Raspberry) tool. The WoR tool enables you to flash or burn the ISO file onto your SD card, whereas the UUP file lets you create the Windows 10 Raspberry ISO image on your computer.

Step 1. Download and install WoR on your computer from this link.

Step 2. Visit this website to download the UUP file. Make sure to select the correct "Type," "Version," "Language," "Edition," and "Type Download" from the drop-down options on the download page. Then, click the "Download ISO compiler in One Click!" option. Click on the first link to download the cmd file.

After downloading the necessary tools, you can proceed to the next stage.

Stage 3. Create Windows 10 Raspberry Pi ISO File

To install Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi, you'll need to create an ISO image tailored for the Raspberry Pi, not a generic Windows 10 file.

Step 1. Double-click the cmd file on your computer and click Yes in the User Account Control window.

Step 2. The terminal window will download numerous essential files, so ensure your computer is connected to a stable internet connection.

Step 3. The tool will automatically create the Windows 10 Raspberry Pi ISO file.

Stage 4. Flash the ISO File to the SD Card

Once you've downloaded the Windows 10 ISO file, you'll need to proceed with burning the ISO onto the SD card. For typical Windows ISO files, you can use tools like Partition Master. However, for the Windows 10 ISO image specifically designed for Raspberry Pi, you'll need to use WoR.

• For burning Windows 10 ISO: Burn ISO to USB on Windows 10
• For burning Windows 10 Raspberry Pi ISO: follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect the SD card to your computer.

Step 2. Run the WoR.exe file.

Step 3. Click "Next." Select the SD card and choose Raspberry Pi 4 from Device Type.

Step 4. Select the ISO file you just created and choose the Windows version.

Step 5. On the next page, select Use Latest Package.

Step 6. Set the partitioning scheme, boot options, installation options, and other configurations. Click Next to begin installing the Windows ISO file onto the SD card.

Once the ISO file has finished burning, eject the SD card from your computer and continue with the next step.

Heads up: If you need to burn a Windows 10/11 ISO to a USB, Partition Master is a smart choice. It's one of the best free ISO burning software options out there for Windows. You can use it to create a bootable media and then boot different laptops from the USB.

Here are some topics related to utilizing the burning feature of Partition Master software:

Stage 5. Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4

Now that your SD card is bootable, you can proceed to install the Windows 10 ISO files on your Raspberry Pi 4 device. This process is less complicated than many people assume, and you can follow these steps to accomplish it.

Step 1. Connect the flashed SD card to your Raspberry Pi 4 computer. Next, plug in other peripherals such as the power cable, keyboard, mouse, and HDMI cable.

Step 2. Restart your Raspberry Pi 4 computer and make sure to set your SD card as the boot drive.

Step 3. Once the system detects your bootable SD card, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Windows installation process.

Step 4. After the installation is complete, open Command Prompt and paste the command below to enable the use of 3GB of RAM.

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} truncatememory This command translates to: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} truncatememory

Step 5. Restart your device to apply the changes made above.

Step 6. Finally, connect your Raspberry Pi 4 to a network and install the programs you wish to run on it. You should start by installing the Microsoft Edge browser.

Furthermore, if your Raspberry Pi is encountering any boot-related problems, you can bypass the SD card and boot it from a USB device. Click on the link below for detailed instructions.

How to Boot Raspberry Pi From USB [Step-by-Step Guide]

This article demonstrates how to modify the Raspberry Pi's bootloader to boot from a USB storage device. Read on for detailed instructions on booting Raspberry Pi from USB.

And that's it! You've successfully installed Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi 4, and you can now start exploring all its features. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others to assist them in installing Windows 10 on their Raspberry Pi 4 as well!

Conclusion

This article has shed light on the feasibility of installing Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi 4. From our discourse, we've established that it is indeed possible. To proceed, you will first need to gather all necessary hardware and software, which includes utilizing Partition Master to format the Raspberry Pi SD Card. Next, you will require the Windows 10 ISO file and a flashing tool to write the installation onto the SD card.

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4

Follow the instructions below for installing Windows 10 on the Raspberry Pi 4.

< strong >1. Can Raspberry Pi Run Windows Apps?

After successfully installing a Windows operating system on your Raspberry Pi, you can run supported Windows applications. Simply download and install these apps on your Raspberry Pi computer, and you're ready to go!

< strong >2. Can I Install Windows on Raspberry Pi 4?

Yes, you can run Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi 4. First, you'll need to download a Windows 10 ISO file, burn it onto an SD card, and then connect the bootable SD card to the Raspberry Pi 4 to install the operating system.

3. Is It Good to Install Windows on Raspberry Pi 4?

Installing Windows on your Raspberry Pi 4 device enables you to utilize the necessary Windows features for your project. With the operating system installed, you can run Windows programs on your Raspberry Pi computer, making it beneficial to have Windows on your Raspberry Pi 4.