Windows 10X Emulator minimum hardware and software requirements

Microsoft showcased its first dual-screen device - Surface Neo - last November, and along with that came the new SDK. The SDK allows the developer to build apps that work on dual-screen and foldable devices. Now that the emulator is out for its first public preview, in this post, I am sharing Windows 10X Emulator minimum system requirements. The best part is that Windows 10X Emulator can be installed on Windows 10. So if you are a developer or just excited about it, then you can try it. We have also talked about the requirements for Preview SDK for Microsoft Surface Duo at the end.

Windows 10X Emulator minimum hardware & software requirements

Just like how an OS needs minimum hardware and software to run, so does the emulator. It is a miniature OS that allows developers to test their app without buying the actual hardware. If you are planning to develop or support your app for dual-screen, here are the requirements for you to run the Windows 10x emulator.

Software Requirements

Microsoft Emulator: It is a special emulator that works with the Hyper-V emulator. It allows developers to test UWP and regular WIN32 Apps for dual-screen scenarios. While Microsoft Emulator can be downloaded from Microsoft Store, your Windows 10 PC will need Hyper-V installed on the computer.

The emulator offers new Native Windows APIs for dual-screen development. It will allow you to the app to span the two screens,  adapt according to the hinge position, and take advantage of Windows 10X.

Windows 10 Preview Build: Since it is a Public Preview product, your Windows 10 PC also needs to run on Windows Insider Program. It works with Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education (x64). The minimum build number needed to test is 19555 or later.

Hardware Requirements for Windows 10X emulator

• Processor: 64bit CPU with four cores (all four cores will be dedicated to the emulator)
• RAM: A minimum of 8GB minimum (16GB recommended).  4 GB ram will be taken by the emulator.
• Storage: 15 GB of free disk space for VHDX + diff disk, SSD recommended
• GPU:  Hyper-V enabled and dedicated GPU (Supports DirectX 11.0 or later and WDDM 2.4 graphics driver or later)

You also need support for hardware-assisted virtualization. That includes Virtualization Enabled in Firmware, Second Level Address Translation, and Data Execution Prevention Availability. The motherboard should support all these either through BIOS or UEFI.

That said, the emulator only works with the Intel processor as of now. If you have anything other than Intel, you will have to wait for the support.

How to check for hardware-level virtualization?

To find out if your Windows 10 PC supports hardware-level virtualization, follow the steps:

• Open Run prompt, type CMD and then press the Enter key
• In the command prompt, execute systeminfo.exe command
• In the result, scroll till the end, and check for the following
  • Virtualization Enabled In Firmware
  • Second Level Address Translation
  • Data Execution Prevention Available
• They all should be YES for it to support hardware-level virtualization.

If you don't see them as yes, boot into the BIOS/UEFI, and check if there is an option to enable hardware virtualization. If you don't see any option, then it means your Windows 10 computer doesn't support it.

Preview SDK for Microsoft Surface Duo requirements

We have already started seeing foldable Android devices like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola RAZR. We will only see more of this in the coming years, and Microsoft has a developer preview SDK for its foldable device- Surface Duo. The preview SDK gives developers a first look at how you can take advantage of dual-screen experiences. The SDK offers Native Java APIs which are specific to Surface Duo.

If you plan to support your apps for dual-screen on Surface Duo, then you can use this SDK. The native API offers the DisplayMask API, Hinge Angle Sensor, and new device capabilities. The emulator simulates postures, gestures, hinge angle, mimicking the seam between the two screens, and more.

Android Studio Requirement

• Microsoft® Windows® 7/8/10 (64-bit). The Android Emulator only supports 64-bit Windows.
• 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB RAM recommended.
• 2 GB of available disk space minimum, 4 GB Recommended (500 MB for IDE + 1.5 GB for Android SDK and emulator system image).
• 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution.

 Android Emulator Requirement

• SDK Tools 26.1.1 or higher
• 64-bit processor
• Windows: CPU with UG (unrestricted guest) support
• HAXM 6.2.1 or later (HAXM 7.2.0 or later recommended)
• If you want to use a webcam, then it should have the capability to capture 720p frames.

The use of hardware acceleration has additional requirements on Windows and Linux. It will need

• Intel processor with support for Intel VT-x, Intel EM64T (Intel 64), and Execute Disable (XD) Bit functionality
• AMD processor on Linux: AMD processor with support for AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSSE3)
• AMD processor on Windows: Android Studio 3.2 or higher and Windows 10 April 2018 release or higher for Windows Hypervisor Platform (WHPX) functionality

I am sure it will take time for more hardware devices to come into the consumer market, but it's going to be there. Be it phones or laptops or desktops. Anywhere you have two screens, Windows 10X will get its magic.

Now read: How to install Windows 10X Emulator on Windows 10.