Works on Windows 10 Home; free; excellent community support. Cons: Slight performance overhead; requires manual setup.
VirtualBox is the most popular free solution. wuixpmode.exe windows 10 download
You can create a "Virtual Machine" (VM) that runs a full version of Windows XP inside a window on your Windows 10 desktop. Works on Windows 10 Home; free; excellent community support
If you run Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you have built-in. Works on Windows 10 Home
Protect your system, your data, and your peace of mind. Skip the old installer and build a modern solution.
No. Compatibility Mode only affects how an application runs, not a hypervisor installer that checks the host OS version.
Last updated: May 2026 – This guide will not be updated for future Windows versions because XP Mode is permanently obsolete.