Back in December 2020, Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm and announced a preview of x64 emulation for Windows 10 on ARM via the Insider Program. At that time, the Redmond tech giant indicated that apps like Google Chrome, which previously ran as a 32-bit program, will be able to use the x64 emulation layer and even gain some performance benefits due to better memory utilization. Now, it has revealed that it is shelving plans to support the emulation layer for Windows 10 on ARM.
In an update to its original blog post, Microsoft has clarified that the x64 emulation is now generally available on Windows 11 and if you"re running the OS on an ARM device, you can give it a go. In a separate statement to Thurrott, the company went on to say that:
We have received questions about the status of x64 emulation in Windows 10. Microsoft wants to share an update that x64 emulation for Windows is only generally available in Windows 11. For those interested in experiencing x64 emulation, a PC running Windows 11 on Arm is required. Microsoft is committed to supporting customers on Windows 10 on Arm through October 14, 2025.
So while Windows 10 on ARM is supported until 2025 along with 32-bit x86 emulation, the x64 emulation layer won"t be generally releasing on the OS anymore. Microsoft hasn"t detailed a reason for this change in plans yet.