Download
Get WinNest
Free to download. Run Windows and Linux side by side on your PC.
Requirements
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit (x64), any edition, Home included.
- Virtualization turned on in your PC's firmware (UEFI or BIOS).
- The Windows Hypervisor Platform feature. WinNest checks it when it starts and tells you how to turn it on.
- QEMU for Windows. WinNest installs it for you with winget in one click, or you can get it from qemu.org.
The installer sets WinNest up for your user only, without administrator rights.
Questions
Windows says it protected my PC. Is the installer safe?
The installer is not code-signed yet, so Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns about it as an unrecognized app. Choose More info, then Run anyway. If you want to check the file first, compare its SHA-256 with the one on the release page. Windows 11 PCs with Smart App Control turned on block unsigned apps.
What if I forgot my license key?
Your key is in the purchase email. If you can't find it, write to pablohurtadohg@gmail.com.
What does a year of updates mean?
A license includes every version released during the 1 year after you buy it. After that you can keep using those versions with no limits; to get newer ones, renew your license.
Where are the release notes? How do I report a bug?
See the release notes. Report bugs and ask for features on GitHub, or write to pablohurtadohg@gmail.com.
Does WinNest collect my data?
No. WinNest sends no telemetry, and your virtual machines stay on your PC. It only goes online to download what you ask for (operating systems, QEMU) and to activate and check a license. The privacy policy has the details.
What can't WinNest do yet?
Guests have no 3D acceleration. Snapshots save the disks but not the memory, so restoring one starts the VM from that disk. There is no virtual TPM or Secure Boot, so Windows 11 is installed with the usual requirements bypass. There are no shared folders yet: use drag and drop instead.