__        ___      __  __           _
 \ \      / (_)_ __ \ \/ /_ __   ___(_)
  \ \ /\ / /| | '_ \ \  /| '_ \ / __| |
   \ V  V / | | | | |/  \| |_) |\__ \ |
    \_/\_/  |_|_| |_/_/\_\ .__(_)___/_|
                         |_|Welcome back to the 2000s.

Windows XP Simulator — a free Windows XP in your browser

What it is

WinXP.si is a web-based simulation of Microsoft Windows XP Professional, a faithful recreation running entirely in your browser. It aims to match the look and the behavior of the real thing: windows, menus, dialogs, sounds, a file system and many of the bundled programs. Nothing to download, nothing to install, no account.

Features

• A real boot, logon, Shut Down and Restart sequence.
• Pixel-faithful Luna visuals, Windows XP sounds, mouse pointers, icons and keyboard shortcuts.
• A persistent virtual C: drive: your files and settings survive a reload, kept in this browser only — nobody else can see them.
• Internet Explorer browses old web pages as they looked in past years, through the Wayback Machine.
• Start menu, taskbar, Control Panel, Command Prompt, screen savers and dozens of working programs.

How to use

• Press Start Windows XP above, then click your account on the Welcome screen — no password needed.
• Click once to select, double-click to open, right-click for a menu, just like in 2006. The Start button is bottom left.
• Open a program directly from a link: add #open=minesweeper (or notepad, paint, winamp...) to the address, or #web=yahoo.com&date=1999 to browse the old web.
• This is a simulation running inside your browser, not a real PC: it cannot run real .exe programs and some screens are only simulated.
• Clearing your browser data also deletes your files and settings. About winXP.si > Reset starts over on purpose.

Programs

• Notepad
• Paint
• Calculator
• Minesweeper
• Solitaire
• FreeCell
• Hearts
• WordPad
• Command Prompt
• Internet Explorer
• Outlook Express
• Winamp
• Windows Media Player
• Sound Recorder
• Windows Messenger
• My Computer & Windows Explorer
• Control Panel
• Display Properties
• Taskbar and Start Menu
• Run
• Registry Editor

All Windows XP programs online

I guess you want to try Win98.si too

Frequently asked questions

Is this Windows XP simulator free?

Yes. winxp.si is completely free, needs no account and installs nothing. It is a recreation of the Windows XP interface written in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, so it runs straight in your browser.

Is this a real Windows XP emulator?

No. It is a simulator, not an emulator: nothing from the original Microsoft operating system is executed. The desktop, windows, menus, sounds and bundled programs are rebuilt from scratch to look and behave like Windows XP, so you cannot run real .exe files on it.

Which Windows XP programs can I use?

Windows Explorer, My Computer, Notepad, Paint, WordPad, Calculator, Minesweeper, Solitaire, FreeCell, Hearts, Command Prompt, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player and Control Panel, plus the Recycle Bin, the Start menu, the taskbar clock and screen savers.

Are the files I create saved?

Yes. Files, folders, wallpaper, volume and desktop icon positions are stored in your own browser and survive a reload. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

Does it work on a phone or tablet?

It loads on mobile, but Windows XP was built around a mouse and a keyboard, so a desktop or laptop gives the intended experience. The site can also be installed as an app and works offline.

When was Windows XP released?

Windows XP was released to retail on October 25, 2001. Service Pack 2, the version this simulator recreates, followed in August 2004, and Microsoft ended extended support on April 8, 2014.