What you need to know
- Several popular apps have recently been optimized for Windows on Arm.
- NordVPN, Arc Browser, Foxit PDF Editor, and Notion can all now run natively on Windows on Arm devices.
- Windows 11 on Arm PC can run many apps through emulation, but native apps offer better performance and efficiency.
Reports of x86’s demise may be “significantly exaggerated,” according to Intel’s CEO, but Arm Computing continues to put pressure on rivals. The first wave of AI PCs saw a number of laptops powered by Arm chips, and all Windows devices on Arm received significant enhancements. PCs equipped with Snapdragon I did.
Many of the best AI PCs and best Copilot+ PCs run on Arm chips, so native Arm applications are important for the best experience. Although you can run many apps through emulation, native Arm apps perform better and use less power when running. After years of push from Microsoft and Qualcomm, developers now seem intent on optimizing their apps for Arm. Just last month, Arm-native versions of NordVPN, Arc Browser, Notion, and Foxit shipped.
“We are proud to be one of the first VPN providers to offer the opportunity to protect ARM-based Windows devices from online threats,” NordVPN said. “This fall, we will be releasing a version of the NordVPN app that supports the ARM architecture on Windows.”
Foxit, one of the best PDF editors, shared similar thoughts when it announced its native Arm application.
“We are excited to announce that we are now bringing our industry-leading PDF solution to the industry’s most advanced PCs powered by Snapdragon,” said Andrew Travis, executive vice president of sales at Foxit. “Foxit’s commitment to native support on the Snapdragon platform enables significant improvements such as faster content rendering and processing, significantly increasing productivity and delivering an unparalleled user experience.”
Recent additions to the Windows on Arm app library build on an impressive year for Arm computing. It looks like Microsoft and Qualcomm have finally built an Arm platform that developers think is worth investing their time into.
Windows 11 compatibility for Arm apps
Microsoft, Qualcomm, and app developers have been working on making programs run well on Arm devices for quite some time. It took years to get big-name app makers on board, but we’re finally at a point where many popular apps run natively on Arm. Our list of the best native Windows apps on Arm includes browsers like Chrome, popular streaming apps, productivity tools like Office, and some apps for creators. However, some popular apps still need to be run via emulation.
Emulation provides a bridge between x86 and Arm. In many cases, apps that are not optimized for Windows on Arm can be run through emulation. Native Arm applications have better performance and efficiency than emulated apps, but app emulation on Windows 11 is stable. Microsoft’s Prism emulation technology significantly improves emulation performance.
In some cases, your app may not be able to run through emulation at all. So until recently, I hadn’t seen many VPNs working on Windows on Arm PCs. Other apps work fine through emulation, but provide a better experience when run natively.
Many of the popular apps in 2024 will be progressive web apps (PWAs), so native Arm code will be less important (assuming you’re using the Arm browser). But there are still many applications that would be even better as native Arm apps.
NordVPN, Arc Browser, Foxit PDF Editor, and Notion are welcome additions to the growing library of native Arm applications, especially for those using the best of Windows on Arm laptops.
