Can A Raspberry Pi 400 Run Windows 10?

Raspberry Pi computers are incredibly compact and thus incredibly easy to move around from place to place.

As such, these small computers are incredibly popular amongst people looking for a simple computer that they can take with them on the go.

Can A Raspberry Pi 400 Run Windows 10?

As well as this, Raspberry Pi computers are highly customizable and are great for learning programming thanks to the level of control that they offer to users. 

However, one hurdle that many people encounter while getting to grips with the Raspberry Pi is its reliance on the Debian infrastructure that allows the Raspberry Pi OS to operate.

Most people are used to using Windows infrastructure with a computer.

But is it possible to get an operating system, such as Windows 10, running on a Raspberry Pi 400 computer? What sorts of hurdles would you have to tackle, and how do you get it to run well? 

Read on – we’ve got you covered! 

Can A Raspberry Pi 400 Run Windows 10?

Technically speaking, no, a standard Raspberry Pi 400 computer could not possibly run Windows 10. The reason for this is simply that Raspberry Pi 400 is made to work using the Debian-based infrastructure. 

The Debian infrastructure is thus totally incompatible when used in tandem with Windows 10. 

However, there are ways that you can get Windows 10, and even Windows 11 running on a Raspberry Pi 400, and it involves a little bit of downloading.

In order to get Windows 10 or 11 running on your Raspberry Pi 400, you would need to download and install the WoR-flasher, which will help to host Windows on this Debian-based device.

How Do You Install Windows 10 On A Raspberry Pi 400?

In order to get Windows 10 running on your Raspberry Pi 400, you will need a few things. 

Make sure that you have a computer that uses the Debian infrastructure to download the WoR-flasher. Of course, you will also want to make sure that you have access to your Raspberry Pi 400 unit. 

You will also want a USB flash drive and a MicroSD card to install the program onto the Raspberry Pi itself. 

Step 1 – Install The WoR-Flasher To The Raspberry Pi 400

On your computer, open up a terminal window and enter the command:

‘Git clone https://github.com/Botspot/wor-flasher

This will cause the necessary packages needed to run WR-Flasher to be downloaded. Ensure that the flasher is installed onto your Micro SD card.

Once the Flasher has been installed, you can then run the script for the flasher, by entering the following command:

‘~/wor – flasher/install – wor – gui.sh’

This will cause the flasher to start running, which will allow you to start setting up the Raspberry Pi version of Windows 10 or 11

Step 2 – Select Your Version Of Windows

You should now be seeing a small options box on your screen.

On this options box, you will be able to choose the specific version of Windows that you are looking to download, and which specific Raspberry Pi model you will be installing it on.

Make sure to pick the correct version of Windows you want, and then pick the appropriate Raspberry Pi model.

Once you have done that, click ‘Next’, and then you will be able to choose the language in which the version of Windows will work. Choose the language you wish, and then hit the ‘Next’ button.

From here, all you then need to do is choose the correct device to install the flasher onto, which, in this case, will be the chosen MicroSD card that will contain the flasher. Once you have done that, again, hit ‘Next.

From here, you will be able to make some specific changes to your options using the ‘advanced’ settings. 

Once you are happy with your selected version of Windows for your Raspberry Pi 400, simply hit the button marked ‘Flash’.

This will cause the version of Windows to be downloaded directly onto the flash drive that you inserted! However, keep in mind that this process can take a bit of time to complete!

Step 3 – Move Windows 10 To Your Raspberry Pi 400

Once the Windows 10 package has been fully installed onto the Micro SD card, you can simply eject it safely, and then move it over to the chosen Raspberry Pi 400 device. 

Once the SD card has been inserted into the Raspberry Pi, you can then simply boot the unit up, and it will boot up using the Windows-based firmware.

Make sure to give it some time to boot up because it will take a good few minutes.

The first thing you should see upon fully booting up is a small window that will introduce you to the new firmware that your Raspberry Pi 400 is now running on.

On this window, simply click ‘Next’, and then hit ‘Install’, which will begin the final installation process.

Again, leave the computer to install this system for a few minutes as it may take some time.

Once the firmware has been installed, the Raspberry Pi 400 will simply reboot, and once the screen comes back on, you will notice that it is now running on a version of Windows 10 or Windows 11. 

Step 4 – Final Checks

At this point, you should be able to utilize Windows 10 on your Raspberry Pi 400 with ease, but if you encounter any problems, it may need to be updated.

If this is the case, you will need to make use of an ethernet cable, as there is no Wifi compatibility with the WoR version of Windows 10!

Make sure to also be calm and slow with the Raspberry Pi 400 version of Windows 10, because it can be volatile and prone to freezing if overloaded.

To Wrap Up

There we have it!

Though Windows 10 does not run natively on a Raspberry Pi 400, due to having a very different infrastructure, it is possible to get it running through the use of a flasher that can easily be downloaded from the web and installed into the unit. 

Make sure to follow all of the steps we detailed above as carefully as you can so that the installation does not face any hiccups and you do not end up damaging your Raspberry Pi 400 model! 

buy raspberry pi accessories

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Raspberry Pi 400 Replace Desktop?

Though a Raspberry Pi 400 may not offer as much power as a traditional computer, it can still be a great option if you want a compact solution.

Is A 400 Raspberry Pi Worth It?

Definitely. If you are looking to grab a Raspberry Pi unit, we strongly recommend the 400 model which comes kitted with an entire keyboard.

Does Pi 400 Get Hot?

Though the circuit board within the Pi 400 could get hot, it has a heat spreader that causes the heat to be released all across the unit, so that no single part of it becomes too hot to touch. 

Erik D

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *