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kernalix7/winpodx

Runs Windows apps in a background Windows VM and shows each one as a native Linux window using FreeRDP RemoteApp.

Open-source alternative to:Parallels DesktopVMware Fusion

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What is it?

WinPodX lets you launch individual Windows applications from a Linux desktop as if they were native programs. Each app opens in its own window with its real icon, a proper WM_CLASS for taskbar pinning, and file associations, so you do not have to look at a full Windows desktop. It is built on FreeRDP RemoteApp and uses dockur/windows to run Windows inside a Podman or Docker container.

The tool discovers Start Menu-visible Win32 and UWP apps and creates desktop entries for them. Clipboard, audio, printers and the home directory are shared with the host. The Windows pod starts on demand and pauses when idle. A full Windows desktop is still available through `winpodx app run desktop`.

Setup covers host checks, Windows provisioning and app discovery through the CLI or a Qt6 desktop GUI. Packages are provided for openSUSE, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL-family distributions, Arch and Nix, along with an AppImage and a curl installer. The project is in beta.

Key features

  • 01Opens each Windows app in its own native Linux window with its real icon.
  • 02Discovers Win32 and UWP apps from the Start Menu and creates desktop entries.
  • 03Shares clipboard, audio, printers and home directory with the host.
  • 04Pauses the Windows container when idle and wakes it on the next launch.
  • 05Supports Podman and Docker, with a CLI and a Qt6 desktop GUI.

Use cases

  • Running Office or other Windows-only productivity software on a Linux desktop.
  • Keeping a few Windows tools available without a full Windows desktop session.
  • Opening Linux files in Windows apps through the Open with menu.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install WinPodX with the curl installer (latest stable release)

    Install with the official instructions in the README
  2. 2

    Run setup once to provision Windows and discover apps (host-detected defaults)

    winpodx setup
  3. 3

    Launch a Windows app, for example Word

    winpodx app run word

Things to know

  • Requires x86_64 or aarch64 with hardware virtualization (VT-x or AMD-V) and KVM access.
  • Needs at least 8 GB RAM and about 64 GB of disk for the default Windows VM.
  • Project status is beta and under active development.

Topics

#windows#linux#freerdp#podman#docker#virtualization#remoteapp#desktop-integration

FAQ

What is winpodx?
Runs Windows apps in a background Windows VM and shows each one as a native Linux window using FreeRDP RemoteApp. WinPodX lets you launch individual Windows applications from a Linux desktop as if they were native programs. Each app opens in its own window with its real icon, a proper WM_CLASS for taskbar pinning, and file associations, so you do not have to look at a full Windows desktop. It is built on FreeRDP RemoteApp and uses dockur/windows to run Windows inside a Podman or Docker container.
Is winpodx free to use? What license does it have?
winpodx is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is winpodx still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to winpodx was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use winpodx for?
Running Office or other Windows-only productivity software on a Linux desktop. Keeping a few Windows tools available without a full Windows desktop session. Opening Linux files in Windows apps through the Open with menu.
How do I install winpodx?
Install WinPodX with the curl installer (latest stable release) Run setup once to provision Windows and discover apps (host-detected defaults): winpodx setup Launch a Windows app, for example Word: winpodx app run word
Where can I get winpodx?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/kernalix7/winpodx

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