Windows CE 2.11 can now run on the Nintendo 64 console through a custom hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and newly developed drivers created from scratch, according to reports published on May 17, 2026 [1, 2].
The port leverages the N64's VR4300 MIPS CPU, supporting the standard Windows CE graphical shell and third-party applications. The project includes a board-specific configuration compiled against the official Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 Platform Builder SDK [1, 2].
The Windows CE desktop on the N64 features a window manager, taskbar, and file manager implemented as custom code by the developer, known as ThroatyMumbo, using standard Windows CE APIs [2].
New drivers written from scratch cover display output, input devices (using the N64 controller as a mouse), sound, cartridge access, and the SD card slot of the EverDrive-64 X7 flash cartridge [2, 1]. The lightweight OS requires approximately 1 MB of RAM, matching the N64's hardware specifications [1].
The entire project is publicly available on GitHub with detailed technical documentation. It allows users to run Windows CE applications directly from an SD card inserted into the flash cartridge [1, 2]. ThroatyMumbo developed this as a hobby reverse-engineering effort without any official Microsoft involvement or port for the N64 [2, 1].
An OSnews article described the achievement: "Stock Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 running on a real Nintendo 64. A custom HAL drops the unmodified nk.lib kernel onto VR4300, brings up the CE 2.11 GWES desktop and shell..." [2]
The project gained attention after Hackaday and OSnews published detailed articles on May 17, outlining the technical challenges and solutions enabling Windows CE to run on the vintage gaming console [1, 2].
