Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
DOSBox-X supports all major operating systems, and each platform has official pre-built packages that make getting started straightforward. This page walks through installation on Windows, Linux, macOS, and real DOS systems, including platform-specific notes about build variants, package managers, and common troubleshooting steps.
The easiest way to install DOSBox-X on Windows is through the official Windows installer, which lets you choose your preferred build variant, install path, and optional shell context menu integration.
1
Download the Installer
Visit dosbox-x.com and download the Windows installer for the latest release. The installer file is named similarly to dosbox-x-win-installer.exe.
If Windows Defender SmartScreen shows “Windows protected your PC”, click More info and then Run anyway. DOSBox-X is open-source and safe to run.
2
Run the Installer
Launch the installer and follow the prompts. You can select:
Install folder — the directory where DOSBox-X will be placed
Default build — VS or MinGW, 32-bit or 64-bit, SDL1 or SDL2
Shell context menu — adds a right-click “Open with DOSBox-X” option in Windows Explorer
The installer also includes a quick-start guide and can automatically upgrade your existing dosbox-x.conf configuration file while preserving your customisations.
3
Launch DOSBox-X
After installation completes, DOSBox-X can be launched from the Start Menu, from the Desktop shortcut (if created), or from Windows Explorer via the shell context menu.
Visual Studio builds are the default and recommended for most users on Windows 7 and later.
MinGW builds support the Slirp backend for NE2000 networking but do not run on Windows XP or Vista. Use a MinGW build if you need Slirp-based networking or encounter floating-point precision issues with the VS build.
Portable ZIP Packages
If you prefer not to use the installer, portable ZIP packages are available in the Releases page. Look for files beginning with:
dosbox-x-vsbuild- — Visual Studio builds
dosbox-x-mingw-win — MinGW builds
Inside each ZIP you will find Release (SDL1) and Release SDL2 folders. Extract to any folder of your choice and run dosbox-x.exe directly — no installation required.
Older Windows Versions
Windows Version
Recommended Build
Windows 7 and later
Standard VS or MinGW build (non-XP)
Windows Vista
XP installer or non-XP VS portable ZIP
Windows XP
XP-compatible installer (file name contains XP); install DirectX runtime
Windows 9x / NT4 / 2000
MinGW lowend 9x builds (32-bit SDL1 only)
XP-compatible builds also work in ReactOS, but support is considered experimental. MinGW dropped support for XP/Vista; use the 32-bit low-end builds from the XP-compatible installer if you want MinGW on those systems.
To grant access to a directory outside the Flatpak sandbox (e.g. /mnt):
flatpak run --filesystem=/mnt com.dosbox_x.DOSBox-X
4
Update DOSBox-X
flatpak update com.dosbox_x.DOSBox-X
The Flatpak runs in a sandbox, so access to some system-wide resources may be restricted by default. Use the --filesystem flag to grant access to specific directories.
If dependencies such as libpng or fluid-soundfont are missing, install them first. RPM packages are not natively supported on Debian/Ubuntu; use the Flatpak there instead.
Official portable packages for macOS are available from dosbox-x.com. They require macOS 10.15 Catalina or later on 64-bit Intel or Apple Silicon (ARM) Macs.
Go to dosbox-x.com and download the macOS ZIP package for the latest release.
2
Unzip the Package
In Finder, navigate to the downloaded ZIP file and double-click it. This creates a folder containing two sub-folders:
dosbox-x — SDL1 build
dosbox-x-sdl2 — SDL2 build
3
Install or Launch
Choose one of the following methods:
Launchpad: Drag the dosbox-x app from either folder to your Applications folder.
Finder: Double-click the dosbox-x app to run it directly.
Terminal: Navigate into the app bundle and run the binary:
# For SDL1 build:cd dosbox-x/dosbox-x.app/Contents/MacOS./dosbox-x# For SDL2 build:cd dosbox-x-sdl2/dosbox-x.app/Contents/MacOS./dosbox-x
4
Select a Working Directory
On first launch, DOSBox-X may ask you to select a working directory. Choose a folder that will serve as your DOSBox-X base directory. You can save this choice so the dialog does not appear on subsequent launches.
macOS Gatekeeper may block the app on first launch. To allow it:
Open Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security
Scroll to the Security section and click Open
Set “Allow applications from” to App Store & Known Developers
Find the blocked DOSBox-X message and click Open Anyway
Enter your password and click OK
'dosbox-x is damaged and can't be opened' error
This is caused by macOS quarantine attributes on the downloaded files. Fix it by running the following command in Terminal from inside the unzipped folder (the one containing the dosbox-x and dosbox-x-sdl2 folders):
DOSBox-X can run on a real DOS system (MS-DOS 5.0 or compatible), which allows DOS users to emulate a different PC configuration inside their existing DOS environment. Note that not all DOSBox-X features available on other platforms are supported in the DOS version.
If you need the very latest features or fixes before the next monthly release, nightly development builds for all platforms are available at dosbox-x.com/devel-build.html. A GitHub account is required to download those builds.
Development builds are intended for testing purposes only and may contain bugs or incomplete features. Use a stable release for everyday use.