DOSBox-X is a cross-platform, open-source DOS emulator forked from the original DOSBox project. Where DOSBox focuses primarily on running classic DOS games, DOSBox-X goes much further — it is designed to be a complete DOS emulation package that covers everything from early IBM PC hardware through late-1990s Windows 9x configurations. This page introduces what DOSBox-X is, how it differs from DOSBox, which platforms it supports, and what makes it stand out as a preservation and development tool.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
What Is DOSBox-X?
DOSBox-X emulates the PC hardware necessary to run MS-DOS games, applications, and operating environments — including Windows 3.x, 95, 98, and ME — on modern computers. It also emulates NEC PC-98 and DOS/V systems, enabling users to run Japanese and other East-Asian DOS software that would be impossible to launch on contemporary hardware. Unlike DOSBox, DOSBox-X emphasises general emulation accuracy over raw gaming performance. Its goal is to faithfully reproduce pre-2000 PC hardware so that old software runs correctly, and so that new DOS development can be validated with confidence. Every release ships source code alongside pre-built binaries, and the project is maintained on a regular monthly release schedule.DOSBox-X is released under the GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPL-2.0) and is completely free to use and distribute. It is brought to you by joncampbell123 (Jonathan Campbell) and a community of open-source contributors.
How DOSBox-X Differs from DOSBox
DOSBox-X started as a fork of DOSBox SVN Daum and has since diverged substantially. The key philosophical differences are:- Broader scope — DOSBox targets DOS gaming; DOSBox-X targets the entire DOS era, including productivity software, demoscene productions, and Windows 3.x/9x guest systems.
- Accuracy focus — DOSBox-X works to emulate hardware accurately enough to support new DOS software development, not just run old games.
- Active feature expansion — New capabilities such as save states, a GUI menu bar, and extended CPU types are continually added.
- Platform-specific enhancements — Direct3D output and automatic drive mounting are available on Windows; other platform-specific features are added where feasible.
Supported Platforms
Windows
Windows 95, NT 4.0, and all later versions. Both 32-bit and 64-bit builds are provided via installer or portable ZIP. ARM builds are also available.
Linux
Linux with X11 or Xwayland, 32-bit and 64-bit. Official Flatpak on Flathub, plus RPM, Snap, AUR, and DEB packages.
macOS
macOS 10.15 Catalina and later on Intel and Apple Silicon (ARM). Available as portable packages, Homebrew, and MacPorts.
DOS
MS-DOS 5.0 and compatible systems via the HX-DOS package (using the HX DOS Extender) or the LOADLIN package.
Notable Features
DOSBox-X includes a wide range of capabilities that set it apart from the original DOSBox project:GUI Menu & Configuration Tool
A drop-down menu bar and a built-in graphical configuration tool let you adjust settings without editing config files by hand.
Save & Load States
Up to 100 save slots allow you to snapshot and restore the exact state of a running DOS session at any time.
PC-98, AX & DOS/V Emulation
Full NEC PC-98, AX, and DOS/V emulation with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language support for East-Asian software.
Advanced CPU Support
Emulates Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, and MMX instruction sets alongside all earlier x86 CPU types.
IDE & Windows 9x Emulation
Improved IDE interface emulation and significantly enhanced Windows 3.x/9x/ME compatibility, including acceleration support.
Long Filenames & FAT32
Supports long filenames and FAT32 disk images — DOS 7+ features required for Windows 95/98 guest environments.
TrueType Font Output
A TTF output mode renders text-mode DOS programs using scalable TrueType fonts for crisp, readable text at any resolution.
Printing Support
Print to a real connected printer or to a virtual printer that generates PDF or image output from your DOS applications.
3dfx Voodoo & Glide
Emulates the 3dfx Voodoo graphics chip and includes a Glide wrapper so that Glide-enabled DOS games run correctly.
FluidSynth & MT-32
Supports FluidSynth MIDI synthesis with SoundFont files and Roland MT-32 emulation for authentic MIDI audio.
NE2000 Ethernet Networking
Emulates an NE2000 Ethernet card with modem phone-book mapping, enabling DOS networking and multiplayer games.
Pixel-Perfect Scaling
Pixel-perfect scaling output preserves the exact look of original CRT graphics without blurring or distortion.
Compatibility
DOSBox-X aims to run the vast majority of DOS games and applications, including both text-mode and graphical programs. Microsoft Windows versions that are largely DOS-based — such as Windows 3.x, 95, 98, and ME — are officially supported as guest systems. Certain configuration settings may need to be adjusted for some programs; the DOSBox-X Wiki provides detailed guidance.Security Notice
DOSBox-X is not designed to be a secure sandbox. The emulator contains performance-optimised code that may have vulnerabilities. Do not run DOSBox-X as root or Administrator, and avoid running untrusted DOS executables on sensitive systems. Use the-securemode command-line flag to disable commands that could access host system resources.
Next Steps
Installation
Step-by-step instructions for installing DOSBox-X on Windows, Linux, macOS, or DOS.
Quickstart
Get a DOS program running in DOSBox-X in minutes with this hands-on walkthrough.