Gameplay from Prince of Persia on DOS PC. Image from the Retro Replay media library.

DOSBox-X

DOS PC EMULATOR

DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X — an actively maintained, highly-configurable open-source emulator for IBM PC-compatible DOS-era systems (including extended support for Windows 3.x/9x and PC-98 variants) focused on accuracy and wide hardware emulation.

Jump to download ↓Jump to setup guide ↓

Gameplay from Prince of Persia on DOS PC. Image from the Retro Replay media library.

DOS PCPRIMARY SYSTEM

History documentedPROJECT BEGAN

Open sourcePROJECT MODEL

WHY IT MATTERS

Why use DOSBox-X?

DOSBox-X extends the core DOSBox project with many accuracy and compatibility improvements, additional hardware devices and modes, and configuration options intended for running legacy DOS software, early Windows releases, and platform variants (for example NEC PC-98). It targets users who need granular control over emulated hardware, legacy multimedia configuration, or support for early Windows environments.

BEST FOR

Best for

Running and debugging DOS-era and early Windows (3.x, some Windows 9x) software with precise control over emulated sound/video devices and hardware behavior; using advanced features like multiple video modes, serial/parallel device passthrough, and PC-98 emulation.

Gameplay from Prince of Persia on DOS.

The people behind DOSBox-X

History & status

DOSBox-X is a widely used fork of the DOSBox family that focuses on increased accuracy, expanded device emulation, and additional features over vanilla DOSBox. The project is published openly (source on GitHub) and provides release builds and development builds from an official website. Official source and release activity is visible in the project's GitHub repository and the DOSBox-X website; development builds and platform-specific installers are published there. The project remains maintained and publishes releases and development builds (see GitHub releases and the DOSBox-X site for current version details).

What DOSBox-X supports

Windows (installer and portable builds)
Linux (source, packages, Flatpak available)
macOS (official builds)
FreeBSD and other Unix-like systems (source builds)
Raspberry Pi / ARM (platform builds mentioned)
DOS host builds (specialized builds listed on site)

Download and availability

OFFICIAL DOWNLOADS

Get DOSBox-X

Official downloads: use the DOSBox-X website for release and development builds (Windows installers, macOS builds, Flatpak and other packages) or obtain source and releases from the project's GitHub repository. Choose the appropriate platform build (installer vs. portable) or build from source if you need custom compile options.

Get DOSBox-X ↗

DOCUMENTATION

Official documentation

Read the official configuration, compatibility, and troubleshooting material before changing advanced options.

Read official documentation ↗

Broken or missing download? Emulator projects move and official links sometimes change. Please contact Retro Replay so the source can be verified and updated.

DOSBox-X setup guide

Setup note: Practical setup notes — verified from official docs and repository. These steps cover a typical Windows or Linux setup and common tasks for running DOS games and early Windows in DOSBox-X.

1) Get an official build: Visit the DOSBox-X website to download release or development builds for your OS, or use the GitHub releases page to fetch signed releases or source. On Windows prefer the installer or the portable ZIP depending on whether you want system integration. On Linux you can use the Flatpak if provided or build from source following the project's INSTALL instructions.
2) Install or extract: Run the Windows installer or extract the portable archive. On Linux/macOS follow the provided binaries or build from source using the repository's build instructions. The INSTALL file in the repository documents build and packaging notes for each platform.
3) Locate or create a configuration file: DOSBox-X uses an .ini configuration file. A default config is created on first run; copies are available in the distribution. Place customized configs alongside the executable or in the user configuration path documented on the project wiki. Use the GUI configuration editor (if included in the build) or edit the file directly for advanced options.
4) Mount a DOS 'C:' and CD images: Use the MOUNT command to attach a host directory as C: (for example: mount c /path/to/games). Use IMGMOUNT to attach CD images (ISO, CUE/BIN) for software that expects a CD-ROM. Quote paths that contain spaces and ensure host paths are readable by the emulator process.
5) Configure video and CPU: Adjust [cpu] settings in the config (core, cycles) to match your workload—legacy ad hoc games may need manual tuning. Use the video options to select VGA/SVGA modes, enable scaler filters, or set compatibility modes. The wiki contains pages on common settings for performance vs. accuracy.
6) Configure audio and MIDI: DOSBox-X emulates PC Speaker and Sound Blaster-family devices by default and exposes many other audio options. Configure the [sblaster], [gus], [adlib], and MIDI settings in the config file. For MIDI output to host synthesizers you may need to set mididevice and provide a host MIDI backend (e.g., Fluidsynth) as documented on the wiki.
7) Running Windows 3.x / 9x: The emulator can run Windows 3.x and some 9x environments; follow the wiki's dedicated guides for installing DOS and then Windows inside an emulated C: drive. Early Windows installs require appropriate DOS setup and installation media mounted via IMGMOUNT; the emulator does not include Windows installation files or any commercial software.
8) PC-98 and other platform variants: DOSBox-X documents support for NEC PC-98 and other variants. Follow the specialized wiki pages for mounting PC-98 disk images and any additional setup. The wiki and repository notes explain which builds and options expose this functionality.

Software reminder: DOSBox-X does not include commercial games, Windows installers, firmware, BIOS, or copyrighted ROMs. Obtain any operating system or game files separately and lawfully. Some guest OSes or expansions may require original installation media or ROM files; check the project wiki for details.

Sources and further reading

Release log

Selected releases and changes. The weekly emulation roundup covers the wider build log.

September 28, 2026 — September 28 nightly (Development build): Improves Windows Sound System DMA behavior, adds a composite-mode switch, and corrects FPU and configuration-window handling. Official release and source ↗ · Weekly roundup →