Yes, You Can Run Windows 95 In Your Browser, And It's Glorious

Microsoft Windows 95 was launched on August 24, 1995, and it was one of the biggest software releases ever. It was a big upgrade from Windows 3.1, bringing a lot of new features and introducing the idea of plug and play for connecting external devices. In just four days, over one million copies were sold, and within two years, it became the most popular and widely used operating system. It's amazing to think that by 2018, it was 20 years old, making it nearly 30 years old now. Even more surprising is that you can still run it today on almost any device.

A smart developer has created a way to run Windows 95 in a web browser without any installation.
Originally, you needed a computer with at least 4 MB of RAM, a 386DX processor or newer, and 50 to 55 MB of free hard drive space. For better performance, they recommended 8 MB of RAM, a 486 processor, and more storage space. Now, things are very different.

Windows 11 has much higher system requirements, as you’d expect with the latest version of the OS.
But for Windows 95 in the browser, it's not just the operating system itself. You can also install various software programs, like Zork 1, 2, and 3, or Norton Utilities 2.0. These programs are much older than today's software, but they're a great way for people who remember Windows 95 to relive the past, and for younger people to experience what computing was like back then.

When you first visit the page, it might take a few minutes to load, so be patient until you see the Windows 95 screen.
Once it's loaded, you can interact with it like you would with a real computer. You can click “Full Screen” in the top right corner to make the window take up your entire screen. At the bottom, you'll see a dropdown menu where you can choose disks to load, like inserting floppy disks into a real machine.

If you want to use a disk or run a program, select it from the dropdown and click “Load.”
For example, if you choose “Oregon Trail,” the disk will load. To explore the disk or run a program, double-click “My Computer” > “File” > “Explore.” In the left side of the window, select the disk you loaded (it should be drive A: if you didn't change anything). Then, double-click the .EXE file for the program you want to run.

What can you do with the browser version of Windows 95?

You can play games, run various programs, and use Windows 95 as if it were installed on an old computer.
The experience can be a bit buggy, and some features or programs might not work as expected. Still, it's a really interesting and educational experience, especially for those who have never used Windows 95 before. The most important thing is to have fun! With the end of Windows 10 coming, it's possible future versions might also be run in emulators like this. Whether that happens or not, it's still a cool thought to consider.