PC-Free - Windows 10 in GitHub Codespaces | Run Windows 10 Free in Browser

Run a complete Windows 10 environment in your browser using Docker and GitHub Codespaces. Free, fast, and no installation required.

🇪🇸 Español • 🚀 Quick Start • 📖 Documentation • 🐛 Report Bug

What is PC-Free?

PC-Free is an open-source project that lets you run Windows 10 directly in your web browser using GitHub Codespaces and Docker. No local installation, no powerful hardware required, completely free.

Key Benefits

✅ 100% Free - No hidden costs or subscriptions
✅ Browser-Based - Access Windows from any device
✅ 5-Minute Setup - Deploy Windows 10 in minutes
✅ No PC Required - Run Windows without owning a Windows PC
✅ Docker Container - Isolated, secure, and portable
✅ Persistent Data - Your files and apps survive restarts
✅ Open Source - MIT licensed, community-driven

Features

Cloud Windows Environment

Run a full Windows 10 desktop environment in your browser without downloading or installing anything locally. Perfect for developers, students, and professionals who need Windows access on Mac, Linux, or Chromebook.

Docker-Powered Performance

Leverages Docker containers for fast deployment, isolated execution, and easy management. Your Windows environment is containerized for security and portability.

GitHub Codespaces Integration

Deploy instantly to GitHub Codespaces with generous free tier (60 hours/month). No credit card required for basic usage.

Complete Feature Set

Full Windows 10 desktop experience
Web-based VNC access (noVNC)
RDP support for native remote desktop
Persistent storage volumes
Customizable RAM and CPU allocation
Windows 10 and 11 support
Secure, private environment

Use Cases - When to Use PC-Free

Use Case	Description	Ideal For
Remote Work	Access Windows applications from Mac, Linux, or mobile devices	Remote workers, digital nomads
Development & Testing	Test Windows-specific applications and software	Developers, QA testers
Education & Learning	Learn Windows administration without installing locally	Students, IT learners
Cross-Platform Work	Run Windows-only software on non-Windows devices	Mac users, Linux users
Secure Testing	Test untrusted software in isolated container	Security researchers, IT admins
Temporary Access	Quick Windows access without permanent installation	Consultants, freelancers

Comparison: PC-Free vs Alternatives

Compare PC-Free with other Windows cloud solutions:

Feature	PC-Free	Azure Virtual Desktop	AWS WorkSpaces	Local VM
Monthly Cost	✅ $0 (Free)	❌ $31-100+	❌ $25-75+	✅ $0 (Free)
Setup Time	⚡ 5 minutes	⏱️ 30+ minutes	⏱️ 30+ minutes	⏱️ 15-30 minutes
Hardware Required	✅ None	✅ None	✅ None	❌ Powerful PC needed
Browser Access	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited
Open Source	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	⚠️ Partial
Data Persistence	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Quick Start: Run Windows 10 in 5 Minutes

Method 1: One-Click GitHub Codespaces (Recommended)

The fastest way to get Windows 10 running in your browser:

Fork this repository - Click "Fork" button at top right
Open Codespace - Click "Code" → "Codespaces" → "Create codespace on main"
Wait for setup - Environment loads automatically (~2 minutes)
Follow the Guía Rápida below

Method 2: Manual Docker Setup

For local Docker installation, see the complete guide below.

Guía Rápida

1️⃣ Verifica el almacenamiento disponible

df -h

Escoge la partición con más espacio libre.

2️⃣ Crea la carpeta de datos para Docker

sudo mkdir -p /tmp/docker-data

3️⃣ Configura Docker

Edita el archivo:

sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json

Agrega:

{
  "data-root": "/tmp/docker-data"
}

4️⃣ Reinicia tu Codespace

Para aplicar los cambios de configuración.

5️⃣ Verifica Docker

docker info

Asegúrate de que Docker Root Dir sea /tmp/docker-data.

🧱 Archivo `windows10.yml`

# Antes de ejecutar docker-compose up, ejecuta:
# bash check_github_follow.sh || exit 1
# Si no sigues a https://github.com/jephersonRD, el entorno no se iniciará.
services:
  windows:
    image: dockurr/windows
    container_name: windows
    environment:
      VERSION: "10"
      USERNAME: ${WINDOWS_USERNAME}
      PASSWORD: ${WINDOWS_PASSWORD}
      RAM_SIZE: "10G"
      CPU_CORES: "4"
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    ports:
      - "8006:8006"
      - "3389:3389/tcp"
    volumes:
      - /tmp/docker-data:/mnt/disco1
      - windows-data:/mnt/windows-data
    devices:
      - "/dev/kvm:/dev/kvm"
      - "/dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun"
    stop_grace_period: 2m
    restart: always

volumes:
  windows-data:

🗝️ Archivo `.env`

WINDOWS_USERNAME=YourUsername
WINDOWS_PASSWORD=YourPassword
GITHUB_USER=YourGitHubUsername

🛑 Agrega este archivo a tu `.gitignore`:

echo ".env" >> .gitignore

▶️ Inicia el contenedor

Iniciar por primera vez

docker-compose -f windows10.yml up

🔌 Apagar la PC

docker stop windows

System Requirements

For GitHub Codespaces (Recommended)

GitHub account (free tier supported)
Modern web browser (Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Edge 90+, Safari 14+)
10GB+ available Codespace storage
Stable internet connection (2 Mbps+ recommended)

For Local Docker Installation

Docker Engine 20.10 or higher
20GB+ free disk space
8GB+ RAM (16GB recommended)
KVM support (Linux hosts) or Hyper-V (Windows hosts)
Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows 10/11 Pro

Usage Instructions

Start Windows Environment

Start the Windows container:

docker-compose -f windows10.yml up -d

Stop Windows Environment

Stop the Windows container gracefully:

docker stop windows

Restart Windows

Restart the container (useful after freezes):

docker restart windows

View Container Logs

Monitor Windows container activity:

docker logs -f windows

Press Ctrl+C to exit log view.

Complete Removal

Remove container and all data volumes:

docker-compose -f windows10.yml down -v

⚠️ Warning: This deletes all Windows data permanently.

Configuration Options

Customize System Resources

Edit windows10.yml to adjust resources:

environment:
  VERSION: "10"              # Windows version (10 or 11)
  RAM_SIZE: "10G"           # RAM allocation
  CPU_CORES: "4"            # CPU core count
  DISK_SIZE: "64G"          # Virtual disk size
  USERNAME: ${WINDOWS_USERNAME}
  PASSWORD: ${WINDOWS_PASSWORD}

Switch to Windows 11

Change Windows version in environment:

environment:
  VERSION: "11"  # Windows 11

Enable RDP Access

Add RDP port mapping for native Remote Desktop:

ports:
  - "8006:8006"    # Web interface (noVNC)
  - "3389:3389"    # RDP protocol

Connect using RDP client: localhost:3389

Adjust Performance Settings

For slower systems, reduce resource allocation:

environment:
  RAM_SIZE: "6G"     # Minimum for Windows 10
  CPU_CORES: "2"     # Minimum cores

Screenshots

Windows 10 Desktop Interface

Windows 11 Alternative

Browser-Based Access

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does Windows take to boot?

Initial boot: 5-10 minutes (downloading Windows image)
Subsequent boots: 2-3 minutes

Can I install additional software?

Yes! You have full administrator access. Installed software persists in Docker volumes between restarts.

Does this work on GitHub free tier?

Yes! GitHub free tier includes 60 hours/month of Codespaces, which is sufficient for regular testing and development work.

Can I use this for gaming?

Limited. Codespaces don't have GPU acceleration. Light, older games may work, but modern 3D games won't run well.

Is this legal to use?

Yes, provided you have a valid Windows license. This uses official Windows installation methods. Check Microsoft's licensing terms for your use case.

How secure is this setup?

Your Windows environment runs in an isolated Docker container within your private GitHub Codespace. Only you have access unless you share the Codespace link.

Can I access my files from outside?

Yes, files stored in Docker volumes persist between sessions. You can also mount external volumes or use cloud storage within Windows.

What internet speed do I need?

Minimum 2 Mbps for basic usage. 5+ Mbps recommended for smooth experience. Initial setup requires downloading ~4GB Windows image.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Windows Container Won't Start

Check Docker logs for errors:

docker logs windows

Verify KVM access (Linux):

ls -la /dev/kvm

Slow Performance Issues

Reduce RAM allocation to 6G
Reduce CPU cores to 2
Close other resource-intensive Codespace apps
Check Codespace resource usage

Cannot Access Port 8006

Go to "Ports" tab in Codespace
Make port 8006 visibility "Public"
Click globe icon to open in browser
Check firewall settings if on local Docker

Storage Full Error

Clean Docker cache and unused images:

# Remove unused Docker data
docker system prune -a

# Check available space
df -h

Container Keeps Restarting

Check if KVM is available:

# Linux
ls -l /dev/kvm

# If not available, may need to enable KVM in BIOS

Black Screen After Login

Wait 2-3 minutes for desktop to load
Try refreshing browser
Check if container is still running: docker ps
Restart container: docker restart windows

Roadmap - Upcoming Features

Vote for features →

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Help improve PC-Free:

Fork the project repository
Create feature branch: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
Commit changes: git commit -m 'Add AmazingFeature'
Push to branch: git push origin feature/AmazingFeature
Open a Pull Request

See CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines.

Ways to Contribute

🐛 Report bugs and issues
💡 Suggest new features
📝 Improve documentation
🔧 Submit bug fixes
⭐ Star and share the project

Community & Support

💬 GitHub Discussions - Ask questions
🐛 Issue Tracker - Report bugs
⭐ Star this repo - Show support
👤 Follow @jephersonRD for updates

Documentation

License

Distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file for more information.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

dockurr/windows - Docker Windows image
GitHub Codespaces - Cloud development environment
All our amazing contributors

Support the Project

If PC-Free helped you, consider:

⭐ Starring this repository
🐦 Sharing on social media
📝 Writing a blog post about it
🤝 Contributing code or documentation

🇪🇸 Español

Inicio Rápido en Español

Haz fork del repositorio
Abre en Codespace
Sigue la Guía Rápida arriba
Accede al puerto 8006

Ver documentación completa →

⭐ Star this repo if you found it helpful!

Made with ❤️ for developers who need Windows without owning a PC

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