Flow Launcher Requirements: Windows and Plugin Runtimes
For the current Flow Launcher 2.x branch, plan on Windows 10 or Windows 11. The project publishes self-contained app packages, while some community plugins require their own runtime or external service. Check the app release and each plugin separately rather than treating every dependency as a launcher requirement.
Steps to follow
- Check Windows version and system type in Windows Settings. Read the requirements for the exact release package you intend to install.
- Use the current release notes when older documentation mentions Windows 7. That older compatibility statement does not describe the current 2.x branch.
- Inspect any selected Python or Node.js plugin for its runtime instructions. Do not install development tools solely because they appear in contributor documentation.
- Leave space for extraction, user data, themes, and plugins. Test the base launcher before enabling third-party components.
Check the result
The base application opens without a runtime error, and an installed app can be launched. Diagnose a plugin-specific runtime message in that plugin’s own context.
Limits and common pitfalls
The .NET SDK used to build Flow is not automatically a prerequisite for running the published self-contained package. ARM device compatibility should be checked against the selected asset, not inferred from the word Windows.
Make the check repeatable
No universal memory, CPU, or response-time guarantee is asserted here. The workload depends on your indexes, enabled plugins, and external tools. Compare a minimal setup with your actual plugin set on the machine you intend to use, rather than borrowing a benchmark from a different configuration.
Questions and answers
Does a developer guide mean I need Visual Studio?
No. Building the application or a .NET plugin is a different task from running a packaged release.
Sources and scope
Related guides
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