Yes. Genshin Impact is available for free on Windows PC, and it is arguably the best way to play it: higher resolution, better frame rates and no battery or overheating issues. Your account and progress are shared with the mobile versions, so you can switch between devices freely. Limited-time content comes and goes, though, as players looking for the Dodo-King’s painted walls found out.
Where to download it
There are two official sources:
- The official Genshin Impact website, which installs HoYoverse’s own launcher (HoYoPlay).
- The Epic Games Store, where the game is also free.
Avoid third-party download sites. Unofficial installers are a common way of spreading malware, and the official launcher handles updates automatically anyway. The game is not on Steam.
Will your PC run it?
Genshin is less demanding than its visuals suggest, but it is a large install that keeps growing with each region. HoYoverse’s published requirements have changed over time, so check the current figures on the official site. As a general guide:
- A 64-bit version of Windows 10 or 11.
- A mid-range quad-core processor from the last several years.
- At least 8 GB of RAM, with 16 GB recommended.
- A dedicated graphics card with 4 GB of video memory or more for comfortable settings.
- An SSD with plenty of free space. Loading times on a hard drive are noticeably longer.
On older laptops, lowering the render resolution and setting shadows and volumetric fog to low gives the biggest performance gain.
Cross-save and cross-play
Genshin Impact uses a HoYoverse account. Log in with the same account on PC, iOS or Android and you will find the same characters, world and inventory. Co-op works across these platforms too.
PlayStation is a partial exception: you can link a PlayStation account to a HoYoverse account and share progress, but in-game currency bought on PlayStation stays tied to that platform.
Keyboard or controller?
The PC version supports both. Keyboard and mouse make aiming with bow characters easier, while a controller suits exploration and feels closer to the console version. Controllers are detected automatically, and you can switch at any time.
A note on mods and third-party tools
Frame-rate unlockers and other tools that alter the game files break the terms of service and can lead to a ban. Map tools and wish trackers that only read the information you give them are a different matter, but it is safer to stick to well-known ones and never share your login.
