Which Devices Can I Use Shadow PC On?

Updated

Shadow PC runs on almost any device with a stable internet connection: Windows, Linux, and Mac computers, plus smartphones, tablets, Android TV, and any modern browser. Because Shadow streams a full Windows PC from the cloud rather than running games locally, your own hardware mainly needs to handle video playback — the actual gaming performance comes from Shadow's remote RTX-class machine.

Supported devices at a glance

Device category Examples What you get
Windows computers Desktops, laptops Full Windows desktop streamed to your screen
Linux computers Most desktop distributions Same full Windows PC experience via the Shadow app
Apple computers MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iMac Windows games and apps on macOS without emulation or virtualization
Smartphones iOS and Android Play or work from your phone
Tablets iPad, Android tablets Larger-screen access to your cloud PC
TV devices Android TV, Apple TV Big-screen streaming
Browsers Any modern browser Launch your Windows desktop in a tab — no install required

Shadow's own site states you can play on "Windows, Linux or Apple computers, smartphones, tablet, Android TV or any Browser," summarized as: "If it has Internet, it's now a cloud gaming PC."

What each type of user should know

Mac users

This is one of Shadow's clearest use cases. Shadow describes itself as "the best way to play Windows games on Mac," with native performance and no emulation or virtualization. That means you are not asking your Mac to translate Windows code — it is simply displaying a stream from a Windows machine in the cloud. Compatibility covers MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac, and the same account also works on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad.

Windows and Linux users

You install the Shadow client and connect to your cloud PC. On Linux, this gives you access to Windows-only games and software without dual-booting or maintaining a separate machine.

Mobile and TV users

Phones, tablets, and Android TV let you pick up the same cloud PC on a different screen. A browser session works too — Shadow notes you can access your entire PC "directly from your browser," with your Windows desktop opening "in a simple tab."

The real requirement: your connection, not your specs

The one thing every device shares is dependence on your internet connection. Shadow advertises included 1 Gbps ultra-fast bandwidth on its side, but your local connection determines whether the stream feels smooth. A stable, reasonably fast connection matters more than the age or power of the device you are holding.

What you can actually run once connected

Because Shadow is a full Windows PC rather than a fixed game catalog, you can install titles from Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net, GOG, and other platforms, along with your own software, tools, and mods. Shadow highlights "full mods and gaming tools support" and RTX/DLSS-capable high-resolution gaming as advantages over typical cloud gaming services, which it characterizes as offering a "limited game library" and "limited mod and tool compatibility."

Quick way to decide

  • You own a Mac and want Windows games → Shadow is designed for exactly this, with no emulation.
  • You want to play on a phone, tablet, or TV → Supported, as long as your connection holds up.
  • You want to avoid installing an app → Use the browser option.
  • Your internet is unstable → Expect a worse experience regardless of device, since everything is streamed.

If your device has a screen, a browser or the Shadow app, and a stable connection, it can likely serve as your entry point to Shadow PC.