: Many versions include mock-ups of the Windows Store and native apps like a music player or file manager.

: Simulators like the one from Softonic run as standalone applications that do not alter your primary system files, providing a safe environment to test the Metro-style interface.

Choosing a simulator over a native installation offers several distinct advantages in the modern era:

: Native Windows 8.1 required specific drivers and hardware partitions; simulators have minimal storage needs and can run on modern PCs or even through a web browser.