How do I install XMRig on Windows 10 or 11?
You can install XMRig on Windows 10 or 11 by downloading its official ZIP file, extracting it, and configuring it with your Monero wallet address and a mining pool. It runs as a desktop program, not inside your browser, and you should use it only on a computer you own or have clear permission to use.
1. Download and extract XMRig
XMRig is an open-source mining program: its source code is available for anyone to inspect. For Monero, it uses your processor, or CPU, to run RandomX, Monero’s mining algorithm.
Before downloading, check Settings → System → About → System type. For a typical Intel or AMD computer running 64-bit Windows, choose the Windows x64 build.
- Get the release from the official XMRig website or the xmrig/xmrig GitHub releases page.
- Choose the standard Windows x64 ZIP package. You do not need a graphics-card plugin for CPU mining.
- If a SHA-256 checksum is published, compare it with your download. A checksum is a file fingerprint that helps detect a damaged or altered download.
- Right-click the ZIP, select Extract All, and choose a folder such as
C:\Mining\xmrig.
Avoid sponsored download ads, repackaged installers, and downloads promising guaranteed earnings.
2. Check any Windows Security warning
Microsoft Defender or another antivirus may flag XMRig as a coin miner. Mining programs are sometimes secretly installed by criminals, so these warnings deserve attention.
A warning does not automatically mean the official program is malware. It also does not prove your particular download is safe.
Verify the source and checksum before allowing anything. If you trust the verified download and choose to proceed, allow only the specific detection or use a narrowly scoped folder exclusion if necessary. An exclusion stops some security checks in that folder, so keep unrelated files out of it.
Do not disable your antivirus entirely. On a work or school computer, stop and ask the administrator rather than bypassing security controls.
3. Set your wallet and pool
You need a Monero wallet address, the public receiving address where your mining payouts will go. Never put your wallet’s seed phrase or private keys into XMRig or a pool website.
You also need a mining pool, a service that combines miners’ work and shares rewards. Check its fees, minimum payout, and instructions before choosing one.
A simple way to start is to create a batch file in your extracted XMRig folder. Open Notepad and enter:
@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
xmrig.exe -o POOL_HOST:PORT -u YOUR_XMR_WALLET_ADDRESS -p x -a rx/0
pause
Replace the capitalized placeholders with your pool’s server details and your wallet address. Follow its instructions if it requires a different password value. Add --tls only when using the pool’s designated encrypted connection port.
Save as start-mining.bat, choosing All Files as the file type so Notepad does not add .txt.
4. Run it and check the results
Double-click your batch file. Look for a pool connection, a reported hashrate—your mining calculation speed—and eventually accepted shares, which show the pool is accepting your work.
Start without administrator privileges. Administrator access can enable performance features such as large memory pages, but it gives the program more control over Windows.
Watch temperatures, fan noise, and responsiveness. Stop with Ctrl+C if needed. Mining increases electricity use, and laptops can struggle with sustained heat.
The bottom line
Use the official download, verify it, and configure your wallet and pool carefully. Check a live mining calculator using your measured hashrate and electricity cost before assuming mining will earn you a profit.
