26 March 2020

Howto: Folding@Home – Windows


The Folding@Home (F@H) team has released v7 (currently v7.5.1) of their F@H software. It has a newer simpler graphical interface aimed at making it easier for people to install and contribute to the project. Here is how to make it run on your Windows computer.

You can find F@H’s official documentation for Windows here – https://foldingathome.org/support/faq/installation-guides/windows/

Install F@H

1. Download the installer from here: https://foldingathome.org/start-folding/, or alternatively from here.

2. Double-click the file to start the installation.
If an UAC prompt is displayed, click ‘Yes’ to continue.

3. Click ‘Next’ on the Welcome screen to continue.

4. Read and accept the license agreement by clicking ‘I Agree’.

5. You have two options, do the ‘Express install’ or the ‘Custom install’. I am going to click the ‘Custom install’ to be able to have a bit more control over the installation.

6. Choose the install folder destination. I’m leaving it as the default.

7. Choose the folder for your data. Again, I’m leaving it as the default.

8. You have three choices as to when you want F@H to start; (1) At login, (2) As a service at boot, or (3) manually. You also have the option to enable a F@H screensaver.

9. Click ‘Finish’ to complete the installation.


Running F@H

1. If the F@H client did not launch or is already installed, click on it’s icon on your desktop or in your start menu.

2. The first time F@H runs, you will likely see a popup message from Windows Firewall, asking to grant F@H network access.

3. It will open the F@H in your broswer. Once open, click on the link to ‘Change Identity’.

4. Enter your F@H username, passkey, and team you want to be associated with.

5. After you have entered your user info, you can see your points earned and work units you have been assigned. That’s it! You are now contributing to F@H.

I know that I left my F@H username and passkey in my post. Go ahead and use my F@H username & passkey if you really want to… It just means my F@H user will get credit for any folding you do.