Folding@home (F@h) simulates the motion of proteins — the molecular machines whose shape determines what cells can do, and whose failures drive disease. Research labs around the world design the simulations; volunteers around the world donate spare cycles on their computers to run them. Together they've produced over 200 peer-reviewed papers and, in 2020, briefly built the first exaflop computer in history.
Publisher’s description
What is FAHClient?
FAHClient by foldingathome.org is proprietary Windows software.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 3.2 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 8.5.6, released on July 13, 2026. The version history goes back to July 12, 2024: 4 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 2 releases a year.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Small download (3.2 MB)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: FAHClient is a Windows tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is FAHClient safe to download?
- The file is served by download.foldingathome.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
ADEB038F1A888D76F0E9E82BF59297203DE1EC4E61C21C5D8E74B622A6FB6B11· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 4 versions ›4 versions over 2 years · about 2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5.6Latest | July 13, 2026 | 3.2 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 8.5.5 | December 3, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 8.4.9 | November 20, 2024 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 8.3.18 | July 12, 2024 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id FoldingAtHome.FoldingAtHome -escoop install extras/folding-at-homefah-client_8.5.6_AMD64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- foldingathome.org
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 8.5.6
- Released
- July 13, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- July 25, 2024
- Versions listed
- 4
- Updates / year
- 2
- Website
- foldingathome.org
- winget ID
- FoldingAtHome.FoldingAtHome
- Scoop package
- extras/folding-at-home
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is FAHClient free?
FAHClient is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is FAHClient safe to download?
The download comes from download.foldingathome.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install FAHClient with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can FAHClient be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does FAHClient run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of FAHClient?
The versions page lists all 4 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 12, 2024.