Foldit is an online puzzle video game about protein folding. It is part of an experimental research project developed by the University of Washington, Center for Game Science, in collaboration with the UW Department of Biochemistry. The objective of Foldit is to fold the structures of selected proteins as perfectly as possible, using tools provided in the game. The highest scoring solutions are analyzed by researchers, who determine whether or not there is a native structural configuration (native state) that can be applied to relevant proteins in the real world. Scientists can then use these solutions to target and eradicate diseases and create biological innovations. A 2010 paper in the science journal Nature credited Foldit's 57,000 players with providing useful results that matched or outperformed algorithmically computed solutions.
What is Foldit?
Foldit is a proprietary pc game program for Windows from University of Washington.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and 32-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 432.5 MB. It needs Windows 10 or newer. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 5,723 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 16 of our languages. Similar programs include OpenTTD, RetroArch and Steam.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- No update for more than a year
- Large download (432.5 MB)
In short: Foldit is a pc game tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Foldit safe to download?
- The file is served by files.ipd.uw.edu; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
88BD348DAE7513C70ADD5F1CD0B16B5337EDB3FD58E97447852206ABA333543D· 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 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44Latest | February 20, 2025 | 432.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id UniversityOfWashington.Foldit -echoco install foldit -yFoldit-win_x64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask folditInformation
- Publisher
- University of Washington
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- Proprietary (ToS)
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 44
- Released
- February 20, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- June 9, 2025
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 5,723
- Website
- fold.it
- winget ID
- UniversityOfWashington.Foldit
- Chocolatey package
- foldit
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Foldit
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Frequently asked questions
Is Foldit free?
Foldit is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary (ToS)). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Foldit safe to download?
The download comes from files.ipd.uw.edu; 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 Foldit 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 Foldit be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does Foldit support?
The installer requires Windows 10 or newer and is available for 64-bit and 32-bit.
Does Foldit run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to Foldit?
OpenTTD, RetroArch, Steam, PPSSPP and Celestia. The alternatives page compares them.
