Tencent START is a gaming platform that enables you to play your favorite video games instantly on screens you already own without downloading them.
Publisher’s description
What is START?
START is a proprietary pc game program for Windows from Tencent.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 32-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 210.5 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.11.0.23900, released on June 4, 2026. 59 versions are listed since January 3, 2022, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 12 releases a year.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 12 a year)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: START is a pc game tool for 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is START safe to download?
- The file is served by imgcdn.start.qq.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
31AADDFBF20808594C36F0D80B7226395E3F15F9D8F26B07E27D003BA19A4877· 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 59 versions ›59 versions over 5 years · about 12 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.11.0.23900Latest | June 4, 2026 | 210.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.23535 | April 22, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.23144 | April 7, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.22847 | March 23, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.22451 | January 29, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.22374 | January 15, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.22231 | December 30, 2025 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.11.0.22012 | December 8, 2025 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Tencent.START -eSTART-installer-v0.11.0.23900.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask startInformation
- Publisher
- Tencent
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 0.11.0.23900
- Released
- June 4, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- September 8, 2021
- Versions listed
- 59
- Updates / year
- 12.5
- Website
- start.qq.com
- winget ID
- Tencent.START
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is START free?
START 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 START safe to download?
The download comes from imgcdn.start.qq.com, 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 START 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 START be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does START run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of START?
The versions page lists all 59 versions with links to their official installer files, back to January 3, 2022.
What are alternatives to START?
RetroArch, OpenTTD, Steam, PPSSPP and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. The alternatives page compares them.