Fallout Shelter on Windows: Install Guide, Tips and Features

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Fallout shelter for pc

Ready to run your own Vault in 2025? Picture yourself as Overseer, building a thriving underground haven in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

You can download Fallout Shelter on Steam or the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11, a free-to-play gem with the Fallout TV Tie-In Update adding show characters, also on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile.

Launched by Bethesda Game Studios on June 14, 2015, it’s hit ‘Very Positive’ on Steam as of March 2025, with the Fallout TV Tie-In Update (April 2024) bringing Lucy and The Ghoul, per Steam. This sim keeps the Fallout vibe alive on Windows.

This guide covers installing Fallout Shelter on Windows, its key features, and tips for PC beginners. Share your fave Vault moment in the comments, or contact us for help.

Table of Contents

How to Install Fallout Shelter on Windows 11 and 10

To play Fallout Shelter on your Windows PC, download it via Steam or the Microsoft Store. Follow the steps below:

Method 1: Steam
1. Visit the Steam page: Steam.
2. Click Add to Library (free as of March 2025).
3. Sign into your Steam account (or create one).
4. Click Install in your Steam Library.
5. Wait for the download to finish (about 300 MB).
6. Launch it from your Steam Library or desktop shortcut.
Method 2: Microsoft Store
1. Visit the Microsoft Store page: Microsoft Store.
2. Click Get (free as of March 2025).
3. Sign into your Microsoft account (or create one).
4. Install it via the Store app or Xbox app on your PC.
5. Wait for the download to finish (about 300 MB).
6. Launch it from the Start menu or desktop.

Quick Tip: 💡 Build power rooms first; they keep your Vault humming.

Get via Steam | Get via Microsoft Store

What is Fallout Shelter About?

Fallout Shelter, launched in 2015 by Bethesda Game Studios, is a free-to-play sim for Windows 10 and 11, putting you in charge of a Vault-Tec shelter in the Fallout universe.

Core Gameplay: Manage power, food, and water, grow your dweller population, and fend off raiders or radroaches. The Fallout TV Tie-In Update adds characters like Lucy from the 2024 Amazon series.

Key Features

23 buildable rooms
Dweller customization
Crafting system
Wasteland quests
Xbox Play Anywhere

Why Play Fallout Shelter on Windows?

It’s a chill Fallout fix. Windows 10 and 11 offer crisp visuals, mouse precision, and free post-apocalyptic fun in 2025.

Tips for PC Beginners in Fallout Shelter

New to Fallout Shelter on PC? Here are five tips to win:

Set Keys: Map ‘rush’ to R in Options > Controls for quick boosts.
Boost FPS: Lower graphics to Medium in Settings, keeps it smooth.
Start Easy: Focus on power, food, water in that order.
Mix Dwellers: Pair high-Strength workers in power rooms (jobs), maxes output.
Use Lunchboxes: Open early (rewards), snag rare gear.