Microsoft officially announced the Windows Subsystem for Android when the company first announced their latest OS. Windows 11 23H2 further improves the performance and optimizes the WSA for Windows. However, there is no native support to run Android apps.
You can install the app from Amazon’s App Store, but you can also install the app using an APK file. Since Windows 11 WSA is not yet available globally, there is a workaround to install the Android app. Today, in this article, we will share instructions and a step-by-step guide to get a native Android Emulator to run Android apps on Windows 11.
Install Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11
This is the best way to install Android apps on a Windows device. Please follow the instructions below to run the Windows app natively on Windows 11. Before proceeding, make sure you fulfil all the requirements.
- 8GB RAM (Recommended: 16GB)
- SSD
- Intel Core i3/AMD Ryzen 300/Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c or higher.
- Microsoft Store v22110.1402.6.0 or higher.
This is still in Beta and has not reached the Dev or Stable Channel for Windows 11 Insider Preview globally. However, there are various ways to execute Android apps, and they won’t require the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command line to use the WSA for Android to run Android apps on non-insider PCs.
Change your Region from Windows Settings
It is currently available only in the United States. So, if you don’t live in the US, you must change your region from Windows Settings.
- Open Windows Settings (Windows + I) and choose Time & Language from the left sidebar.
- Go to Language & Region and head over to the Region section. Use the Country or Region drop-down to select the United States.
Enable Virtual Machine Platform
After changing the region, you have to enable the Virtual Machine platform.
- Open Windows Search and search for “Turn Windows Feature On or Off“.
- Look for the Virtual Machine Platform, check the checkbox, and click OK.
- It will then ask for a restart.
Enable Developer Mode on Windows 11
Before you download the WSA for Android, you must enable the Developer Mode.
- Open Windows Settings and then select System from the left sidebar.
- Then, use the toggle to enable the Developer Mode.
Download WSA for Android from the Microsoft Store
Once your computer gets restarted, download the Windows Subsystem for Android with Amazon AppStore from Microsoft Store.
- Open the Microsoft Store, then search for the Windows Subsystem for Android.
- Then click on download, which will start downloading the Amazon App Store and set up the Android Environment for Android.
- Next, it will ask you to log in with the Amazon account and then continue, exit if you don’t have an Amazon account.
It’s optional to log in with an Amazon account. We will use the APK file to install the Android app on Windows 11. It replicates the ADB command line to install Android apps on Windows 11 PCs.
Now, Download WSA Tools from the Microsoft Store
The WSATools help install an APK file to run Android apps.
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for WSATools.
- You can also download the WSATools from the GitHub Page or the WSATools website.
- Now click on download, which will start downloading WSATools and then you can start installing the app.
Download and Install the Android app.
Everything is set up now, and you can begin by downloading the APK from APKMirror or any other website you prefer for APK files.
- Launch Windows Subsystem for Android for Windows and WSATool, which will ask for ADB.
- Then go to Advanced Settings and enable Developer Mode to proceed with installing the APK on WSATool, which will then indicate that ADB is missing.
- Click on the “Install an APK” button on WSATools, and it may prompt you to install ADB.
- Once it finishes installing ADB, create a folder for it on Windows C to keep the file safe.
- After that, use the Browse button to select the APK you downloaded earlier and load it.
- This will initiate the sideloading of the APK. During installation, it will request permission to “Allow ADB Debugging.”
Note: If you encounter any error during the installation of the APK, then click on Retry, which will install the app.
Once installed, you can run the app like any other app on Android on Windows 11. You can run the app from the Windows Subsystem for Android to grant access to your file, and it will appear in the system settings.
However, there are some other alternatives that you can use to run the Android app on Windows 11.
- Phone Link: If you own a Samsung smartphone paired with your Windows 11 device, you can run the installed apps directly from your device. You can control it using a mouse.
- Emulator: You can download and install many Android Emulators to run Android apps on Windows devices. Some popular Android Emulators are BlueStacks, GameLoop, NOXPLayer, Memu, and others sideload the apps on the emulator to run on your Windows.
So, this is how you can install the Android app on your Windows device—moreover, using the following steps to run the Android app on Windows 11. But these apps are subject to Amazon Store availability and running any Android app on your desktop.
