How to use Android apps in Windows 11 thanks to its Subsystem feature
Running Android apps in Windows 11 has never been easier
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In the past, if you wanted to use Android apps and play mobile games on yourWindows 11PC, you were forced to use an unofficial tool that would run them, but slowly.
Thankfully however, the arrival of Windows Subsystem for Android lets you run apps fromGoogle’s mobileoperating systemto run natively inWindows 11, albeit with some help fromAmazon.
You see,Microsoftand Amazon made a deal where Android apps from the Amazon AppStore would appear on the redesigned Microsoft Store in Windows 11. However, while some apps like TikTok and others have been great to use, the deal has resulted in somespam apps being made available.
Regardless, it’s still a useful feature to have, which is why we’ve created this guide to make sure that these apps can be installed on your PC, alongside Windows apps.
Tools and Requirements
Step by step guide
1. Enable virtualization in Windows 11
Windows Subsystem for Android is reliant on the virtualization component of Windows 11, but this is not enabled by default. As such, you will need to turn on this option by clicking the Start button and searching forTurn Windows features on or off.
Click the Open click in the right-hand pane of the Start menu, locate theVirtual Machine Platformoption, check the box next to it, clickOK,and restart Windows if you’re prompted to do so.
2. Install Amazon Appstore
There are two approaches you can take next, both of which achieve the same result – installingWindows Subsystem for Androidas well as theAmazon Appstoreon your system. The first option is to install theAmazon Appstoreapp from theMicrosoft Store.
Clickhereto jump straight to the store page if you’re running Windows 11, or alternatively you can launch theMicrosoft Storeapp and search forAmazon Appstore. Installing this app will automatically installWindows Subsystem for Android.
3. Install Windows Subsystem for Android
Alternatively, you can opt to installWindows Subsystem for Androidfirst. Just as in the previous step, installing one component will automatically install the other, so you will find that theAmazon Appstoreis also installed on your computer.
You can clickhereto jump directly to theMicrosoft Storeentry, or you can manually launch theMicrosoft Storeapp, search forWindows Subsystem for Androidand run through the installation.
4. Launch the Amazon Appstore
Now that you have theAmazon Appstoreinstalled, you have a means of finding and installing an Android app in Windows 11. It is important to note that the Amazon Appstore is the only officially supported option, so you won’t be able to use the Google Play Store.
There are ways to get around the store limitations, but we’ll stick with the official option. For now, launch theAmazon Appstorefrom the Start menu. The first time you launch the app, you’ll be asked to sign into your Amazon account or create a new one.
5. Browse and install apps
Using the Amazon Appstore is very straightforward. You can browse through theAll Apps,GamesorKidssections to the left, or you can use the search bar at the top of the window to hunt down something specific.
As you browse the store, any apps that you need to pay for will have the price clearly displayed in their listing, while those that are free have a button labeledGetwhich you can click to download and install the app in question.
6. Using Android apps and games
If you still have theAmazon Appstoreopen at the listing for an app or game you have installed, you can just click theOpenbutton that is displayed there.
A far better option, however, is to simply make use of theStartmenu and launch the Android apps you have installed just as you do for Windows software. When you have an app running, you can pin it to the taskbar so that it is easier to access, eliminating the need to navigate the Start menu.
7. Windows Subsystem for Android options
AsWindows Subsystem for Androidenables you to run Android apps almost natively, it means that the apps are not running within a container app – but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any options to play with here. Click theStartbutton, typeWindows Subsystem for Androidand click the link to launch theWindows Subsystem for Android Settingsapp.
In theSystemsection, you will find various options such as havingWindows Subsystem for Androidrunning inContinuousmode to improve app start times.
8. Improving app compatibility
Move on over to theCompatibilitysection and you will find various options to change the way you control and interact with the apps you have installed. It is possible to have different settings in place for each app, so you will see all of your installed apps listed individually.
For each title, you can configure settings such as making app windows non-resizable, choosing how the keyboard arrow keys are used, and more. These options are particularly useful if you find that an app behaves or responds strangely.
Final Thoughts
The ability to run Android apps and games natively in Windows is something we could have only dreamed of a couple of years ago. Running natively means that speed, compatibility and performance are as great as possible, and the fact that you can download apps from the Amazon App Store means that you have access to an extensive library right from the start.
Before the arrival of Windows Subsystem for Android made the native running of Android software possible, emulators were required to get the job done. While both performance and the range of supported titles are less impressive, there are still some Android emulation tools that Windows users may want to take a look at.
BlueStacksis incredibly simple to set up and is focused on games, with hundreds of thousands to choose from. Also worth checking out isLDPlayerwhich is another emulator that will be of interest to gamers.
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Sofia is a tech journalist who’s been writing about software, hardware and the web for nearly 25 years – but still looks as youthful as ever! After years writing for magazines, her life moved online and remains fueled by technology, music and nature.
Having written for websites and magazines since 2000, producing a wide range of reviews, guides, tutorials, brochures, newsletters and more, she continues to write for diverse audiences, from computing newbies to advanced users and business clients. Always willing to try something new, she loves sharing new discoveries with others.
Sofia lives and breathes Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and just about anything with a power button, but her particular areas of interest include security, tweaking and privacy. Her other loves include walking, music, her two Malamutes and, of course, her wife and daughter.
You can find her onTwitterandMastodon.
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