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How to run Android apps on Windows 11: A detailed

guide
No need for third-party emulators anymore!

By Palash Volvoikar•March 25, 2023

 Microsoft

Your Windows 11 computer likely doesn’t include one of the most-anticipated features of the
operating system — native Android support. This allows you to run Android apps directly on
your PC.

The ability to run Android apps on Windows 11 is now available in the stable channel, but only
in select countries (full list below). However, you can install Android apps even if you’re not in
one of these regions. Here’s everything you need to know about how to run Android apps on
Windows 11.

QUICK ANSWER
 To install Android apps on Windows 11, you simply need to enable a few settings and
install the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store. If you're in an unsupported region,
you can also sideload the Windows Subsystem for Android and manually install apps using
APK �les.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

How to install Android apps on Windows 11 o�cially (Select regions only)

How to get Android apps on Windows 11 uno�cially

What Android apps can you get on Windows 11?

Bene�ts of running Android apps on Windows 11

How to install Android apps on Windows 11 o�cially

Android apps on Windows 11 are o�cially available in the following countries: Andorra,
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan,
Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom, the United States, and the Vatican City. The other requirement is that you should
have a compatible Windows 11 system, running Build 22000.526 or higher.

If you live in an unsupported country, you can trick Windows 11 by changing your region in
Settings > Language & Region > Country or Region > United States.

Install the Windows Subsystem for Android

Now that you have the latest Windows 11 build, you can move on to install the Windows
Subsystem for Android. This is basically an entire Android build that runs as a virtualization
instance inside Windows, letting you run Android apps on Windows. There are a few steps to
getting the subsystem on your Windows 11.

Open the Microsoft Store, and click the Library tab at the bottom left corner.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Click the Get updates button.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Your Microsoft Store should �nish updating. Click the pro�le button on the title bar to the right
to check the version. The version number should be in the About this app section. Make sure it
is 22110.1402.6.0 or higher.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Once your Microsoft Store is up to date, you can move on to enable virtualization. Newer
systems will need you to �ip the switch in the BIOS/UEFI settings, usually called Intel VT-X or
AMD-V, depending upon the brand of CPU in your system. Then you can enable it inside
Windows 11.

1. Open the Control Panel, navigate to the Programs section

2. Click Turn Windows features on or o�.

3. Enable Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform by ensuring the boxes
next to them are checked

4. Click OK.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Restart your system. Search for and open the Amazon Appstore in the Microsoft Store, and
click Get. Go through the setup process. This will install the Windows Subsystem for Android
and the Amazon Store, and get your system ready for Android apps.

Microsoft
Installing Android apps through the Amazon Appstore

The process to install Android apps o�cially is rather simple. You will need an Amazon
account.

1. Open the Amazon Appstore via the Start menu/search.

2. Click the Already an Amazon customer? Sign in button, enter your credentials and click
Sign-In.

3. Search and select the app you want to install, and click the Get/Download/Install button.

Microsoft
How to get Android apps on Windows 11 uno�cially
The requirements are the same here. You will need Windows 11, build 22000.282, or later. You
also need to enable hardware virtualization and meet minimum system requirements. The
di�erence is that we will have to sideload the subsystem instead of installing it o�cially. Ensure
you update to the latest build of Windows 11 before you begin, and enable Virtual Machine
Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform.

Sideloading the Windows Subsystem for Android

Some folks may not be able to get their hands on the Windows Subsystem for Android and
Amazon Appstore despite following the steps. In that case, installing the Subsystem manually is
an option. It’s a little tricky, but it can work.

Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click the app search result, and click Run as
administrator.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

In PowerShell, copy-paste this code:

CODE Copy Text

winget install 9p3395vx91nr -s msstore

and hit the enter key.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

You’ll have to agree to the agreement terms of the store in PowerShell. When prompted, type in
the letter Y and press the Enter key.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

PowerShell will then prompt you with some more license terms, speci�c to the Subsystem this
time. Press Y and Enter again.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

The Subsystem package will then download and install, and you’ll get a Microsoft Store
noti�cation saying it was successful.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Install Android apps on Windows 11

If you managed to get the Amazon Appstore to install directly, you can open it by searching for
it from the Start menu. It will ask you to log in once with your Amazon account. Once done,
you can search for the app you want and click the Get button to download it. Any Android app
installed on Windows 11 will show up as a normal program you can directly run from the Start
menu.

If you don’t have access to the store, which you won’t if you sideloaded the Subsystem, you will
have to download the APKs and install them via PowerShell manually. For this, you will need to
have a system-wide Android Debug Bridge (ADB) installed on your system. This is needed
because the Subsystem acts like an Android phone wirelessly connected to the Windows 11
PC, and you can use ADB to leverage that connection to push APKs of your choice. This
method is useful for installing apps that are not available on the Amazon Appstore.

Download the 15-second ADB Installer here. Extract and run the installer.

Give the administrator permission when asked.

It will run in a terminal window, asking you Y/N as yes or no for installing speci�c
components.

We need all three components, so press Y and the Enter key for all three — install ADB and
Fastboot, install ADB system-wide, and install Drivers.

The driver installer will pop up as a separate window, which you have to follow to �nish the
installation.
installation.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Download the APK �le of the app of your choice from a trusted source like APK Mirror.

For this tutorial, we’re using the Firefox browser for Android.

Run the Windows Subsystem for Android. You can do this by simply searching for it and
clicking on it from the Start Menu.

In the settings, make sure Developer Mode is turned on. Click the boxed arrow in the Files
tab to get the Subsystem running.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Run PowerShell as an administrator again.

To connect to the Subsystem via ADB, copy the IP address you can see in the Subsystem
settings. Type adb connect in the PowerShell window, followed by the copied IP address.
Ensure there’s a space between the word connect and the IP address. Press Enter.

Use the command adb devices to verify that the connection was successful.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Now, �nd the APK �le in your Downloads folder. Right-click it, and click Copy as path.

Go back to the PowerShell window, type adb install, and paste the path you copied. Make sure
to remove the quotation marks at the beginning and end of the path. You can use arrow keys to
navigate through the command text. Your �nal command should look like this:

CODE Copy Text

adb install C:\Users\yourname\Downloads\firefox.apk

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Press Enter to begin the installation. You’ll see the PowerShell say Performing Streamed Install,
followed by a Success message.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

The app is now installed and should now show up in the Start menu.

What Android apps can you get on Windows 11?

For now, the Amazon Appstore for Windows has over 1,000 apps available. These include
games like Lords Mobile, June’s Journey, Coin Master, reading apps like Kindle, and kids’
apps like Khan Academy Kids and Lego Duplo World. Big apps like Gmail and YouTube are
missing, due to the absence of Google Mobile Services.

With the sideloading method, it’s more or less the same issue. You will not be able to install
apps that require Google Services or have split installation �les with an APKM extension.
However, you can install more than 50 apps this way, provided you can �nd the APK �le.

You can also sideload the Google Play Store on Windows 11 if you want access to the full
catalog of Android apps.

Bene�ts of running Android apps on Windows 11

There’s one big upside to native Android emulation on Windows — there’s no need to install
third-party Android emulators. There are many uses for this, including using chat apps like
WhatsApp on your PC or trying to play mobile games on your PC. The process of installing
Android apps on Windows has always been a long one, but when the �nal release of this
feature hits, it will become quick and easy, likely for good.

It is also likely to take up fewer system resources than third-party emulators. So far, in the
current stage, this feature has a few quirks, but we expect it to be smooth sailing by the time
it’s ready for public release.
FAQs

Can Windows 11 run Android apps?

Can you sideload Android apps on Windows 11?

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