By
Delia
/ Last
update
February 23, 2022
The ability to run Android apps was one of the long-standing promotional points of Windows 11, but the feature did not come with the initial release. After much anticipation, Microsoft has finally started implementing the feature in a recent update - users can download Android apps on Windows PCs through the Amazon Appstore. More than 1,000 Android apps are ready to be installed on Windows 11 PCs at this stage, and this number should grow gradually afterwards.
Requirements for running Android apps on Windows 11
Before you can download Android apps, your computer first needs to meet the following requirements.
System requirements
RAM: 8GB (16GB recommended).
Processor: Intel Core i3 8th generation, AMD Ryzen 3000, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c or higher.
Storage: Solid State Drive (SSD).
Virtual Machine Platform: This setting needs to be enabled.
Version requirements
Windows 11: Build 22000.526 or higher (stable channel).
Microsoft Store: Version 22110.1402.6.0 or higher.
For OS build, you can check Windows specifications at Settings > System > About page. If it does not meet the requirements, please check for update in Windows Update.
For Microsoft Store apps, you can click Library > Get updates > Profile > App settings within the app and make sure the version meets the requirements.
Enable virtualization
The Windows Subsystem for Android also requires the virtualization to be enabled at the hardware and software level to make everything work smoothly.
1. Search for and open "Turn Windows features on or off" in the Start menu
2. Scroll down and find the "Virtual Machine Platform" option.
3. Make sure the option is checked, then click "OK" to confirm.
After rebooting, the feature will take effect and you can install the Windows subsystem for Android and Amazon Appstore.
Tip: The exact steps may vary from device to device. On some computers with modern hardware, this feature may already be enabled by default.
How to run Android apps on Windows 11
After confirming that all system requirements have been met, you can install the Amazon Appstore through Microsoft Store, and then download the supported Android apps.
To install the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11
1. Go to the Microsoft Store located on the taskbar. You can also search for it and open it from the Start menu.
2. Search for "Amazon App Store" on the Microsoft Store, click "Install", and click "Set up" on the pop-up screen.
3. “Download" the Windows Subsystem for Android as required.
4. When the download is complete, confirm to "Restart" your PC.
After that you can use Amazon Appstore to install Android apps on your Windows PC.
Download and run Android apps in Amazon store
1. Open the Amazon Appstore and click the "Sign in" button to sign in with your United States-based Amazon account.
2. Find the Android app you want, click the "Get" button, and select "Download".
3. Once the download is complete, you can open the app from the Amazon Appstore or the Start menu.
Launching an Android app behaves like a regular Microsoft Store app. You can resize the window, use the mouse and keyboard for typing, and terminate the app with the close button.
This article shows you the steps to install WSA by installing the Amazon Appstore, a platform currently available only in the United States. However, you can change the regional settings via Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
While bringing Android app support to Windows 11 is a welcome addition, the supported apps are currently limited, and many of them are games. Please wait patiently for more apps to come to the Amazon store.