How to Install and Run Android Apps on Windows 11

Install and Run Android Apps on Windows 11

Windows 11 was launched in October 2021 and came jam-packed with some interesting features. One of the most anticipated features was the ability to install and run Android apps on Windows 11. Users were eagerly waiting for native Android emulation so that they could run Android apps on their PCs.

This feature was first introduced in USA and Japan only; however, users of other countries including Canada, France, Italy, the UK, and Spain can also enjoy this feature now. There are two main methods of doing this but there are a few steps before starting the installation process for checking the compatibility of your device. This article deals in-depth to explain to you how to install and run Android Apps on Windows 11.

System Requirements

The first step is to ensure that your system is compatible with installing and running Android apps. The requirements are as follows:

• Processor: Intel Core i3 8th Gen, AMD Ryzen 3000, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c, or better.
• Memory: 8GB (16 GB recommended)
• Storage: SSD
• Microsoft Store app: Version 22110.1402.6.0 or higher
• Windows 11: Build 22000.526 or higher

How to check System Requirements

1. You can check the system requirements by following the below-mentioned steps:
2. Open Settings of your system.
3. Go to System > About.
4. In the “Device specifications” section, make sure that the RAM and CPU specs meet the following;
5. In the “Windows specifications” section, make sure that the OS build number is higher than 22000.526
6. Go back to System.
7. Select the Storage page.
8. In the Storage management section, go to the Advanced storage settings
9. Select Disks & volume.
10. Click the Main Drive and then Properties.
11. Check the media type. For installing and running the Android apps, it should be SSD.
12. Now that all steps are completed, this means your system is compatible with running the Android apps. But before starting, it is important to ensure that the Windows are up to date.

How to check for Windows 11 updates

For installing and running Windows 11 updates on your system, it is important to have the latest Windows version. Follow the below-mentioned steps to check for and make sure that the Windows is updated.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Select Windows Update
4. Click Check for updates. It will load for a few seconds and come up with results.
5. If there is an update available, click Download & install all

Once, all the steps have been completed, restart your computer.

Installing and using Android apps on Windows 11 isn’t a straightforward task and requires everything to have the latest version. The Microsoft Store in your system must also be up to date.

How to check for Microsoft Store update

1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your system.
2. Go to Library and click the Get updates Button.
3. Go to the Profile menu and click App settings.
4. In the App settings section, check that the version is equal to or higher than 22110.1402.6.0.

After following these steps, the next step is to enable virtualization features.

How to enable Virtualization Features

To install Android apps on your Windows device, it is important to enabling virtualization at both hardware and software levels.

Systems from different manufacturers have different steps to enable virtualization features. Some systems come with this feature enabled and you won’t have to do it, but it is better to make sure before you start the process of installing Android apps.

The virtualization feature allows you to turn on the “Virtual Machine Platform” on your system. These steps will help you to turn on the Virtual Machine Platform on Windows 11.

1. In the search box on the taskbar, search for Turn Windows features on or off.
2. Select the first option.
3. Scroll down and Check the Virtual Machine Platform.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart your system.

Once all these steps have been completed, your system is now ready to install and run the Android apps. Let’s take a look at how to install and run Android apps on Windows 11.

Install Android Apps on Windows 11

You can get Android apps on Windows 11 by installing the Windows Subsystem but this is limited to the US only. Android apps can be run on Windows 11 legally only in the US.

Install Windows Subsystem

Windows Subsystem is an entire Android build that acts as a virtualization system allowing you to run Android apps in Windows.

1. Go to Microsoft Store and search for Amazon Appstore.
2. Download it and go through the process of setup.
3. Now the Windows Subsystem will be installed in your system.
4. The next step is to install Android apps using the Amazon Appstore. The important thing to keep in mind is to have a US Amazon account.
5. Sign into your Amazon account by clicking on Already an Amazon customer? Sign in.
6. Search and choose the app you wish to download.

This method is the ideal choice for US customers; however, users outside the US may not be officially able to access Android apps.

How to Install Android Apps on Windows 11 outside the US

If you are outside the US (and a few other countries), you can’t simply install the Amazon Appstore to access Android apps. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to do this at all.

The requirements, in this case, are the same as the ones discussed earlier. Make sure Windows is updated, Virtual Machine Platform is checked and the Microsoft Store is updated as well.

In this case, you will have to side-load the Subsystem instead of installing it directly onto your system. You will have to manually install the Subsystem, which can be a little tricky task.

1. In the search box, type Windows PowerShell, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. The Administrator: Windows PowerShell window will open. Copy and paste the following code here.
   winget install 9p3395vx91nr -s msstore;

3. Once, enter key is hit, you will be presented with the agreement terms of the store. Type Y and press Enter
4. You will be presented with more license terms, type Y and press Enter
5. The Subsystem package will then start downloading. Once it is installed, you will get a Microsoft Store notification informing you that it was successfully installed.

The drawback of this method is that you won’t have direct access to Amazon Appstore. In this case, you will have to download APKs and install them manually using PowerShell.

When you sideload Amazon Appstore, you will need Android Debug Bridge (ADB) installed in your system because the Subsystem works like an Android phone that has been wirelessly connected to Windows 11 PC. This system is also useful for installing apps that aren’t available on the Amazon Appstore.

ADB Installer

The ADB installer can be downloaded by clicking here.
Follow the steps and give the administrator permission to complete the installation process. A terminal command window will open. It will ask about the installation of specific features. All these features are required in our cause, therefore type Y and press Enter. Install ADB and Fastboot, ADB system-wide, and Drivers. Finish the installation setup by following the instructions of the driver installer.

Now, let’s take a look at how to install a file on your device. Download the APK files from a trusted source, you can find many on the internet.

• In this article, we are opting for Firefox browser for Android. Go to the Start menu, search for Windows Subsystem for Android, and open it.
• In the Settings of the Windows Subsystem, turn on the Developer mode. In the Files tab, click the boxed arrow.
• Select PowerShell as an administrator

Connect Subsystem via ADB

• Copy the IP address from the Subsystem settings and type adb connect in the PowerShell window and then paste the copied IP address. Leave a blank space between the two. It will look something like this: adb connect 192.168.30.187

Press Enter

• Now write the command adb devices to ensure that the connection was successful.

Download File

• Go to downloads and right-click the previously downloaded APK file. Click Copy as path.
• Go to the PowerShell window again and type adb install followed by the path you copied. Before hitting enter, remove the quotation marks from the beginning and end of the path. It will look something like this:
  adb install C:\Users\yourname\Downloads\firefox.apk

• Hit Enter to start the installation process. You will receive a Success, once the installation has been completed.

The app has now been installed and will appear in your Start menu.

Android Apps on Windows 11

There are a number of Android apps available on Windows 11. The most prominent among these are Coin Master, Lords Mobile, June’s Journey, Kindle, Lego Duplo World, and more. However, common apps like Gmail and YouTube are missing.

By using the site load method, you will be able to download some other apps on your Windows 11 system as well, if you find the suitable APK files.

How to Install and Run Android Apps on Windows 11-FAQs

Can Windows 11 run Android apps?

Yes, Windows 11 can run Android applications. Currently, the feature is only accessible in a select few nations, but if you wish, you can run it informally.

Can you sideload Android apps on Windows 11?

You can, indeed. APK files can be used to install Google Play Store and also for installing Android apps unofficially.

Can Windows 11 run Google Play apps?

Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) enables native Android program execution on Windows 11, however, it has several restrictions. The Google Play Store is not natively supported by the new OS; only the Amazon Appstore is. It is possible to sideload Android apps, but anything that needs Google Play Services will not function.

Can Windows 11 run APK files?

Since we’re discussing Android apps, sideloading is unquestionably an option. On Windows 11, you can use ADB to install any APK file, although many users find the procedure to be a little complex.

How do I install mobile apps on Windows 11?

You must install the Amazon Appstore in order to use mobile apps on your Windows 11 computer. After setting it up, you may browse and download mobile apps from a carefully curated collection.

How do I enable ADB in Windows 11?

To download ADB for Windows, select Download SDK Platform-tools for Windows. Scroll down, choose the T&C checkbox, and click the Download Android SDK Platform-Tools for Windows button on the prompt window. Hold off until the download is finished.

What is ADB used for?

You can interface with a device using the flexible command-line tool known as Android Debug Bridge (adb). The adb command makes it easier to perform a number of device-related tasks, including installing and troubleshooting apps. It also gives you access to a UNIX shell so you may execute various commands on a device.

How do I know if the ADB driver is installed?

If you already have Android Studio set up, you can quickly find it in the app by going back to File -> Settings and then typing “SDK” into the search field. The “Android SDK” choice will display the directory where your SDK is installed, which should contain platform tools.

Install and Run Android Apps on Windows 11-Conclusion

Downloading Android apps on Windows 11 isn’t straightforward, but this article describes the entire process in quite easy way. If you are a resident of the US, it is pretty simple and straightforward for you, but users outside the US, have to go through the previously mentioned steps to get Android apps on their Windows 11 system.

The drawback of this method is that you will still not be able to install apps that don’t have APK files. The process of how to install and run Android apps on Windows 11 may be a little tricky, but once done, installing Android apps on your PC is as simple as installing apps on your smartphone or tablet.

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