Learn how to easily install Windows Subsystem for Android on your Windows 11 machine and start enjoying your favorite Android apps today!
There are many ways to run Android applications on a PC or laptop. One of them is Windows Subsystem for Android. We tell you what it is and how it works.
What is Windows Subsystem for Android
If you omit all the complex programming terms and concepts, then Windows Subsystem for Android is one of the Windows 11 subsystems designed to open Android applications on a computer. Thanks to WSA, mobile programs can be pinned to the taskbar, controlled with a mouse, and receive notifications through the built-in notification system.
How to Install Windows Subsystem for Android.
To enable the WSA subsystem on your computer, you first need to activate the “Virtual Machine Platform”. This is done as follows:
- Press the Win + R key combination and type the OptionalFeatures command in the window;
- In the “Windows Components” window, find the line “Virtual Machine Platform”, check the box next to it and confirm your choice.
Wait until the activation process is complete, and then restart your computer.
After all the manipulations, all that remains is to download Windows Subsystem for Androi with Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store to your device. The program itself offers a catalog of various applications to choose from, and also gives you the ability to configure and manage the utility parameters.
Installing WSA bypassing Microsoft Store
The WSA installation file can be downloaded bypassing the official store. The algorithm of actions looks like this:
- In the search bar of the site, paste the link https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9P3395VX91NR and select Slow;
- From the list that appears, download the appropriate msixbundle file;
- Right-click on the Start icon and launch Terminal;
- Type the command Add-AppxPackage -Path “C:UsersrootDownloadsMicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_1.8.32828.0
These actions will start the installation of the downloaded file. You can find Windows Subsystem for Android Settings in the Start menu or in the Start menu.
Disabling WSA
But despite the obvious usefulness of this feature, Microsoft quite unexpectedly decided to stop supporting WSA. The reasons cited were the general incompleteness of the component, the small number of available applications, and excessive binding to the Amazon system.
In any case, the Windows Subsystem for Android will stop working on March 5, 2025. Until then, users will have access to all the functionality of the toolkit.
The only hope is Amazon, as its management does not intend to leave such a massive platform. Surely, their specialists will try to make their Appstore function after the specified date.
Other ways to run Android apps
In addition to Windows Subsystem for Android, there are other ways to install and use mobile applications on a computer. This is done through various emulators, such as BlueStacks or Nox. You can read more about the ten best free Android emulators for computers in this article.