Running Android apps on Windows has been possible since BlueStacks made its debut in 2011, but native support didn’t arrive for another decade.
It turned out to be one of the main features of the Windows 11 launch, with every app you install able to fully integrate into the taskbar and make use of multitasking features.
The big caveat here is that you’re limited to the Amazon Appstore, meaning you only have access to around 480,000 apps, as opposed to the Google Play Store’s estimated 2.7 million.
But if you can live with this, plenty of great apps are still available and worth using. Here’s how to get started with Android apps on Windows 11.
How to install Android apps on Windows 11
It takes a few minutes to get Windows 11 ready for Android apps, but you’ll only have to do this once.
Enable virtualization (if it’s not already)
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In the search bar next to the Start menu, type ‘Turn windows features on or off’ and open the relevant result in the Control Panel.
Make sure the box next to ‘Virtual Machine Platform’ is ticked, then click ‘OK’ to confirm. If you’ve made any changes, restart your device to apply them.
Download the Amazon Appstore and Windows Subsystem for Android
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Open the Microsoft Store and search for ‘amazon appstore’. Click ‘Install’ next to the relevant result, then ‘Download’ from the pop-up that appears.
Click ‘Yes’ to confirm you allow changes to be made, then wait for the download to be completed. It’s a large file, so may take a few minutes.
Once it’s finished, click the button marked ‘Open Amazon Appstore’. Choose whether you’d like Windows Subsystem for Android to access your camera (it’s not required), then the Amazon Appstore will open in the taskbar.
Sign into your Amazon account
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You can create an Amazon account if you don’t have one already here, but it’s easiest to sign in to an existing one.
Click the ‘Already a customer? Sign In’ button, then enter your details like you would on the Amazon website or app.
Find and install any app you’d like to download
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You’ll now be presented with a homepage that looks very similar to the Microsoft Store. Browse through all the apps available, or search for something specific.
Click ‘Install’ or ‘Get’ next to any app you’d like to install, then ‘Open’ once it’s installed. It’s now fully compatible with the rest of Windows 11, and searchable like any other app.
Can you download Google Play Store apps on Windows 11?
Unfortunately not. Microsoft has never officially supported installing apps from the Play Store, but a workaround allowed you to do just that for a few months.
But this was a complicated process, and it hasn’t worked since January 2023. As an alternative is yet to emerge, you’ll have to stick with the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 for now.
For access to nearly every Android app from your laptop, a Chromebook is your best bet. As Google software, Chrome OS does support the Play Store natively.