How to Run Android Apps on Windows 11

With the new version of Windows, you get to experience a bunch of new features and settings. From the updated and productivity-focused Taskbar to the new widget integration. Now, after months of teasing, Windows 11 users will be able to run Android apps on their laptops. And well, isn’t that great.

With this, you can easily open and run apps like Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon Kindle from the comforts of your Windows laptop. Not only will it help you in saving time, but it will also help you from getting distracted from other apps on your phone.

The good thing is that now, with native support, you do not need third-party emulators to run Android apps. Microsoft has partnered with Amazon and Intel for this integration.

So if you want to run Android apps on your Windows 11 laptop, here’s how to go about it.

What Will You Need to Run Android Apps

Now, your Windows 11 PC must meet certain requirements before you can install and run Android apps.

1. Windows Version: You must enroll on Windows Insider, and your PC must have Windows 11 Insider Beta.

To do so, head over to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program to link your account.

2. Virtualization: Virtualization must be enabled on your PC. For those unaware, this feature is a critical hardware-based function required to run certain functions like Android apps, Windows sandbox, among others.

To see the status of Virtualization on your PC, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Search for Task Manager on the Start menu. Open the Task manager, and click on the Performance tab.

Step 2: Now, check the bottom-right corner as shown in the screenshot below.

If it says enabled, you are good to go. If not, you’ll need to enable it. However, enabling virtualization differs from PC to PC. The best way forward would be to check with online manuals for your laptop/processor.

3. Amazon Account: Last but not least, your PC must have the latest version of the Microsoft Store. Secondly, you need a US-Based Amazon account.

Here’s how to install and run Android apps on your Windows 11 PC.

How to Run Android Apps on Windows 11

Step 1: Open Settings on your PC, select Time & language on the left pane, and then select Language & region.

Step 2: Under the Region section, select Country or region and choose United States from the drop-down.

Step 3: Open the Start menu and type windows features to search for them. The search will snow ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ option and click on it.

Step 4: When a window pops up, wait for it to populate the Windows features on your PC. Uncheck the box next to the ‘Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform’ option and click OK.

Close the window and restart your PC.

Step 5: After your PC boots, download and Install Windows Subsystem.

Download Windows Subsystem

Windows Subsystem enables your PC to run Android apps and it’s a mandatory step. The installation process is straightforward, and the system will guide you through it.

Next, download and install the Amazon App Store. Restart your PC once done.

Download Amazon App Store

Now, log in to the Amazon App Store your Amazon US credentials.

After you log in, you will be able to access all the Android apps available on the Amazon’s App Store. You can then download and install individual apps and run them.

Since you will be on the Amazon App Store, you’ll be able to access Amazon apps like Kindle and standard Android apps like YouTube and Instagram. Plus, you can explore some casual gaming apps also.

And the game doesn’t end there. Apart from installing games and apps from the official Amazon store, you can also sideload apk files on your Windows 11 PC. However, we’d advise you to go ahead only if you trust the source of the APK files.

Arrange Apps Systematically

Compared to the previous versions, Windows 11 is more into focus and productivity. The new and clever design ensures that you can find your frequently-used apps with just a single click. Furthermore, you can also pin your favorite app to the Start menu, including Android apps.

So if you like to read ebooks during your time off, you can install and then pin the Kindle app to the Start menu.

To do so, open the Start menu, click on All Apps, and right-click on the app of your choice. Select Pin to Start.

After that, drag it to the row/column of your choice.

At the same time, you can right-click on the default pinned apps and select Unpin from Start to remove them.

Best of Both Worlds

Since this is a new feature, there aren’t many compatible apps now. Hopefully, the pace will pick up in the next couple of months, and we will have more Android apps to potter around.