Windows 11 is the new OS from Microsoft that was announced back in June. The stable version of Windows 11 has rolled out and is available for users to install on supported systems. One of the key features of Windows 11 is the Android apps support, but the feature was not available during the start. Yesterday, Microsoft finally kicks-off the Android apps support via beta channel. It means users would be able to install and run Android apps on their Windows 11 systems right away. In this article, we are going to tell you how to sideload Android apps on Windows 11 PC manually.
The ability to install Android apps on Windows rolled out as an update for Windows Insiders on the Beta Channel. The much-awaited feature for Windows 11 has finally arrived. If you are a Windows Insider on the Beta channel, you can now go ahead and try to install Android Apps on your Windows 11 PC. But, before you go ahead begin installing and sideloading apps, there are a few things that you need to know and do. So, read on to know everything about how to install Android apps on Windows 11 manually.
How to Install Android App in Windows 11 Manually
As mentioned above, you will need to be on the Beta Channel of Windows 11 to try the Android App support on your PC. For this, your system will need to be running on a Windows build that has the 22000.XXX. Apart from that, the feature is available for those in the US region, meaning that you will have to set your PCs region to the US as well as have a US Amazon account. You can follow these steps to get started with installing and sideloading Android.
Step 1: Change Your PC’s Region
Since this feature is only available to users in the US region You will have to change the region for your PC. here is how you do it.
- Open the Start menu and click on the Settings app.
- Now, click on the Time and language option.
- With the Time and language page open, click on the language and Region settings option.
- Now you will see the Region settings. Choose the Country / Region and select the United States.
- You can even go ahead and change the regional format as well.
Step 2: Download Windows Subsystem for Android
Before you go ahead to download this, your system will have to be enrolled into the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider program. Once you have enrolled in the Beta Channel and have set the region to the US, you can download the app from this link. It will redirect you to the Microsoft Store where you can download the app for free. Once the app has been downloaded, you will see the Windows Subsystem for Android App as well as the Amazon App Store in your Start Menu.
Now you might think, well then, I could run the Subsystem for Android right away, everything should be just fine. To be able to run this, you will need to have Virtualization enabled. This can be set in the BIOS menu of your system. You will need to have Virtual Machine Platform enabled too. Head to the next step to enable it.
Step 3: Enable Virtual Machine Platform
- Open the Settings app and click on Apps.
- On the Apps settings page, click on Optional Features, or you can simply search it from Start menu.
- You will see a lot of various features that might be installed on your system.
- Simply scroll to the end to where you see More Windows Features. Click on it.
- A Windows Features window will open.
- Scroll through and enable the Virtual machine Platform option.
- Now click on the OK button. It will now ask you to restart the system.
- Once the system restarts, you can now open up the Windows Subsystem for Android Apps.
With the system restarted, you can simply open up the Windows Subsystem for Android and then open the Amazon App Store where you will be able to download a limited number of apps As of now only 50 apps can be installed and tried on your system. If you wish to sideload and install other apps not available on the Amazon App Store, follow the next step.
Step 4: How to run Android Apps on Windows 11
- Open the Windows Subsystem for Android Apps.
- Now, look for the Developer mode option and click on the toggle to enable it.
- Next, click on the manage developer settings. Once it opens up, minimize it.
- Next to the Developer Mode, you will see the PORT number.
- You will have to download the ADB Tools that will help you sideload Android Apps on your Windows 11 PC.
- When the file has been downloaded, extract it and open the Platform-tools folder.
- Open up the Terminal Window within the Platform Tools folder.
- Now, type in adb.exe connect (IP Address) (PORT Number) and hit Enter.
adb.exe connect 127.0.0.1:58526 - Now that you have it connected, you can open your web browser and download the APK file for the app that you wish to sideload.
- Copy the app and place it into the Platform Tools folder.
- With the file downloaded, go back to the Windows Terminal and type in adb.exe install (downloaded APKs file name here) and hit enter.
adb.exe install firefox.apk(file name) - The app will now be installed on your Windows 11 PC.
- You can run the app by simply opening the Start Menu and typing the name of the app.
- It should open up right away on your Windows 11 PC without any issues.
- That’s it.
Conclusion
And this is how you can sideload Android Apps on a Windows 11 PC. In all fairness everyone expected the Android Apps feature to show up somewhere early next year. Considering it’s already up and live for users in the Beta Channel, we can expect the feature to roll out for all users soon or later. Granted that the Amazon App Store has just 50 apps currently that can be installed which could also be mostly useless for a lot of people.
By sideloading Android Apps, you can enjoy your favorite app on your Windows 11 PC. However, you will need to note that apps that require Google Play Services might not run yet on Windows. Who knows, there could be someone out there looking out for a way to bypass the Google Play Services requirements.
You may Also Like – How to Get Android Apps Support on Windows 11 [No Sideloading]
If you still have any query on how to sideload or install android apps on Windows 11, then leave a comment in the comment box. Also, share this article with your friends.
More Related Articles:
