Introduction:

Windows 11 is the latest version of the Windows operating system, and it comes with a lot of powerful features and improvements. However, one of the most exciting features of this new OS is the ability to run Android apps natively.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Android apps on your Windows 11 computer. With just a few clicks, you can unlock the full potential of your Windows 11 and enjoy a seamless Android experience on your desktop.

But before we dive into the installation process, let’s first briefly discuss why you might want to run Android apps on your Windows 11 computer.

Why Run Android Apps on Windows 11?

There are many reasons why you might want to run Android apps on your Windows 11 computer. Here are some of the most important ones:

  1. Access to a wider range of apps: While there are many apps available for Windows 11, there are still many popular apps that are only available on Android. By running these apps on your Windows 11 computer, you’ll have access to a much wider range of apps.

  2. Increased productivity: Many Android apps are designed to help you be more productive, whether it’s a to-do list app, an email app, or a calendar app. By running these apps on your Windows 11 computer, you can increase your productivity and get more done.

  3. Better gaming experience: Many popular mobile games are only available on Android, and by running these games on your Windows 11 computer, you can enjoy a better gaming experience with a larger screen and keyboard/mouse controls.

Now that we’ve discussed why you might want to run Android apps on your Windows 11 computer, let’s dive into the installation process.

Installing Android Apps on Windows 11:

There are many ways to install Android apps on Windows 11, but here we will focus on one of the easiest methods using the Microsoft Store.

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows 11 computer.

Step 2: Search for the “Your Phone” app and download it.

Step 3: Launch the Your Phone app, and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Android phone to your Windows 11 computer.

Step 4: Once your phone is connected, click on the “Apps” tab in the Your Phone app.

Step 5: Search for the Android app you want to install, and click on the “Install” button.

Step 6: Once the app is installed, you can launch it from the Your Phone app or directly from your Start menu.

It’s as simple as that! With just a few clicks, you can now enjoy your favorite Android apps on your Windows 11 computer.

Conclusion:

Running Android apps on your Windows 11 computer can greatly enhance your productivity, gaming experience, and access to a wider range of apps. Thanks to the new Your Phone app, installing Android apps on your Windows 11 computer is now easier than ever.

We hope this article has helped you unlock the full potential of your Windows 11 and brought you closer to a seamless Android experience on your desktop.

If you don’t have the platform already configured on your computer, you can use these instructions to install WSA, and then you can continue with these instructions to install Android apps on Windows 11.

  • Install Android apps on Windows 11
  • Sideload Android apps on Windows 11
  • Uninstall Android apps on Windows 11

Install Android apps on Windows 11

To install an Android app on Windows 11, use these steps:

Once you complete the steps, you can open the Android app from the Start menu. If the app isn’t available through the Appstore, you can sideload them with the instructions below.

Open Start.

Search and select the app.

Click the Install button.

Sideload Android apps on Windows 11

To sideload Android apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open the ADB Installer webpage.
  • Under the “ADB and fastboot” section, click the Download button.
  • Save the zip file on the computer.
  • Double-click the platform-tools zip folder.
  • Click the Extract all button from the command bar.
  • Select the location to extract the files that allow sideloading of Android apps.
  • Click the Extract button.
  • Open Start.
  • Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app settings.
  • Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.
  • Click the Manage developer settings option to start WSA on Windows 11 (if applicable).
  • Click the Refresh button in the “IP address” setting.
  • Click the Copy button to copy the IP address of the “Windows Subsystem for Android” virtual machine to the clipboard.
  • Open Start.
  • Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  • Type the following command to navigate to the platform-tools folder and press Enter:
  • cd C:\platform-tools
  • In the command, change the path with the location where you extracted the files.
  • Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android app and press Enter:
  • adb connect 172.30.96.225
  • In the command, change the IP address corresponding to your WSA instance.
  • Type the following command to “sideload the Android app on Windows 11” and press Enter:
  • adb install gmail.apk
  • In the command, specify the name of the apk package you downloaded from another source and want to install on Windows 11. Also, the .apk file should be stored in the platform-tools folder to work.

After you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11.

Open the ADB Installer webpage.

Under the “ADB and fastboot” section, click the Download button.

Save the zip file on the computer.

Double-click the platform-tools zip folder.

Click the Extract all button from the command bar.

Select the location to extract the files that allow sideloading of Android apps.

Click the Extract button.

Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app settings.

Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.

Click the Manage developer settings option to start WSA on Windows 11 (if applicable).

Click the Refresh button in the “IP address” setting.

Click the Copy button to copy the IP address of the “Windows Subsystem for Android” virtual machine to the clipboard.

Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to navigate to the platform-tools folder and press Enter:

cd C:\platform-tools

In the command, change the path with the location where you extracted the files.

Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android app and press Enter:

adb connect 172.30.96.225

In the command, change the IP address corresponding to your WSA instance.

Type the following command to “sideload the Android app on Windows 11” and press Enter:

adb install gmail.apk

In the command, specify the name of the apk package you downloaded from another source and want to install on Windows 11. Also, the .apk file should be stored in the platform-tools folder to work.

Although you can sideload any app apps, the Windows Subsystem for Android won’t allow you to run apps that require Google Play Services, such as Gmail, Google Maps, and others, because it’s not supported.

Uninstall Android apps on Windows 11

To uninstall an Android app from your computer, use these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Apps.
  • Click the Apps & features page from the right-side.
  • Select the Android app.
  • Click the menu (three-dotted) button on the right and select the Uninstall button.

Alternatively, you can also right-click the app from the Start menu and select the Uninstall button.

Open Settings.

Click on Apps.

Click the Apps & features page from the right-side.

Select the Android app.

Click the menu (three-dotted) button on the right and select the Uninstall button.