One of the most highly anticipated new big features on the new Windows 11 Operating System is the ability to run Android apps natively which can be installed right from the Microsoft Store.
The feature ‘Windows Subsystem for Android‘ is now rolling out in a very limited form. It is rolling out to Windows Insiders on the beta channel, allowing them to downloads apps from the Amazon Appstore, which is embedded into the Microsoft Store. Similar to the Windows Subsystem for Linux, the Android subsystem will run in a Hyper-V Virtual machine.
If you have a compatible system — it works with Intel and AMD as well as ARM processors — simply open up the Microsoft Store, and you should be able to see the new Android apps. These seem to be integrated pretty tightly with Windows. Microsoft says you’ll be able to interact with app notifications right from the Windows Action Center, Snap to a side of your monitor, pin them to the taskbar, and interact via mouse, touch, or pen.
“Running Android apps and games on Windows 11 will feel familiar, effortless, and integrated – just as you would expect. You can easily run these apps side-by-side with the help of the new Snap Layouts feature, pin them to your Start menu or Taskbar, and interact with them via mouse, touch, or pen input. Android apps are also integrated into Alt + Tab and Task view to help you quickly move back-and-forth between the apps that matter most to you. You can see notifications from Android apps notifications in the Action Center or share your clipboard between a Windows app and an Android app. We have built the experience with accessibility in mind; many Windows accessibility settings apply to Android apps and we are working with Amazon to deliver more improvements.” Microsoft states.
Unfortunately, the selection is very limited to start, at just 50 apps. Here are a few examples of what you can try today:
- Mobile games: Play some of the most popular mobile games like Lords Mobile, June’s Journey, Coin Master, and more.
- Reading: Enjoy reading your favorite book with Kindle, or a digital comic series with Comics on your Windows tablet and swipe pages with the ease of a finger.
- Kids content: Teach your child math, reading, and writing skills with award-winning Khan Academy Kids, or build new digital spaces with Lego Duplo World.
To get started with using Android apps on Windows, visit the Windows Insider Program for instructions.
Discover more from Techspace Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.