How To Run Apk Files On Windows

Windows 11 launched on October 5 after spending months in beta. Nevertheless, the launch version of Windows 11 came without ane of the nearly-anticipated features — native Android emulation assuasive users to run Android apps on their PCs. Microsoft had so said information technology would be testing the feature before long and releasing it to the stable Windows 11 aqueduct later.

The ability to run Android apps on Windows 11 is now available in the stable channel, but just in the United states of america. Nevertheless, you can install Android apps even if you're not in the US. Here's how to run Android apps on Windows eleven.

Read too: How to install Google Play Store on Windows xi

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To install Android apps on Windows 11, y'all will demand to update to the latest build and install the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store. You can also sideload the Windows Subsystem for Android, if you lot're exterior the The states, and install apps using the APK files.

Spring TO KEY SECTIONS

How to get Android apps on Windows 11 officially (US-only)
How to go Android apps on Windows 11 unofficially
What Android apps can you get on Windows 11?
Benefits of running Android apps on Windows xi

How to get Android apps on Windows 11 officially (US-merely)

Android apps on Windows 11 are officially available merely in the US for now. The requirements are that you should accept a compatible Windows 11 system, running Build 22000.526 or higher.

Install the Windows Subsystem for Android

Now that you have the latest Windows 11 build, yous can motion on to install the Windows Subsystem for Android. This is basically an entire Android build that runs equally a virtualization instance within Windows, letting y'all run Android apps on Windows. There are a few steps to getting the subsystem on your Windows 11.

Open up the Microsoft Store, and click the Library tab at the bottom left corner.

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Click the Become updates button.

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Your Microsoft Shop should finish updating. Click the profile button on the title bar to the correct to check the version. The version number should be in the Well-nigh this app section. Make sure it is 22110.1402.vi.0 or higher.

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Once your Microsoft Store is upwardly to date, you can motion on to enable virtualization. Older systems volition demand you to flip the switch in the BIOS/UEFI settings, usually called Intel VT-X or AMD-Five, depending upon the brand of CPU in your system. Then y'all can enable information technology within Windows eleven.

Open the Control Panel, navigate to the Programs section, and click Turn Windows features on or off. Enable Virtual Auto Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform past ensuring the boxes adjacent to them are checked, and click OK.

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Restart your system. Search for and open the Amazon Appstore in the Microsoft Store, and click Get. Go through the setup process. This will install the Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Shop, and get your arrangement ready for Android apps.

Installing Android apps through the Amazon Appstore

The process to install Android apps officially is rather simple. You will need a US Amazon business relationship.

Open the Amazon Appstore via the Starting time menu/search. Click the Already an Amazon customer? Sign in button, enter your credentials and click Sign-In. Search and select the app you want to install, and click the Get/Download/Install button.

More here: How to update drivers on Windows xi

How to become Android apps on Windows 11 unofficially

The requirements are the same hither. You volition need Windows 11, build 22000.282, or afterward. You besides demand to enable hardware virtualization and meet minimum arrangement requirements. The divergence is that we volition have to sideload the subsystem instead of installing information technology officially. Ensure you lot update Windows before you begin, and enable Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform.

Read more than: The complete guide on how to install Windows 11

Sideloading the Windows Subsystem for Android

Some folks may not be able to get their easily on the Windows Subsystem for Android and Amazon Appstore despite following the steps. In that instance, installing the Subsystem manually is an selection. It's a little tricky, only it tin can piece of work.

Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click the app search outcome, and click Run every bit ambassador.

Windows 11 powershell run as administrator

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In PowerShell, copy-paste this lawmaking:

Code

                          winget install 9p3395vx91nr -due south msstore

and hit the enter fundamental.

Windows 11 powershell Windows Android Subsystem 1

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Y'all'll have to agree to the agreement terms of the store in PowerShell. When prompted, type in the letter Y and press the Enter key.

Windows 11 powershell Windows Android Subsystem agreement

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PowerShell will then prompt y'all with some more license terms, specific to the Subsystem this time. Press Y and Enter again.

Windows 11 powershell Windows Android Subsystem second agreement

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The Subsystem package will so download and install, and you'll go a Microsoft Store notification saying it was successful.

Windows 11 powershell Windows Android Subsystem installation success

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Install Android apps on Windows eleven

If you managed to get the Amazon Appstore to install directly, you can open it by searching for it from the Start carte du jour. It will ask y'all to log in one time with your Amazon The states account. Once washed, you lot tin can search for the app you want and click the Get push button to download information technology. Any Android app installed on Windows xi will show up equally a normal programme yous can directly run from the Start menu.

Also read: The all-time Android emulators for PC and Mac

If you don't accept access to the shop, which you won't if y'all sideloaded the Subsystem, you lot volition have to manually download the APKs and install them via PowerShell. For this, y'all volition need to have a system-broad Android Debug Bridge (ADB) installed on your system. This is needed because the Subsystem acts like an Android phone wirelessly connected to the Windows 11 PC, and y'all can use ADB to leverage that connection to push button APKs of your choice. This method is useful for installing apps that are not available on the Amazon Appstore.

Download the fifteen-second ADB Installer here. Extract and run the installer. Requite the administrator permission when asked. It volition run in a terminal window, asking yous Y/Northward equally yes or no for installing specific components. Nosotros need all three components, so press Y and the Enter key for all three — install ADB and Fastboot, install ADB arrangement-broad, and install Drivers. The driver installer will pop up equally a split up window, which you accept to follow to finish the installation.

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Download the APK file of the app of your choice from a trusted source like APK Mirror. For this tutorial, we're using the Firefox browser for Android. Run the Windows Subsystem for Android. You can practise this by just searching for it and clicking on information technology from the Get-go Menu.

In the settings, make certain Programmer Mode is turned on. Click the boxed arrow in the Files tab to get the Subsystem running.

Windows 11 Windows Subsystem for Android launch screen

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Run PowerShell as an administrator again.

To connect to the Subsystem via ADB, copy the IP address you can see in the Subsystem settings. Type adb connect in the PowerShell window, followed by the copied IP address. Ensure in that location'south a infinite between the give-and-take connect and the IP accost. Press Enter.

Use the command adb devices to verify that the connection was successful.

Windows 11 Windows Subsystem for Android ADB connection

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Now, detect the APK file in your Downloads folder. Right-click it, and click Copy every bit path.

Get back to the PowerShell window, type adb install, and paste the path y'all copied. Brand sure to remove the quotation marks at the beginning and end of the path. Yous tin can employ arrow keys to navigate through the control text. Your final command should look like this:

Code

            adb install C:\Users\yourname\Downloads\firefox.apk

Windows 11 Windows Subsystem for Android install command

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Press Enter to brainstorm the installation. Y'all'll see the PowerShell say Performing Streamed Install, followed by a Success message.

Windows 11 Windows Subsystem for Android install success

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The app is at present installed, and will show upwards in your installed apps in the Get-go menu.

What Android apps tin you get on Windows xi?

For at present, the Amazon Appstore for Windows has over one,000 apps available. These include games like Lords Mobile, June's Journeying, Coin Main, reading apps like Kindle, and kids' apps like Khan University Kids and Lego Duplo Globe. Big apps like Gmail and YouTube are missing, due to the absence of Google Services.

With the sideloading method, it's more or less the aforementioned consequence. You will not be able to install apps that require Google Services or have divide installation files with an APKM extension. Nonetheless, you can install more than than 50 apps this way, provided you lot tin can detect the APK file.

Yous can likewise sideload the Google Play Store on Windows 11 if you want access to the full catalog of Android apps. We have a dedicated guide to information technology, linked beneath.

Benefits of running Android apps on Windows 11

There's one big upside to native Android emulation on Windows — there'southward no demand to install tertiary-party Android emulators. In that location are many uses for this, including using chat apps like WhatsApp on your PC or trying to play mobile games on your PC. The process of installing Android apps on Windows has always been a long i, but when the final release of this feature hits, it will go quick and easy, probable for good.

It is also probable to take upward fewer system resources than 3rd-political party emulators. So far, in the current phase, this feature has a few quirks, but we look it to be smooth sailing by the time it's ready for public release.

Read more: The best Android apps bachelor right now