How to Run Android Apps on Windows 11

With the new version of Windows, you get a bunch of new features and settings. From the updated, 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. Well, isn’t that great.

With this, you can easily open and run apps like Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon Kindle from the comfort of your Windows laptop. Not only will this help you save time, but it will also help you not to get distracted by other apps on your phone.

The good thing is that now, with native support, you no longer 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 is how to do 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 sign up for Windows Insider and your PC must have Windows 11 Insider Beta.

To do this, go to Settings> Windows Update> Windows Insider Program to link your account.

2. Virtualization: Virtualization must be enabled on your PC. For those who don’t know, this feature is a critical hardware function required to perform certain functions like Android apps, Windows sandbox, among others.

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

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

2nd step: Now check the lower right corner as shown in the screenshot below.

If it says on, you’re good to go. Otherwise, you will need to activate it. However, enabling virtualization differs from PC to PC. The best way to do this would be to check the online manuals for your laptop / processor.

3. Amazon Account: Last but not least, your PC must have the latest version from Microsoft Store. Second, 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 in the left pane, and then select Language & Region.

2nd step: In the Region section, select Country or region and choose United States from the drop-down list.

Step 3: Open the Start menu and type Windows features to search for them. The search will display the option “Turn Windows features on or off” and click on it.

Step 4: When a window appears, wait for it to perform Windows functionality on your PC. Uncheck the box next to “Virtual machine platform and Windows hypervisor platform” and click OK.

Close the window and restart your PC.

Step 5: After booting your PC, download and install Windows Subsystem.

Download Windows Subsystem

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

Then download and install the Amazon App Store. Restart your PC when done.

Download the Amazon App Store

Now, log into the Amazon App Store with your Amazon US credentials.

Once logged in, you will be able to access all the Android apps available on the Amazon App Store. You can then download and install individual applications and run them.

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

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

Organize applications systematically

Compared to previous versions, Windows 11 is more focused on focus and productivity. The new and smart design ensures that you can find your frequently used apps with just one click. In addition, you can also pin your favorite app to the Start menu including Android apps.

So, if you like to read eBooks in your spare time, you can install and then pin the Kindle app to the Start menu.

To do this, open the Start menu, click All Apps, and then right-click on the desired app. Select Pin to start.

After that drag it to the row / column you want.

At the same time, you can right-click the default pinned apps and select Detach From Beginning to remove them.

The 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 coming months and we will have more Android apps to use.