When Windows 11 launches on Oct. 5, it won’t include its most surprising feature: support for Android apps.
Microsoft quietly alluded to the delay in a Tuesday blog post about Windows 11’s upcoming release. “We look forward to continuing our journey to bring Android apps to Windows 11 and the Microsoft Store through our collaboration with Amazon and Intel; this will start with a preview for Windows Insiders over the coming months,” the company wrote.
Windows 11 launches in about six weeks. So the timing means the Android app support won’t arrive to the insider/beta builds of Windows 11 until some time after the October release date.
MIcrosoft then usually spends weeks or months refining a beta feature before taking it mainstream. As a result, the Android app support probably won’t arrive until 2022.
Redmond did not immediately respond to a request for comment, making it unclear why there’s a delay. However, the company is developing the Android app support with Amazon and Intel. So it could be a matter of smoothing out the technology or the commercial partnerships involved.
Windows 11 will be able to support the Android apps thanks to Intel’s Bridge Technology, which can translate Android code to run natively on an x86 machine. This presumable includes both Intel- and AMD-based PCs. As a result, you’ll be able to add Android apps to the Windows 11 Start Menu or Taskbar and run them on the desktop.
Microsoft plans on offering the apps by adding Amazon’s Android Appstore to the Microsoft Store on Windows 11. In addition, Microsoft has said the OS will be able to run Android APK files taken from other third-party app stores and sources too.