Microsoft is offering the first preview of Android app support on Windows 11, but only for those on beta Insider builds.
Android app support is arriving in the Beta Channel for US users under the “Windows 11 Build 22000.xxx. Series.” PCs built with chips from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm can run it. Microsoft is hoping Insider users will help test-run the function before its mainstream rollout, which is expected to occur sometime next year.
“To dive in, open the new Microsoft Store and find a selection of mobile experiences that were not available on Windows before,” the company says. Users will notice the appearance of Amazon’s Android Appstore, which will let them test out 50 apps, spanning games, the Kindle reading app, and content for kids.
“Running Android apps and games on Windows 11 will feel familiar, effortless, and integrated—just as you would expect,” Microsoft says. “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.”
In addition, you can copy and paste information between Android and Windows apps. Notification from the Android programs will also appear in the Windows 11 “Action Center.”
To run the apps, Microsoft is adding a new component in the OS called “Windows Subsystem for Android.” It essentially loads the Android OS over a Hyper-V virtual machine similar to the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
“The Subsystem includes the Linux kernel and the Android OS based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) version 11,” Microsoft says.” It is distributed through the Microsoft Store as part of the Amazon Appstore install, which will allow users to stay updated over time as we continue to add support for more APIs, capabilities, and scenarios.” The subsystem will also appear in the Windows 11 Start Menu and can be configured to your liking.
Microsoft has released more instructions on how to download the Beta Channel build. However, to access the Android apps, it seems you will need a US-based account with Amazon. Insider users on the Dev Channel will get the Android app support during a later date.