Have you ever wished you could run Android Apps on Windows or games on your PC instead of being confined to a small phone screen? Perhaps you need to test an Android function but don’t have an Android smartphone on hand. Your options may vary depending on your mobile device and Windows version, but there are a few methods to run Android (and its apps) on your PC.
With the latest version of Windows, you’ll be able to make use of a slew of new features and options. From the new widget integration to the revamped and productivity-focused Taskbar. Users of Windows 11 will be able to run Android apps on their computers after months of speculation. And isn’t it fantastic?
From the comfort of your Windows laptop, you can effortlessly open and run apps like Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon Kindle. It will not only save you time, but it will also prevent you from becoming sidetracked by other programmes on your phone.
The good news is that you no longer need third-party emulators to run Android apps thanks to native support. Microsoft has partnered with Amazon and Intel for this integration.
So if you want to run Android apps on your Windows 11 laptop, here’s how to go about 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 enroll on Windows Insider, and your PC must have Windows 11 Insider Beta.
To do so, head over to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program to link your account.
2. Virtualization: Virtualization on your computer must be enabled. This feature is a vital hardware-based function that is necessary to execute specific tasks such as Android applications and Windows sandbox, among others.
To see the status of Virtualization on your PC, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Search for Task Manager on the Start menu. Open the Task manager, and click on the Performance tab.
Step 2: Now, check the bottom-right corner as shown in the screenshot below.
If it says enabled, you are good to go. If not, you’ll need to enable it. However, enabling virtualization differs from PC to PC. The best way forward would be to check with online manuals for your laptop/processor.
3. Amazon Account: Last but not least, your PC must have the latest version of the Microsoft Store. Secondly, 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 on the left pane, and then select Language & region.
Step 2: Under the Region section, select Country or region and choose United States from the drop-down.
Step 3: Open the Start menu and type windows features to search for them. The search will snow ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ option and click on it.
Step 4: When a window pops up, wait for it to populate the Windows features on your PC. Uncheck the box next to the ‘Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform’ option and click OK.
Close the window and restart your PC.
Step 5: After your PC boots, download and Install Windows Subsystem.
Windows Subsystem enables your PC to run Android apps and it’s a mandatory step. The installation process is straightforward, and the system will guide you through it.
Next, download and install the Amazon App Store. Restart your PC once done.
Now, log in to the Amazon App Store your Amazon US credentials.
After you log in, you will be able to access all the Android apps available on the Amazon’s App Store. You can then download and install individual apps and run them.
You’ll be able to use Amazon apps like Kindle as well as conventional Android apps like YouTube and Instagram because you’ll be on the Amazon App Store. You may also try out some casual gaming applications.
And the game isn’t over yet. You may sideload apk files on your Windows 11 PC in addition to installing games and programmes from the official Amazon store. However, we recommend that you proceed only if you are confident in the source of the APK files.
ARRANGE APPS SYSTEMATICALLY
In comparison to earlier versions, Windows 11 places a greater emphasis on attention and productivity. With the new and innovative design, you’ll be able to discover your frequently-used applications in a single click. You may also pin your favourite programme, including Android apps, to the Start menu.
So if you like to read ebooks during your time off, you can install and then pin the Kindle app to the Start menu.
To do so, open the Start menu, click on All Apps, and right-click on the app of your choice. Select Pin to Start.
After that, drag it to the row/column of your choice.
At the same time, you can right-click on the default pinned apps and select Unpin from Start to remove them.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Because this is a new function, there aren’t many applications that work with it yet. Hopefully, in the next months, the pace will quicken up and we’ll have more Android applications to play with.