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Earlier this week, Microsoft made a sudden announcement of the end of the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). Effective immediately, Windows 11 no longer allows users to install Android apps from the Amazon App Store. The move surprised many users, but thanks to a few posts on X from a Microsoft veteran, we now have more information on what happened and why the project was doomed from the very start. Andrew Clinick, who worked as Partner Group Program Manager of the Windows Subsystem for Android, said that WSA "was an amazing project to work on," but it failed because Microsoft and Amazon could not bring enough apps. Since Android app support cannot generate Microsoft profit without a dedicated store, it is not financially viable for the company to keep it running. That also answers the question of why Microsoft would not continue supporting WSA and allow the installation of APK files outside the Amazon App Store. Andrew also believes Google sealed the deal for the WSA by walking away from it. The Google Play Store was not supported on the WSA (at least not officially), making it extra hard to bring apps to the Amazon App Store since most modern Android apps rely heavily on Google Play Services. In 2015, Windows 10 Mobile allowed installing Android apps via Project Astoria as a radical solution to fix the app problem on Windows Phone. However, after a brief period of testing, Microsoft pulled the plug and later confirmed that the project was dead. Now, history repeats itself. Years after the Windows Phone's demise, the ever-familiar app gap problem struck Microsoft again. Source

Unsurprisingly, WSA struggling to make money stopped Android apps on Windows from being viable. What you need to know Microsoft announced the deprecation of Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) recently. Support for WSA will end on March 5, 2025, but Amazon has already stopped downloads of the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store. Andrew Clinick, who worked for Microsoft for almost 30 years, shared insight as to why WSA was shut down. Microsoft announced that Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) will no longer be supported after March 2025. The abrupt announcement marks the end of one of the easiest ways to run Android apps on Windows. But while WSA made it easy to install Android apps onto a PC, it had limitations, such as its lack of Google Play services support. Andrew Clinick, who worked for Microsoft for over 29 years, recently shared insight as to why WSA failed. In almost three decades at Microsoft, Clinic spent over two years as Partner Group Program Manager of WSA. He "led the product team delivering the ability to run Android applications on Windows," as explained in his LinkedIn profile. "This involved product definition internally but also with Amazon Store to deliver a store experience that integrated seamlessly with Windows and for the android applications to feel like native Windows applications. Grew the user base by >1000% in the first 3 months and helped Amazon bring 10's of thousands of android apps to Windows users," outlined Clinick. More recently, he worked at Microsoft as Partner Group Program Manager of Windows AI Plugins and Partner Group Program Manager focusing on the developer program for Windows. Clinick shared across several X (formerly Twitter) posts that WSA struggled to make money and that the lack of Google Play services support hurt the platform. Clinick went as far to say that Google walking away was the nail in the coffin for WSA. Microsoft and developers Amazon has already stopped downloads of the Amazon Appstore through the Microsoft Store. (Image credit: Future) The reason for Microsoft ending support for WSA shouldn't come as a surprise. "Store revenue pays the bills and salaries of the wsa team," explained Clinick. "WSL acrues to azure and vs so has a profit center. WSA without a store is awesome but doesn't help windows financially," said Clinick. He echoed a sentiment that myself and others have said, that WSA is impressive but not viable financially. Given his work experience, I suspect Clinick understands that fact better than anyone. When one X user asked why Microsoft partnered with Amazon rather than have Android apps directly in the Microsoft Store, Clinick pointed to the difficulty of getting apps into a store. "Turns out standing up a store and attracting apps is mighty difficult," said Clinick. READ MORE: Amazon Appstore already removed from Microsoft Store He also highlighted how much the lack of Google Play services affected Android apps on Windows. "Then you factor in that Google play services isn't there. Difficult to find an app with a large audience that doesn't use Google play services," Clinick said. In a separate post, the former Microsoft employee discussed Google Play services again, stating, "No Google play services. Can't work around that really in a way that isn't hackastic." This is a familiar story to those who have followed Microsoft and Windows news over the years. Microsoft has released several platforms and devices over the years only to have a lack of developer support and monetization block long-term viability. Source

Microsoft made a major announcement earlier today where it declared that Andriod app support on Windows 11 via Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) was ending. This sort of came out of the blue as it has only been about two and a half years since the debut of the feature. Besides that, Microsoft was also working pretty hard to make it better as almost exactly a year ago, the company made bold claims of performance gains of up to 50% on x86 CPUs from AMD and Intel. In the announcement, Microsoft wrote: Now users are starting to receive an email from Amazon itself about the Amazon Appstore, which let you download and install Android apps on Windows. The email reads: On Amazon's website too, the company has updated the section about downloading the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11. The notice says: You can find more information regarding app support or updates on this FAQ page put up by Amazon. Source: Xeno (X / Twitter) Source

Users will no longer be able to install Android apps on Windows 11 starting next year. What you need to know Microsoft has announced that it is deprecating the Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. This means support for installing and running Android apps is being removed from the OS. The feature will be deprecated on March 5, 2025. In a shocking move, Microsoft has announced that it is deprecating the Windows Subsystem for Android, a feature that allowed Windows 11 users to run Android apps directly on their PCs. Tied to the Amazon Appstore, users have been able to browse and download Android apps since the launch of Windows 11 in 2021. The death of the Windows Subsystem for Android was announced in a developer document: "Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android™️ (WSA). As a result, the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all applications and games dependent on WSA will no longer be supported beginning March 5, 2025. Until then, technical support will remain available to customers. Customers that have installed the Amazon Appstore or Android apps prior to March 5, 2024, will continue to have access to those apps through the deprecation date of March 5, 2025." The company does say that users who already have Android apps installed will be able to continue using them beyond the deprecation date, but users looking to install new Android apps after March 5, 2025 will not be able to do so. It's likely that Microsoft is killing the Windows Subsystem for Android because not enough people use it. There's little use for Android apps on Windows, especially with the lack of Windows tablet hardware on the market these days. Source

Microsoft has released a new preview update for Windows Subsystem for Android. Version 2310.40000.0.0 is now available for download for Windows 11 users participating in the program. Unlike previous releases, this one contains only two notable changes: general reliability improvements and a fix for the bug reversing gamepad triggers. You can download the latest Windows Subsystem for Android Preview update from the Microsoft Store. Note that getting early WSA updates requires enrolling into the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview Program, which is separate from the Windows Insider Program. Alternatively, you can wait for Microsoft to release WSA version 2310.40000.0.0 for Windows Insiders in a few days. If you plan to get started with Windows Subsystem for Android and Android apps on Windows 11, check out the following resources you will find helpful: Windows Subsystem for Android hardware requirements. Note that WSA requires Windows 11 and does not work on Windows 10, even though there are unofficial ports to the previous Windows version. A list of supported countries and regions. Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting when running Android apps on Windows 11. The official Windows Subsystem for Android Preview Program documentation. As a reminder, the last WSA preview update delivered .cer files support and graphics improvements. Source

Microsoft has released a new preview update for users testing early Windows Subsystem for Android releases. Version 2309 is now available with reliability and graphics improvements, .cer files support, a newer Chromium version, and Android 13 monthly security patches. What is new in Windows Subsystem for Android 2309 Preview? We've shipped an update for Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 to the Windows Subsystem for Android™ Preview Program. This update (2309.40000.2.0) includes improvements to platform reliability and functionality improvements. Release Notes Platform reliability improvements Updated Chromium WebView to version 117 Allow .cer files to be shared to Android Graphics improvements Android Geocoder APIs (Geocoder | Android Developers) provide valid data for all applications. Be sure to check the terms of use for using Bing Maps data. (Microsoft Software License Terms Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Android™ - Microsoft Support) Android 13 Platform Updates If you are having issues with Windows Subsystem for Android™ – please file feedback via Feedback Hub under Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android™. For more information about troubleshooting and submitting feedback: Troubleshooting and FAQ for mobile apps on Windows. To install the latest Windows Subsystem for Android Preview update, head to the Microsoft Store and check for updates. Alternatively, use a direct store listing link. Note that the update is currently available only to those who signed up for the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program. Windows Insiders will get version 2309 later. You can sign up for the WSA Preview Program from the Microsoft Learn website. Before proceeding, ensure your computer meets device requirements that include a minimum of 8GB of RAM, a solid-state drive, and Virtual Machine Platform support. Although there are unofficial hacks that let you run Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 10, the program is officially supported only on Windows 11. Source

Microsoft has released the latest monthly update for the preview version of Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. The new version number is 2308.40000.3.0 and is available for all members of the Windows Insider Preview program. The blog post lists the new features and improvements in this new version. It has mostly the same change log info as the version that was released earlier this month on Github. However, this new version lacks the "Correctly report isInMultiWindowMode=false when an app is fullscreen" that was added to the Github version. Platform reliability improvements Localhost loopback support for “Local network access” experimental feature Clipboard reliability and performance improvements Kernel update to improve compatibility with running ARM applications on x64 processors Microsoft says that people who use the feature and experience any issues with it can file their feedback via the Insider Feedback Hub under Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android. You can also check out the Troubleshooting and FAQ for mobile apps on Windows site. Android developers can also offer feedback for the new version on Microsoft's Github page. Before installing WSA on your device, make sure it meets Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements. Those specific ardware requirements for WSA are available to view here. You can also download Windows Subsystem for Android with the Amazon App Store from the Microsoft Store on compatible PCs running Windows 11. Developers who would like to run Android apps on Windows 11 with this subsystem should check out its Microsoft GitHub page for this very subject. The same page also lets you report a bug in the subsystem, submit requests for a new feature, or report if something is wrong with the subsystem's documentation. You can also just simply interact with other Android-to-Windows developers on the page as well. Source

Microsoft has released the latest update for Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. It's now available to download for all members of the Windows Insider program. In case you are not familiar with it, this is a software engine that allows Android apps to run on Windows 11 PCs. The new version number is 2307.40000.5.0. This looks to be a fairly small update, with Microsoft stating it has some unnamed "improvements to system and graphics reliability." Here is the full changelog: What’s New Platform stability improvements. Updated latest Chromium WebView to version 115. Android 13 security updates Current Windows Insiders who are also developers will want to offer up some feedback on the Windows Subsystem for Android. They can do so in the Feedback Hub under Apps, and then Windows Subsystem for Android. You can also check out the Troubleshooting and FAQ for mobile apps info on the Microsoft Windows support page. You can download Windows Subsystem for Android with the Amazon App Store from the Microsoft Store on compatible PCs running Windows 11. Hardware requirements for WSA are available here. Developers who would like to run Android apps on Windows 11 with this subsystem should check out its Microsoft GitHub page for this very subject. The same page also lets you report a bug in the subsystem, submit requests for a new feature, or report if something is wrong with the subsystem's documentation. You can also just simply interact with other Android-to-Windows developers on the page as well. Microsoft has already released a new Canary Channel update for Windows 11 for members of the Insider program earlier this week along with a new Windows Server vNext preview update. Today, it released a small update for the Windows 11 Paint app that added support for centered canvas for the digital art tool. Source

Microsoft has started rolling out a new update for those participating in the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program. Version 2308.40000.1.0 is now available with platform reliability improvements, clipboard enhancements, and other under-the-hood tweaks. Here is what is new. What is new in Windows Subsystem for Android 2308 Preview? The official changelog published in the program's GitHub repository includes the following: We have shipped an update for Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 to the Windows Subsystem for Android™ Preview Program. This update (2308.40000.1.0) includes improvements to platform reliability and functionality improvements. Platform reliability improvements. Localhost loopback support for "Local network access" experimental feature. Clipboard reliability and performance improvements. Kernel update to improve compatibility with running ARM applications on x64 processors. Correctly report isInMultiWindowMode=false when an app is full screen. As a reminder, the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program is separate from the Windows Insider program. You can test early WSA updates on stable Windows 11 builds after signing up for the program on the official website. Microsoft also ships preview updates to Windows insiders, usually after a short delay. If you have problems with Android apps on your machine or you want to offer a suggestion or improvement, head to Feedback Hub > Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android. Before installing WSA on your device, ensure it meets minimum hardware requirements. Users recently noticed that Microsoft had quietly lowered CPU requirements, which means more users can now officially run Android apps without resorting to hacks and third-party modifications. In case you missed it, the most recent Windows Subsystem for Android updates introduces Vulkan API support and various stability improvements, security fixes, Chromium updates, and other maintenance enhancements. You can learn more about Windows Subsystem for Android for Windows 11 from the official documentation on the Microsoft Learn website. Source

Microsoft has released the latest Windows 11 Subsystem for Android update for October 2023 for all members of the Windows Insider Program. The new 2309.40000.8.0 update includes graphics improvements, allows .cer files to be shared to Android and more. At the moment there is no word on when the Windows 11 Subsystem for Android will be updated to include the latest Android 14 version. Here is the changelog: You can check out the full blog post here. This is almost the same version that was released a few weeks ago for people signed up for the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program, with the exception that the "Updated Chromium WebView to version 117" feature is not available in this build. If you would rather get the Preview versions of these Android Subsystem builds, you can sign up for the WSA Preview Program from the Microsoft Learn website. Before proceeding, ensure your computer meets device requirements that include a minimum of 8GB of RAM, a solid-state drive, and Virtual Machine Platform support. Although there are unofficial hacks that let you run Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 10, the program is officially supported only on Windows 11. Source

Microsoft announced support for Android apps on Windows 11 back in June of 2021. Dubbed Windows Subsystem for Android or WSA in short, the company has been steadily introducing more and more useful features as well as improvements to the WSA. For example, this month, the WSA update version 2305.40000.2.0, added file sharing, drag and drop, copy and paste, and more new features. Likewise, a previous release brought in anti-virus support and RAM reallocation, among others. For those that find the WSA platform useful, you may or may not be aware of a handy third-party utility software called WSA System Control. This app allows users to monitor the WSA status on their systems as well as launch the subsystem. The developer of the tool describes it as follows: WSA System Control A simple tasktray application that allows you to monitor the WSA status as well as start/stop the subsystem. You can also launch the WSA Settings app, the Android Settings app and the Files app right from the menu. NOTE: Shutdown feature requires WSA running Android 13 or later. The app received its latest update yesterday with version 1.0.2. The new version brings an updated app icon, a new About page, and it is now also available on the Microsoft Store. The release notes are given below: WSA System Control v1.0.2 Updated app icon Updated about page This is the first release to be made available on Microsoft Store. https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/9PFCTFQ8V8C3 The WSA System Control utility was released back in December last year. Since then, it has had a few major updates including this latest one. In some of the previous releases, the app added improvements like a reduced memory footprint, support for both x64 and ARM64 builds, updated Menu icons, and more. You can download the tool from Microsoft Store (link above in the release notes section) or from the app's GitHub page. Source

Windows Insiders can download a new feature update for Windows Subsystem for Android. The new version (build 2304.40000.5.0) adds several new features, but the biggest one is the addition of file sharing. Here are the details of the new File Sharing feature, which also include info on its privacy options, and some known issues: What is File Sharing? We’ve been listening to the community, and many of you have been asking us to support sharing files between Windows and the Subsystem. We are pleased to announce that Windows Subsystem for Android™ can now share your Windows user folders, like Documents and Pictures, with the Subsystem, so scenarios like uploading a photo to a social media app or editing a video in a creative app work seamlessly. Folder sharing is enabled by default for preview users and can be toggled on and off in Windows Subsystem for Android™ Settings. When folder sharing is enabled, your Windows user profile folder (e.g., “C:\Users\John Doe”) is shared as “/sdcard/Windows” in the Subsystem. Privacy Your privacy and security are important to us, so Android apps can only view or edit your files with your permission. Apps must show a system dialog to request your permission, and permission can be revoked at any time from app settings. The Subsystem also guards against malicious apps that would abuse your permission by scanning all Android apps with your antivirus software during installation and blocking threats, whether you installed the app from the Amazon Appstore or installed it with developer tools. Limitations There are a few restrictions you should be aware of: Only files in your Windows user profile folder are available to the Subsystem. Windows system folders, Program Files, other users’ folders, external drives, etc. are not supported. Only files the Subsystem saves to “/sdcard/Windows” are available to Windows. When opening files in other folders from an Android™ app, the Subsystem offers the option of copying the file to Windows and opening it there. Windows hidden files/folders like AppData and Android hidden files/folders (dot prefixed names) are excluded from sharing. Executable file types, like “.exe” are excluded from sharing to protect your security. If the Subsystem tries to save a file with a blocked extension to “/sdcard/Windows”, the save will fail. Cloud storage files must be downloaded to your device. If your cloud storage provider includes online-only files in File Explorer, the online-only files will not be available to the Subsystem until you download them. Simply open an online-only file in File Explorer to download it and make it available to the Subsystem. You can also modify your cloud storage settings to make some or all of your files always available offline. The Subsystem needs to index shared files before apps can access them. Indexing is usually quick but may take longer if you have a lot of files. Recent files are prioritized, so if you can’t find a file in an Android app, try opening it from File Explorer first. You can also share individual files with specific Android apps, even if folder sharing is disabled. Simply drag and drop files from File Explorer to any open Android™ app that supports sharing files. Some Android apps also support pasting files copied to the Windows clipboard. In these cases, apps only receive read access to the shared file. Here's the full changelog for the update: File sharing enabled. File transfer using drop and drop and copy and paste. Windows Subsystem for Android Settings (renamed to just “Windows Subsystem for Android”) redesign, including displaying all installed Android apps. Enable apps that specify android.hardware.type.pc in their manifest to opt into receiving raw input events. Wi-Fi API compatibility improvements. Camera hardware compatibility improvements. Linux kernel security update. Updated latest Chromium WebView to version 113. Android 13 security updates. You can download Windows Subsystem for Android with the Amazon App Store from the Microsoft Store on compatible PCs running Windows 11. Hardware requirements for WSA are available here. Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 update adds file sharing and more

Microsoft is rolling out a new set of improvements for Windows Subsystem for Android that powers Android apps on Windows 11. Version 2306 is available for testing in the preview channel before the update rolls out to all users. The update introduces improvements for networking, picture-in-picture, storage, OneDrive, advanced settings, security, and more. Microsoft also highlights that the release contains several user-requested features. What is new in Windows Subsystem for Android 2306 Preview? Here is the official changelog published in the WSA's GitHub repository: Camera compatibility improvements Fullscreen mode with F11 now displays hover taskbar to improve mouse and touch experience Local networking (under Advanced settings - Experimental features) now replacing "Advanced networking". Android apps can connect to devices on the same network, on all versions of Windows, respect Windows firewall rules, and work with VPNs Share user folders (under Advanced settings - Experimental features) now gives users the option to change their default shared folder The subsystem will now prompt if an app is trying to use a permission that the subsystem does not have The subsystem has switched from EROFS to EXT4 for read-only disks Fix for OneDrive folders not showing up in Android apps Support for drag and drop for more file types (feature request Unsupported Mimes Types when Drag'n Drop file on app #335) Improvements to picture-in-picture (new UI buttons when in PIP) Partially running mode now enabled by default for devices with at least 16 GB of memory Stability fixes for ARM devices Linux kernel updated to 5.15.104 Android 13 security updates As a reminder, Windows Subsystem for Android Preview is a standalone program separate from the Windows Insider Program. You can sign up to test WSA preview updates using this form. Note that receiving early WSA updates does not require installing early Windows 11 builds. Source

Although Windows insiders will not receive new Canary or Dev builds this week, Microsoft has a shiny new update for Windows Subsystem for Android or WSA. Version 2302 is now available for Dev and Beta Channels testing, bringing various stability, graphics, audio, and security improvements (via Deskmodder). Here are the changes in version 2302.4000: Stability improvements to graphics card selection Updates to the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app to include performance options for graphics cards Docking and undocking with external monitors issues fixed with the subsystem Fixes to apps with audio buffer issues Android 13 security updates Windows insiders can download the latest Windows Subsystem for Android from the Microsoft Store. Windows Subsystem for Android is a Windows 11-exclusive feature (there are unofficial methods that let you run WSA on Windows 10) that allows running Android apps on Windows PCs. Unfortunately, WSA does not support Google Play and its services, so users need to download apps from the Amazon App Store or sideload them using ADB or more user-friendly utilities like WSATools. Microsoft frequently releases updates for the subsystem, which is currently based on Android 13. You can follow the project's development process in its GitHub repository. It also contains a list of supported features and things to come in future updates. Windows Subsystem for Android gets better graphics performance and stability in Beta and Dev

Alongside new Windows 11 Insider channel builds on Dev (build 25295), Beta (build 2262x.1255) and Server (build 25295), Microsoft has also released an update to Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) with new version 2301.40000.4.0. The company is promising several improvements in the new update with the highlight of the release probably being performance improvement in terms of framerates of close to 50% in the case of x86 processors, ie, AMD and Intel CPUs, and up to 20% for those belonging to the ARM ISA. There are Android 13 security updates as well, alongside many more improvements. The full changelog and announcement post is given below: Today we are shipping an update for Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 to all Windows Insider channels. This update (2301.40000.4.0) will make improvements to the camera experience, graphics improvements, general reliability, and security updates. What’s New Improved audio input latency and reliability Improvements to camera experience (camera metadata now exposed to camera apps) Improvements to framerate performance: certain benchmarks have improved by 10%-20% on ARM and 40%-50% on x64 Fixed zooming out in apps using touchpad or mouse Improvements to platform reliability Using latest Chromium WebView to version 108 Synchronizing global microphone and camera privacy toggles between Windows and Android apps Android 13 security updates You can view the official blog post here. Microsoft claims up to 50% performance boost on AMD, Intel with latest Windows 11 WSA update

Microsoft has released a new update for Windows Subsystem for Android for all Windows Insider channels. In case you are not familiar with it, this is a software engine that allows Android apps to run on Windows 11 PCs. The new update changes the version number to 2303.40000.3.0 and includes support for running Android apps in Picture-in-Picture mode. Here is the full changelog: Picture-in-picture For apps that use the Android PIP feature, the subsystem now supports this behavior. With the flexibility of having apps in windowed mode and all of the great Windows resize and snap features, this makes multitasking within Android apps even easier. What’s New Picture-in-picture mode supported A new “Partially running” system setting added to WSA Settings app, which runs the subsystem with minimal resources but apps launch quicker than “As needed” mode Linux kernel updated to 5.15.78 Improvements to platform reliability Android 13 security updates You can check out the full blog post here. You can download the updated Windows Subsystem for Android from the Microsoft Store. As usual, Microsoft urges all insiders to file complaints and suggestions in Feedback Hub under Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android. Windows Subsystem update for Android on Windows 11 adds Picture-in-Picture support and more

Microsoft has worked with Intel to create an Android emulator for Windows, the so-called Windows Subsystem for Android. Microsoft says this will give access to a range of apps and games from the Amazon App Store, but a big issue with emulators is of course poor performance. Now a benchmark for the emulator spotted on Geekbench suggests we will not have to worry. It appears the WSA will be emulating an 8 core Qualcomm processor with 4 or 6 GB of RAM, and the scores appear to be similar to the Samsung Galaxy S20. Of course, the good performance may be due to the high system requirements with Microsoft demanding at least 8 GB of RAM. Microsoft is still working on Windows Subsystem for Android and it will be delivered sometime after Windows 11 debuts. The (non-functional) app iscan be seen in the Store here. Benchmarks of Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Android suggests it will be pretty snappy

We reported yesterday that Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Android app was spotted in the Microsoft Store. The most interesting feature of the listing was that the app supported both Windows 11 (aka Windows 10 version 22000.0) and the Xbox One, something Microsoft never mentioned before. Given the emphasis Microsoft placed on WSA bringing Android games to Windows 11, this would not have been a complete surprise, but it appears this will in fact not be the case. The WC received a statement from Microsoft saying “there are “no plans” to bring the Windows 11 Android subsystem to Xbox at the moment.” Microsoft did leave the door open for future support, but this will certainly not be in place when Microsoft finally delivers WSA to Windows 11. That work has been delayed and we recently heard that Microsoft will be shipping Windows 11 without support for Android apps, as the company was still working on the technology. Microsoft will be offering Android apps from the Amazon Store, but while the technology has potential, the Windows Subsystem for Android will not support every app in the Store, and it remains to be seen how impactful the feature will be, especially since WSA will require 16 GB of RAM is recommended for good performance, which is still not the baseline for most consumer laptops. The Windows Subsystem for Android app can be seen in the Store here. Windows Subsystem for Android™ Developer: ‪Microsoft Corp.‬ Price: Kostenlos Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Android may not have Xbox One support after all

Windows 11's general availability is just around the corner, but as we learned a few days ago, it will not ship with Android app support, something that Microsoft touted heavily when it announced the OS back in June. That said, a new listing for Windows Subsystem for Android has now been spotted on the Microsoft Store that reveals a couple of interesting details. As spotted by WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_ on Twitter), the Microsoft Store now contains a dedicated page for "Windows Subsystem for Android". Although it's free to download, it currently only pops up a blank window when you install and open it on Windows 11. On our Windows 10 device, it does not even install. However, the store listing does contain a few interesting details. For one, the minimum requirements have been listed as Windows 10 version 22000.0 or greater, which is likely a typo for Windows 11 as it is the same branch as what we have on the Beta Channel currently. More importantly, it lists Xbox One as a supported OS too, something that has not been hinted by Microsoft before. Supported architectures include ARM64 and x64 while the minimum amount of RAM required is 8GB. The recommended specifications are the same apart from RAM requirements, which have been bumped up to 16GB. The store listing also cautions that users of the app shouldn't take screenshots or leak other content - likely an advisory for Microsoft employees testing the app internally. While Microsoft has not revealed further details about Android app support yet, we do know that Microsoft is partnering with Amazon and will deliver Android apps via the Amazon App Store which will be available under the Microsoft Store. With the new update, users will be able to download and install Android apps like TikTok, Pinterest, Kindle and more. Furthermore, these will act like Windows apps allowing users to pin them to taskbar, snap with other apps, resize and more. That said, it is important to note that none of the details - especially support for Xbox consoles - mentioned in the Microsoft Store listing have been confirmed by the Redmond tech giant itself so it's highly likely that they will change over time. We already know that the capabilities won't be present in the October 5 release of Windows 11. Windows Subsystem for Android app makes an appearance, touts Xbox support

It looks like Microsoft has quietly released an updated version to its Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) with the new release 2207.40000.8.0. While unconfirmed now, this could be the September update for WSA that Microsoft may have decided to roll out earlier for some reason, perhaps even by mistake. Microsoft has been releasing monthly updates for the feature, and it generally brings new features. For example, the July update (version 2205.40000.14.0) added AV1 codec, VPN support, and more. Meanwhile, the August update (version 2206.40000.15.0) brought gaming-focused changes, graphics improvements, among others. The new WSA 2207.40000.8.0 release expands the gamepad with keyboard options that were introduced in the previous release. Now it has additional features related to gamepad and keyboard settings. This could mean Microsoft is looking to appeal to more gamers out there who enjoy playing Android games, which also happen to be some of the most popular games out there. There could be more changes under the hood, that we can be sure of once Microsoft releases a changelog for the new update. That shouldn't be too long now, since we are already at the end of August. Source: IT Home Microsoft quietly releases the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) 2207.40000.8.0 update

Microsoft has pushed out a new update to its Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), but only for Windows Insiders in the Beta and Dev channels. The update, version 2210.40000.7.0, brings improvements to the camera, as well as general reliability, and performance updates, along with some other component updates. You can find the full release notes of the new November update below: What’s New Enhancement of audio recording quality Enhancement of OAuth scenarios Support for MPEG2 decoding Improvements to the camera experience when the device is not equipped with a camera Improvements in input reliability Chromium update to 106 Although we're not sure what improvements to the camera experience there can be without a physical camera, our test machine includes one, so we couldn't test. Microsoft did not share any known issues with this update. You can find the official blog post here. Windows Subsystem for Android November update brings camera improvements and more

One of the most significant new features in Windows 11 is the ability to run Android apps. Users can download their favorite titles from the Amazon Appstore—or sideload an APK file using third-party tools—and use them like native programs in resizable windows. The apps also support push-notifications, networking, access to cameras, printing, and other capabilities. Soon, Windows Subsystem for Android will become even better, as revealed by the recently published roadmap. WSA's GitHub repository contains a roadmap describing existing features, unavailable capabilities, and new stuff Microsoft "has on radar" for future releases. According to the documentation, Microsoft plans to upgrade WSA to Android 13 and add file transfer, shortcuts, picture-in-picture, and local network access support. Unfortunately, there is no information on when Microsoft will ship those features. Still, the company frequently releases WSA updates with features. A couple of days ago, Microsoft released an update with quality-of-life improvements and bugfixes for WSA in the Dev and Beta Channel. You can enroll your device into the Windows Insider program to be the first to test Android 13 and the promised new features. Windows Subsystem for Android is available for Windows 11 users in 31 countries across the globe, and Microsoft is working on bringing Android apps support to even more users. Note that your computer should meet hardware requirements to run Android apps, which are slightly different than the hardware requirements for Windows 11. Microsoft is working on Android 13 and more features for Windows Subsystem for Android

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 to the Windows Insider Dev and Beta channels today. The update (2209.40000.26.0) comes with a bunch of changes that improve security, camera, general reliability and performance. A complete list of what’s new in this update is as follows: Improvements to the Camera HAL Improvements to clipboard stability Improvements to multi-threaded (>8 core) performance Improved security for graphic streaming Reliability improvements for package launches Security updates for ANGLE and GSK Annotated telemetry with package installation sources Window with legal information has been fixed Security updates to the Linux kernel Enhancements to platform stability Updated to Chromium WebView 105 Of course, this is still beta-quality software, so you should expect to see some bugs. If you do notice anything wrong, Microsoft wants to hear about it. You can submit your feedback through the Feedback Hub, which is found under Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android. If you’re having any issues with Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11, be sure to consult the dedicated troubleshooting and FAQ webpage to see if your problems are addressed before trying to reach out to Microsoft or the wider community. Source: Windows Insider Blog Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 gets new Insider update

In March 2024, Microsoft suddenly retired the Windows Subsystem for Android, which was responsible for Android app support in Windows 11. The announcement surprised a lot of Windows 11 customers, especially considering it was one of the differentiating features between Windows 11 and its predecessor. However, as it now turns out, WSA is not really dead. Microsoft and Tencent announced a partnership, which will let customers in China run Android apps from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11. The announcement post does not explicitly mention the Windows Subsystem for Android or countries other than China. However, there are several clues indicating that the new initiative might continue where WSA left off. For example, the blog post (in Chinese) says the "computer version of Tencent App Store" uses Android OS based on Android 13, which was the final Android update for WSA. It will also utilize Intel Bridge and Celadon to make it possible to run ARM apps on x86 systems and allow them to access cameras, microphones, GPS, and even NPUs. Microsoft and Tencent want to make Android apps behave like native ones with support for resizable windows, search, shortcuts, installation from the Microsoft Store, etc, which sounds way too familiar to what WSA used to offer. Here is what Tencent VP Lin Songtao said about the partnership (translated): Tencent plans to bring over 1,500 mobile apps and games to the Microsoft Store. Mobile gaming is very popular in China, so it is not hard to guess why Microsoft decided to focus on the market. Shortly after the announcement of WSA's death, reports emerged about the company pulling the plug after failing to make the project and Amazon App Store generate profit. It will be interesting to see how the new Microsoft-Tencent partnership will go. Source

What you need to know Microsoft just shipped an update to Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. The update adds support for file sharing and transferring files using drag and drop and copy and paste. Several other improvements arrive with the update as well, including Android 13 security updates. Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 11 allows you to use Android apps on your PC. The feature came out in late 2021, though it's still relatively unknown. Microsoft steadily improves WSA on a regular basis, and the company recently shipped an update that makes it much easier to use your PC's files with Android apps. Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 now supports file sharing, letting you use Windows folders with Android apps. For example, your Pictures folder could be shared with WSA to make it easier to edit photos within an Android app. The update also adds the ability to transfer files using drag and drop or copy and paste. In addition to file-related changes, the latest version of WSA includes Android 13 security updates, and updated version of Chromium Webview, and several other improvements. Here are the full release notes from GitHub: File sharing enabled File transfer using drop and drop and copy and paste! Windows Subsystem for Android Settings (renamed to just "Windows Subsystem for Android") redesign, including displaying all installed Android apps Enable apps that specify android.hardware.type.pc in their manifest to opt into receiving raw input events Wi-Fi API compatibility improvements Camera hardware compatibility improvements Linux kernel security update Updated latest Chromium WebView to version 113 Android 13 security updates The biggest addition is support for file sharing. Since you can now share your Windows folders with WSA, it should be easier to upload and work with content within Android apps. A separate GitHub page from Microsoft outlines the addition and its benefits: "We are pleased to announce that Windows Subsystem for Android™ can now share your Windows user folders, like Documents and Pictures, with the Subsystem, so scenarios like uploading a photo to a social media app or editing a video in a creative app work seamlessly. Folder sharing is enabled by default for preview users and can be toggled on and off in Windows Subsystem for Android™ Settings. When folder sharing is enabled, your Windows user profile folder (e.g., “C:\Users\John Doe”) is shared as “/sdcard/Windows” in the Subsystem." If you're new to the Windows Subsystem for Android, make sure to check out our guide on how to get started with Android apps on Windows 11. While the Amazon Appstore is the simplest way to get Android apps onto your PC, you can also sideload Android apps onto Windows 11. Microsoft just made it easier to get the most out of Android apps on Windows 11