We’ve learned that Microsoft has started testing the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), which allows you to run Android apps in Windows 11. Starting today, the feature is available to members of the Windows Beta preview program.
The Android apps available for download can be found in the Microsoft Store, where there are pages describing the different products along with links to download them from the Amazon Appstore. Android apps can function side-by-side with Windows software products and can be moved around within the workspace, docked to the taskbar, and more, if necessary.
Microsoft has reportedly partnered with Amazon to prepare 50 Android apps for insiders to test. Users will be able to interact with mobile games, children’s apps, book readers and more. Of course, the 50 apps are just a small fraction of the more than 3 million apps available in the Play Market, or the 600,000 apps published on the Amazon Appstore. It’s unknown at this time how many apps will be available to users when the WSA subsystem goes public.
Recall, the WSA subsystem is based on the Linux kernel and the Android 11 operating system. The subsystem is a Hyper-V virtual machine, which performs the task of mapping the execution environment and APIs in the AOSP environment with the Windows graphical environment, input modes and other components of the operating system.