14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially kicked off the public testing of Android apps on Windows 11, but of course, this early release comes with a series of limitations, including a small number of apps currently up for download from the Microsoft Store (via the Amazon Appstore).
And while the company hasn’t shared any specifics as to when Android apps could launch for production devices already running Windows 11, it did disclose how it plans the whole thing to work once available.
And unsurprisingly, Android apps will feel just like home on Windows 11, with Microsoft trying to make them act just like a native piece of software.
Android apps will also show up in the Alt + Tab app switcher on Windows 11, and Microsoft says their notifications will also show up in the Action Center.
Native feel
And in case you’re wondering, native Windows features, such as the clipboard, will be available in Android apps, so in theory, you will be able to copy content between Windows and Android apps as straightforward as you expect the whole process to be.
“Running Android apps and games on Windows 11 will feel familiar, effortless, and integrated – just as you would expect. 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,” Microsoft explains.
“Android apps are also integrated into Alt + Tab and Task view to help you quickly move back-and-forth between the apps that matter most to you. You can see notifications from Android apps notifications in the Action Center or share your clipboard between a Windows app and an Android app. We have built the experience with accessibility in mind; many Windows accessibility settings apply to Android apps and we are working with Amazon to deliver more improvements.”