14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft today announced that the first users in the Windows Insider program are allowed to download and run Android apps on Windows 11 devices, yet for the time being, the feature comes with a series of limitations specifically supposed to make it possible for the company to collect more feedback and focus on critical polishing.
As a result, only 50 Android apps are available for testing, with Microsoft explaining that it worked together with developers specifically to make sure they run properly on Windows 11.
There are several mobile games available on Windows 11, such as Lords Mobile and Coin Master, as well as reading apps, including the official Kindle client. For children content, you can find the Khan Academy Kids and the Lego Duplo World app.
“We have partnered with Amazon and popular app developers to curate 50 apps for Windows Insiders to test and validate across a broad set of hardware. We will release new apps through Windows Insider Program updates in the coming months,” Microsoft explains.
Still in very early testing
The feature is currently available only for insiders in the United States.
“To dive in, open the new Microsoft Store and find a selection of mobile experiences that were not available on Windows before. These Android apps and games join our broader catalog, which has everything you are looking for – from core to casual games, sophisticated productivity suites to social experiences, creativity tools to niche hobbyist apps, and developer tools to entire virtualized environments,” the company explains.
Clearly, Microsoft wants to make sure everything is working just as expected, so the company hasn’t shared any information as to when the Android app support could arrive in stable Windows 11. This will take some take, and Microsoft is sticking with baby steps for now to focus as much as possible on the overall stability and reliability of Android apps on the desktop.