14 DAY TRIAL // One of the biggest new features that are bundled with Windows 11 is the support for Android apps, as users can now run apps built for Google’s mobile operating system right on their desktops.
The rollout of Android apps in Windows 11, however, is happening gradually, and this week, the software giant announced that by the end of the year, more users would finally be provided with access to this highly anticipated feature.
“The Amazon Appstore preview on Windows 11 is currently available in the US, and it will be expanding to five additional countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, by the end of this year,” Microsoft says.
The Android experience on Windows 11 is powered by the Amazon Appstore. While the downloads take place from the Microsoft Store, the links come from the Amazon Appstore, though users can also install APK files manually using various other methods.
Android improvements on Windows 11
Microsoft has recently announced a series of improvements for Android apps on Windows 11, including not only support for Android 12.1, but also a redesign of the Settings app.
“The Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app has been redesigned and updated in a huge way. We’ve redesigned the app from the ground up, now with clearer settings groups, grouped navigation and an all-around cleaner user experience. We’ve also added a diagnostic data viewer where you can examine all the diagnostic data collected by the Subsystem, and configuration options in the new compatibility settings to turn on fixes for specific apps such as forcing apps to be non-resizable or enabling swipes for arrow keys,” Microsoft says.
While Microsoft claims the expanded availability would take place later this year, there’s a chance the release is supposed to happen with the debut of Windows 11 version 22H2.