One of the most appealing features of Windows 11 is native support for Android apps. Microsoft demonstrated how Android apps would work on Windows, but it was not ready in time for users to try it out. Microsoft announced last month that Android app support, along with other enhancements, will be available in February. It's finally here. Windows 11 now allows you to download and use Android apps from the Amazon Appstore, which is still in preview.
Microsoft has announced that the Amazon Appstore now has over 1,000 apps and games for Windows 11. This is a significantly larger catalogue than what was available on Windows 11 during testing. Apps like Uber, Audible, TikTok, and games like Subway Surfers are now available for download, but you must first check to see if your PC supports them. Microsoft specifies minimum system requirements for your PC, such as 8GB of RAM, an SSD, and a compatible processor.
"To get started with the preview, open and update the Microsoft Store (click Get updates in Microsoft Store > Library), search your favourite titles, or browse our new curated collection of mobile apps and games; once you've found what you're looking for, download it through the Amazon Appstore," said Panos Panay, Microsoft's Chief Product Officer for Windows + Devices.
Android apps, on the other hand, are not new to Windows, thanks to emulators like BlueStack. However, Windows 11 eliminates the need for an emulator by natively supporting Android apps. This means that Windows 11 will support Android apps in the same way that it supports Windows apps. However, because these apps are not designed to run in a large-screen format, you will mostly see them in vertical mode. Microsoft stated that native Android support on its new Windows is possible thanks to the Windows Subsystem for Android, which runs the Amazon Appstore in a Hyper-V Virtual Machine and interacts with the Android API.
The bottom line is that Android can now be officially supported by Windows 11. That also means that support isn't limited to Amazon, which isn't as big as Google when it comes to Android. As a result, Google launched the Play Games app for Windows a few days ago in a few countries, bringing official Android games from your phone to your PC. The catalogue is currently small, but Google has high hopes because it does not want Amazon to lead the way for Android adoption on Windows 11.
While Android apps are the most notable addition to Windows' February update, there are other features as well. The Taskbar now displays weather information on your primary PC and clock information on external monitors, a mute/unmute button and a Share this window option for Teams calls, a redesigned Media Player that replaces Groove Music, and a redesigned Notes app.
The Windows 11 update is now being rolled out to users worldwide, but Android support may be limited to users in the United States.