How to set up Windows Subsystem for Android on your Windows 11 PC

Gone are the days when you needed an emulator to run Android apps on Windows. The latest Windows release, Windows 11, ships with Windows Subsystem for Android, which allows you to install Android apps on your PC easily. Unlike some of the best Chromebooks that come with the Google Play Store preinstalled, installing Android apps using Windows Subsystem for Android isn't that easy if you live in an unsupported region. However, there is a clever way to install Android apps on any Windows 11 PC.

How to set up Windows Subsystem for Android on your Windows 11 PC© Provided by Android Police

Windows Subsystem for Android works the same way as Windows Subsystem for Linux, which Microsoft introduced in 2016. Both WSL and WSA use virtualization to install and run apps.

Installing Android apps on Windows 11

You can install Windows Subsystem for Android using an installer package of the program from Microsoft or by signing up for the Beta or Developer builds in the Windows Insider Program. This guide focuses on the former method.

Installing the Windows Subsystem for Android

To install WSA, we'll use the Microsoft Store Generation Project website. It retrieves packages from the Microsoft server, the same server that Microsoft Store uses to install apps on your Windows PC. Hence, it's safe to use.

1. Head to store.rg-adguard.net.
2. Copy the following link and paste it into the URL box: www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-subsystem-for-android/9p3395vx91nr
3. Click the drop-down arrow to the right and select Slow.
4. Click the check mark to search for files.
5. Scroll down and click the largest MSIX bundle to start the download. The latest version, as of writing this (2211.40000.7.0), is 1.35 GB.
6. When the download finishes, go to the file's location.
7. Right-click on the file and click Rename.
8. Add the text .appx at the end of the file and press Enter.
9. Double-click on the file and click the Install button.
10. Once finished installing, the Windows Subsystem for Android launches.

Alternatively, you can also use Winget to pull the WSA installer package from the Microsoft Store database. All you do is open the command prompt or the terminal, type the following command, and press Enter:

winget install --id=9P3395VX91NR -e --accept-package-agreements

If you plan to install loads of apps, back up Windows. Backing up and restoring Windows 10/11 installs is easy and doesn't require much effort.

Installing an app store: Aurora Store

Now that you're done installing WSA, you may think the next step is to install the Google Play Store and Play Services for a fully blown Android experience. However, that's not easy. When WSA was first announced, people started looking for ways to install Google Play Store on the same, and that's when someone stumbled upon a script that allowed installing the Play Store and other Google Services in a jiffy. It was later discovered that the scripts were injecting users with malware and malicious scripts, as reported by BleepingComputer.

However, if you're still keen on installing the Google Play Store with Google services, WSAGAScript is an open source project which lets you do just that. Getting the Play Store running via the script could be time-consuming as it requires you to install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and know the terminal/command prompt basics for troubleshooting. Another drawback is that you'll need to follow the steps again when a new WSA update is available.

There are many safe Play Store alternatives, and one of our favorites is the Aurora Store. As WSA allows sideloading, it's easy to install any third-party store and then install other apps. If you don't want to sideload an APK, WSA Sideloader will do. All you do is install and open it, download and browse the location of an APK file, and click Install. If that doesn't work out, here's how to manually install an APK on Windows Subsystem for Android.

1. Get the stable Aurora Store APK from its official website.
2. Install the Android Debugging Bridge. Refer to the Windows: Manual Setup section in our ADB guide.
3. Navigate to the Platform Tools folder, right-click, and select Open in Terminal.
4. Open Windows Subsystem for Android, go to Developer and turn on Developer mode.
5. Once turned on, Android's Developer options pop up in a window. Close it, and you'll see a string of numbers separated by periods and a semicolon.
6. Go to the Terminal and type adb connect number. Replace number with the number you see in the Developer mode section. For example, ADB connect 127.0.0.1:2000.
7. Once done, it returns connected and asks you to allow USB debugging. Click Allow to proceed.
8. Move the Aurora Store APK to the Platform Tools folder.
9. Enter adb install AuroraStore_4.1.1.apk in the Terminal. Here, 4.1.1 refers to the version number, which could differ depending on when you're reading this. Copy the exact file name and paste it into the Terminal.
10. Once done, open the Start menu. You'll find Aurora Store in the Recommended section. Alternatively, you can search for it using the search bar.

Now that Aurora Store is installed and ready to go, the next step is to open it, set it up, and install your favorite apps. Installing apps from the store is similar to the Google Play Store.

Setting up Aurora Store

Here's how to set up the Aurora Store.

1. Click the Aurora Store icon to start the application.
2. Accept the Terms of service and click Next.
3. Check Session installer and click Next.
4. Choose the app's theme and accent, and click Next.
5. Grant all the required permissions and proceed further.
6. When you're done, click Finish.
7. As WSA lacks GApps, the Sign in with Google option won't work, so click Anonymous.
8. You'll then see the Aurora Store homepage.
9. To download an app, click an icon and the Install button to start the download.
10. Once done, you'll see a window containing the package installer. Click Install.
11. Once an app is installed, you can find it in the Start menu's Recommended section or All apps.
12. Here's Instagram running on WSA.

Like many Google Play Store alternatives, Aurora Store also has its shortcomings. One of them is app availability. However, you can counter it by manually installing APKs from APK Mirror using the adb install command.

Installing WSA by enrolling in Windows Insiders

The other method involves signing up for the Windows Insider Program. Installing the Beta or Developer versions allows you to try out upcoming features at the expense of overall system stability. Regardless, it is an option if you don't want to rely on third-party tools. All you do is sign up for Beta in the Windows Insider Program, change your region to the U.S., and search and download the Amazon Appstore in Windows Store.

Windows Subsystem for Android is still limited

In its latest update, 2211.40000.7.0, Microsoft upped the Android version from Android 12L to Android 13. WSA is mostly in its development and testing phases, and there's a long way before it becomes available to all Windows 11 PCs worldwide. Although, with Microsoft shifting gears recently, it may come to your region sooner than expected. Until then, the methods mentioned above are your best bet to try out WSA.

WSA is a great tool for developers and enthusiasts who want to run Android apps on their Windows computers. However, an everyday user who may not be well-versed with app sideloading might use the Amazon Appstore, which lacks some of the best apps. Therefore, the overall WSA experience may feel underwhelming and gimmicky. We hope Microsoft adds more depth and functionality to it until its stable release on Windows 11.