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How to install Android apps on Windows 11

Jacob Roach
By

Windows 11 supports Android apps through the Amazon App Store, which is one of the biggest differences between Microsoft's latest operating system and Windows 10. It's not as simple as downloading Android apps and using them, though. You need to know how to install Android apps on Windows 11.

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Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Windows 11

  • Microsoft Store

  • the Amazon Appstore app

We're focusing on natively installing Android apps on Windows 11 here. You can still use Android apps on Windows 10 through emulation, but we recommend installing Windows 11 if you want to run Android apps through Windows.

How to install Android apps on Windows 11

For Android apps on Windows 11, you need the Amazon Appstore and the Windows Subsystem for Android. You should already have the Windows Subsystem for Android installed with Windows 11, but in case you don't, you can re-download it from the Microsoft Store.

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store by using the Windows + S keys and searching for "Microsoft Store."

Microsoft Store in Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Search for "Amazon Appstore" and select the app.

Searching for Amazon Appstore app in Microsoft Store.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Related

Step 3: Click Install.

The Microsoft Store listing for Amazon Appstore.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: At this point, you may need to enable virtualization if you haven't already done it on your computer. Windows 11 can do this automatically, as well as set up the Windows Subsystem for Android if you don't have it installed.

If you see the prompt, select Set up > Download > Next > Restart, following the prompts from the Microsoft Store. You'll need to restart your computer.

Enabling virtualization in order to use Amazon Appstore.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: Once your PC has fully restarted, the Windows Subsystem for Android should appear and then the Amazon Appstore app should open automatically afterward.

Amazon Appstore sign-in on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 6: Sign into your Amazon account (or create a new one), and start downloading Android apps on Windows!

The Amazon Appstore interface once logged in.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You're restricted to the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11, but there is still a long list of apps you can download and use, including TikTok and Comixology. If you want to know where to get started, make sure to read our guide on the best Android apps for Windows 11.

If you want to explore outside of the Amazon Appstore, you can sideload Android apps on Windows 11. These apps aren't officially supported, though, so proceed at your own risk.

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Topics
Jacob Roach
Jacob Roach
Senior Staff Writer, Computing
Jacob Roach is a writer covering computing and gaming at Digital Trends. After realizing Crysis wouldn't run on a laptop, he…
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