Android apps on Windows 11 have arrived for Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Microsoft’s announcement specifies this is for U. Microsoft also recently announced Android app support will be coming via public preview in February. If you’re an Insider in the Dev Channel, then today’s scoop is old hat.
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 will be rolling out on October 5 to consumers with supported hardware. It will ship with all changes currently available to testers in the Beta channel of the Windows Insider program.
Thankfully, users will be allowed to sideload the mobile apps using the APK files available on the internet. As we mentioned at the outset, Microsoft is bringing Windows Subsystem for Android to Windows 11 and it is similar to the existing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
When will Android apps be available for public preview?
Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer (Windows + Devices) at Microsoft, spilled all the details in a blog post, explaining first and foremost that there would be a public preview of Android apps in February.
Along with the Amazon Appstore preview, Microsoft is rolling out improvements to the taskbar. The enhanced taskbar adds the ability to share windows from open apps, weather reports, a clock on your second monitor and mute/unmute features to make video calls easier. Users can also explore redesigned versions of Media Player and Notepad.
What is windows 11’s android subsystem and how does it work?
Unlike traditional emulators, Windows 11’s Android Subsystem is expected to be faster and Microsoft is collaborating with Intel on the Bridge Technology, a runtime that would allow anyone to run mobile apps on x86 devices. However, Windows 11’s Android support won’t be exclusive to Intel products.
The most usefull answer is; windows 11 has a new look, including a new Start menu and redesigned Taskbar. If you don’t like the look of Windows 11, you can customize it with these apps.