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Your Windows 11 PC Will Soon Run Android Apps

How will that work, exactly?

By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 29, 2021 11:40AM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Windows 11 will run Android phone apps.These apps will come from Amazon’s app store.Behind the scenes, this is a lot more complex than running iPhone apps on the Mac. Microsoft Windows 11 will run Android phone apps, just like the latest Macs can run iPhone apps, but why will Microsoft allow this? Microsoft has historically kept a tight control of its dual moneymakers, Windows and Office. But in recent years, these products have become parts of its new goal—to be the go-to vendor for all business software. With this in mind, it makes sense that Windows should do as much as possible, including letting you run all your Android apps on your PC. But things are already a little confusing. "Not all Android apps in the Google Play Store [will work], only those in the Amazon Appstore will be compatible for use in Windows 11," Michael Knight, co-founder of Incorporation Insight, told Lifewire via email. "[Also], Windows will attempt to natively sideload Android applications." Got that?

Will It Work

iPhone apps can run on the latest M1 Macs because they all use the same chips and share a common set of tools for building apps. In a sense, the newest Macs are just big iPhones. Android on Windows is quite different, and conceptually way more complex. Android apps can run on ARM processors (like Apple’s M1, or the Qualcomm Snapdragon chips powering most Android phones), or on the Intel x86 chips found in most PCs. To serve apps, Windows 11 will include the Amazon Appstore. If the app you want to install is available in native x86 (PC) format, then it will just give you that. If not, then Windows will activate a special in-between layer that translates the phone app to run on the PC. Currently, we don’t know the details of this translation layer, because Microsoft’s presentation didn’t get that deep. This Microsoft/Intel press release has an overview, and this excellent technical article from Ars Technica covers what is known so far. "First-party apps will likely work without issue, as Windows 11 has been built to support them. Some apps may take some configuring to get to work and some may not work at all," Christen Costa, CEO of Gadget Review, told Lifewire via email. Not all Android apps in the Google Play Store [will work], only those in the Amazon Appstore will be compatible for use in Windows 11. It will also be possible to sideload apps from any source. You won’t be stuck with Amazon’s Appstore, which might be a good thing because the experience looks far from slick. "To download apps, you'll need to sign in with your Amazon account. The Microsoft Store serves primarily as a unified app search engine," Edward Mellett, founder of advice site Wikijob, told Lifewire via email. "This implies that you'll have two App Stores open at all times on Windows, with two places to check for updates. It doesn't appear to be streamlined."

Why Microsoft Why

Including a third-party app store in Windows shows how much Microsoft has changed under CEO Satya Nadella. It’s gone from being all about pushing Office into whatever space would take it to making Microsoft a kind of one-stop shop for business. And Microsoft doesn’t have a mobile operating system of its own. Even though Apple is focussed on individual users, it still has a formidable business presence. This could be why Intel and Microsoft have teamed up to put Android right there on the desktop. "It's a sensible step to increase their distinction from Mac, and create more accessibility for the user as it opens possibilities of using the same apps without lifting the phone," says Knight. "This also strengthens the streamlined use of desktops and laptops for both business and leisure purposes."

What About Windows on Arm

There’s another piece that doesn’t really fit into this puzzle. Microsoft also makes a version of Windows that runs on ARM processors. You’d think this might be the way to let Android apps run on PCs, but Microsoft seems almost reluctant to push it beyond its current form. Right now, Windows for ARM runs better on M1 Macs than it does on Microsoft’s own hardware. Then again, Microsoft plays the long game. Android on x86 Windows is right now. Android apps on ARM Windows PCs is probably the future. Whatever the plan, the reality now is your next PC update will make it a whole lot more useful. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 Shows That the Future Is ARM, Not Intel How to Use BlueStacks to Run Android Apps on Windows How to Fix It When the Snipping Tool Isn't Working in Windows 11 How to Run Android Apps on Windows 10 How to Get Android Apps on Windows 11 The 5 Best Windows 11 Features to Know Windows 11: News, Release Date, and Specs Can I Run Windows 11 on My Computer? How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Slow How to Fix It When Windows 11 Defender Won't Open The 8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Windows 11 Search Not Working? Try These Fixes APK File (What It Is and How to Open One) Can You Run iPhone Apps on Android and Windows? How to Fix Incorrect Windows 11 Audio Icons How To Fix Windows 11 Black Screen Issues Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies