3 Free Ways to Run Android Apps on a Windows 11 PC

In this post you are going to learn 3 different methods to run Android apps on windows 11. Before going into the details, you need to install Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA for short).

The first method is to install Android APK like a native windows app. Then you can run the Android emulators in windows 11 to run Android apps and finally you are going to learn how to install Google Play store in windows 11.

Before all these make sure that you enable the developer mode for Apps. To enable that, click on the search icon at the taskbar and search for developer mode.

Toggle the Developer mode and ignore the warning.

Prerequisite: Install Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11

If you truly wish to natively run Android applications in windows 11, it is necessary to install Windows Subsystem for Android devices. There are a lot of methods for doing that, however the method that I am using is Windows 11 built-in PowerShell app. It is very effective for everyone in any location that they live.

Currently WSA is only accessible to the users of who are based in the US. So, it means other countries users won’t have access to this feature currently. That’s why I’m using PowerShell, which is universal method for anyone wherever they are living.

Step1. Enable Virtual Machine Platform on Windows 11

Before installing Windows Subsystem for Android, you need to enable the virtual machine platform from the windows features. Go and search for Windows feature and open it. After opening windows feature simply check the box of Virtual Machine Platform and click OK. It’s going to download required files and then it’s going to apply changes after that it’s going to restart your PC.

Step 2. Download Windows Subsystem for Android

As I said earlier that WSA is only available for beta users in the US. Other regions they have to use the alternative method to download WSA.

Please open this page and click on the drop-down menu and change it from URL(link) to ProductId, then Enter the following ID 9p3395vx91nr and click on the tick box.

Wait a few seconds, you will see a list of files will appear for you. Scroll down to the end and choose the last option which size is 1.21 GB. Click on it and download it on the computer.

There’s also another file that you need to download from there in case if you run into installing error. That file is “Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.6”, it’s size around 5 MB.

Step 3. Run PowerShell as Administrator

Click on the search icon at the taskbar and search for PowerShell, after appearing PowerShell click on run as administrator. The moment PowerShell is running as administrator you need to go to the location where the downloaded files are located. In my case I have downloaded and located them in the desktop. So in order to go to the desktop, simply type cd.. and press enter.

cd.. will take you back one folder.

On the below screenshot you can see that I have used cd.. 2 times, and then I have changed the location to users by typing cd users, and access my user account by the name of Ali Abbas by typing cd Ali Abbas. Then I have access desktop by typing cd desktop

After accessing your location, type the following command and then press M and press tab (It will auto complete). First you have to install the Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.6 and press enter. After that one you have to type the same command again and this time again press M and then press tab (Auto-complete). This time select the Windows subsystem for android and install it.

Add-AppxPackage Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.6_2.62112.3002.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Add-AppxPackage MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_1.8.32837.0_neutral___8wekyb3d8bbwe

After the installation, you will see that it has appeared on the apps are they start menu.

Method 1: Run Android Apps on Windows 11 Using Pacman

The best application that can run Android APK in windows 11 is WSA Pacman. It is a lot more powerful, and it is not using a lot of resources compared to the Amazon and Google Play store in windows 11. The only requirement for the WSA Pacman is that you have to install WSA on Windows 11 PC. And you need to make sure the developer mode is turned on the WSA.

Step 1. Download WSA Pacman

Another method that you can use to install Android apps in windows 11 is using the app called WSA Pacman. A big thank you for the creator of WSA Pacman on GitHub, so click on the below link to download the latest version of WSA Pacman.

https://github.com/alesimula/wsa_pacman/releases

Step 2. Install WSA Pacman

Double click on the installer, on the first step select to select the destination or go by default and then click next.

Next, Click next on the select start menu folder. In the additional tasks section, don’t do anything simply click next. Remember that the current version WSA Pacman only runs the APK file extension and Xapk file extension.

Now you are ready to install WSA Pacman.Once the installation is finished, WSA Pacman requires to restart your computer so save your work and restart it.

Step 3. Download Android APK

In order to install an Android application in windows 11 using WSA Pacman, you need to download the APK of that application. There are a lot of good websites that you can download Android application. However, the one that I recommend is known APKpure.com.

In this article, I’m going to download the Instagram APK and install it in windows 11.

Step 4. Configure Windows Subsystem for Android Settings.

To run Android apps from windows 11, you have to open WSA and configure the settings first. Simply click on the search icon at the taskbar and search for Windows Subsystem for Android after appearing simply open it.

Click on the files and click continue. if you don’t want to share your diagnosis data then uncheck the box.

Then you need to enable the Developer mode. Once you enable the developer mode or windows security alert will appear for you so you have to allow access to the Windows Defender firewall.

Step 5. Launch and See the Status of WSA Pacman

Open the WSA Pacman from search result.

Make sure that it is connected to the WSA.

Step 7. Install and Run Android App on Windows 11

Now that everything is ready you are ready to install the Android APK that you download it.

To install the Android APK, double click on it and the installer wizard will open.

Click on Install.

Once the installation is finished, you can check the box to create a desktop shortcut for Instagram app. And then click on dismiss.

Now have a look here that I have installed Android APK in windows 11 just like a windows application. You can say that I have logged in inside my Instagram account and don’t forget to follow me.

Method 2: Run Android Apps in Windows 11 Using Bluestacks Emulators

Another powerful method that you can use to install Android applications on windows 11 is to use Android emulators. There are a lot of Android emulators that available on the web but among them I recommend you to use the BlueStacks. The installation process is really easy.

Just you have to download the application from their website and then click Install now.

Then you have to wait until it Downloads the required file from the Internet. After downloading and installing the Bluestacks on your computer, sign in inside the Google Play store and download your desired Android application. For this step I have downloaded the TikTok application.

Method 3. Install and Run Android Apps via Google Play Store in Windows 11

By installing Google Play store in windows 11 I think there is no need for us to install the Amazon App Store. It is true that Microsoft is about to bring Android applications in windows 11 through the Amazon App Store. And currently it is only available for beta users in the USA. So, this is the place where the open-source community comes to the rescue.

There are multiple different methods that you can install Google Play store in windows 11, and all of these methods are based on the Github. Among this is the easiest method that you can use to install Google Play store in windows 11 that I am guiding you.

Note: Previously if you have installed Windows Subsystem for Android, uninstall it, then commit to these steps.

Step 1. Create a Github Account

The method that I am showing you is one-click install, and for that to be performed you need to create a GitHub account. So, visit github.com & sign up right away.

Step 2. Copy Repository to Your Account

Login Github and go to the repository of LSPosed/MagiskOnWSA and click on Fork to copy this project under your account.

Step 3. Enable Workflow

After copying the repository into your account, go to action, and enable the workflow.

Step 4. Build WSA Workflow

After enabling the workflow, we need to build the WSA. So, build it using the below settings on the screenshot.

Step 5. Download WSA Workflow

Give it 5 minutes to build the WSA for workflow, after building you need to download the created workflow.

Step 6. Run the Script

After downloading the WSA workflow, you need to extract it from the zip file. After extracting right click only install and open it with PowerShell.

Once the PowerShell window is opened, simply press Y and wait for it to be installed.

And now sign in into the Google Play store and use it as a native windows application in windows 11.

Summary:

If you want to run Android app in windows 11, then you have to install the WSA Pacman. If you want to run Android applications inside an emulator then use BlueStacks. And finally, if you want to run natively Android applications in windows 11 then install Google Play store.