Windows 11 Android Subsystem Updated Before Its Removal Deadline

The Windows 11 Subsystem for Android has recently received its latest update. Previously, Microsoft announced that WSA would officially be supported until March 5, 2025.

Despite this, the subsystem has been upgraded to version 2407.40000.4.0. This update does not introduce any new features but focuses solely on security fixes. The interface and functionalities of WSA remain unchanged.

The WSA layer enables the execution of mobile applications and games designed for the Android platform on Windows 11. Microsoft has been developing this project since late 2021, modeling it after the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2), which allows Linux executable files to run on Windows. It utilizes a full Linux kernel that operates within Windows via a virtual machine.

However, the Amazon AppStore and the Windows Subsystem for Android are no longer available in the Microsoft Store. Amazon clarified that users will still have access to previously installed applications from the Amazon Appstore on their Windows 11 PCs until March 5, 2025.

Nevertheless, users can turn to third-party services for emulation, some of which support Google Play Services. For instance, BlueStacks offers Google Play support but is only accessible through the Amazon Appstore, requiring a US-based Amazon account for operation.

Users can also consider Google Play Games, which supports over 300 games. Additionally, many popular applications and games already have their desktop clients and versions available in the Microsoft Store.

In 2024, Microsoft and Tencent announced a partnership to bring Android applications to Windows 11 PCs in China. This integration resembles the earlier inclusion of the Amazon Appstore found in the Microsoft Store. Through this collaboration, Tencent plans to introduce over 1,500 mobile applications and games to the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 users in the People’s Republic of China.