Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is a new free-to-play 4x strategy game from developer AN Games and publisher Tilting Point. While originally developed for mobile devices, this game is also available on Windows PC.

That's thanks to the Google Play Games launcher, which Google recently released in beta, allowing developers to simultaneously launch a game on Android devices and across PC with ease.

You can check out the launch trailer for Avatar Legends: Realms Collide below:

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have worked with Nickelodeon again and have AN Games spearhead development on a mobile game based on the much beloved Avatar Legends universe,” said Kevin Segalla, CEO and founder of Tilting Point.

“AN Games are masters when it comes to strategic gameplay and, just like us, are massive fans of the franchise. We can’t wait to hear what players and fans think about this latest adventure.”

Developed in collaboration with Avatar Studios, Avatar Legends: Realms Collide tasks players with recruiting heroes like Aang and Korra from across the franchise's history to defeat a threat from the Spirit World called Father Glowworm.

Over a decade after The Legend of Korra ended, the world of Avatar is set to continue growing with a new TV series called Avatar: Seven Havens, which is following a new Avatar. Little else is known, but the series has already been greenlit for two seasons.

The Google Play Games launcher opens up new opportunities for developers

It'll be interesting to see just how many developers begin to utilize the Google Play Games launcher on PC in order to bring their titles across.

While many of the best PC games wouldn't work with mobile controls, if it's possible for developers to build an experience that works on multiple platforms at once, then it's likely worth pursuing.

Microsoft is also working on an Xbox mobile store, though this ambition has been indefinitely delayed as the company garners feedback from developers, including the first-party mobile teams at King.

Microsoft's official Xbox app on Android devices and the Google Play Store was scheduled to get some brand new features before the end of 2024, but now it looks like users will likely have to wait until next year before they're implemented.

Xbox president Sarah Bond has taken to social media to announce that due to an administrative stay granted by U.S. courts, Microsoft has been forced to delay allowing Xbox app users on Android to both purchase and play games through the software. This news comes after Bond previously announced these features would come in November shortly after Google was ordered to open its app store to third-party rivals in early October.

"At Xbox, we want to offer players more choice on how and where they play, including being able to play and buy games directly from the Xbox app," Bond wrote on X (Twitter). "I recently shared our ambition to unlock these features first with the Google Play Store on Android devices in the U.S. while other app stores adapt to meet consumer demand."

"Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned," she continued. "Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision. We are eager to launch and give more choice and flexibility to players."

The delay is a bump in the road for Microsoft's plan to expand to and integrate mobile gaming into the wider Xbox ecosystem, though given that Bond says the administrative stay is only temporary, it hardly seems like a sizable one. Overall, things appear to be going well for the firm's venture, with regulatory pressure on Google and Apple's mobile store duopoly ramping up in recent months and Xbox Cloud Gaming available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as a popular option for streaming games on mobile devices.

Recently, Xbox Cloud Gaming's "Stream Your Own Game" feature was also implemented, allowing users to stream 50 titles if they've purchased them even though they're not included in the Xbox Game Pass library. More buy-to-own games are sure to be rolled into the service over time, giving players further options.

There's still a long road ahead for Microsoft and Xbox, though. The company's long-rumored Xbox handheld is real, but it's at least "several years out." Additionally, it's also chosen to delay the debut of its mobile gaming store as it "does additional research on the market," with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently commenting on the need for "a way to find the store," or in other words, something marketable that attracts customers. "If we’re just hoping, like, if we build it, they will come, I’m going to bet that doesn’t work," he said. Xbox Cloud Gaming is also generally less reliable than NVIDIA GeForce NOW in many scenarios and Xbox Play Anywhere cross-progression isn't as widespread as it should be, which are no doubt things Microsoft will have to work to address.

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Still, Microsoft and Xbox have a lot of momentum going into 2025, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the exclusive STALKER 2 both launching very successfully while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is now just under two weeks away (don't forget Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed is coming up, too). A steady stream of third-party games have come to the platform this year as well, including some big surprises like Death Stranding — a title that was originally a PlayStation exclusive for several years.

Hopefully big wins like this are followed up with major service improvements and additions as Microsoft looks to bring Xbox games to "as many screens as possible," but ultimately, only time will tell if they come. Overall, though, I think the company has plenty of opportunities to be incredibly successful moving forward, and the first step in that process is making Xbox games more widely accessible across many different platforms. Hopefully this temporary administrative stay doesn't last too long.

 What you need to know 

• Supercell is bringing two popular mobile games, Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, to PC for the very first time via Google Play Games (beta). 
• Google Play Games is an application that allows users to browse, download, and play Android games on their PCs with seamless integration with Google Play Points.
• The two games will support mouse controls and feature-optimized graphics alongside high-end performance capabilities.

Clash of Clans and Clash Royale from Helsinki-based game company Supercell can now be played on PC for the very first time thanks to the Google Play Games beta app on Windows. Clash of Clans is an ongoing strategy game that has built a community of millions of players over its decade-long run on Android devices. Clash Royale, a mobile real-time multiplayer deck-building battler, has also fostered an impressive community of dedicated players on Android. 

Both Clash of Clans and Clash Royale will remain free to play, bolstered by in-app purchases and the Supercell Store. Players can look forward to cross-platform play, and all progress will be saved on a player's Supercell ID to allow for cross-progression. 

The move to bring these two mobile heavy-weights to PC is a first for Supercell. “We want to put our players first in everything we do, and our players have been asking for a way to play on PC. We hope to see many of them use this new way to play Clash and enjoy it even more!”, said Stuart McGaw, General Manager of Clash of Clans.

The push for Android games to move to PC via Google Play Games comes just as Xbox closes its record-setting deal with Activision Blizzard King. Some market regulating authorities saw Microsoft's purchase of ABK as a way for the company to foreclose on Sony's PlayStation by withholding the popular Call of Duty franchise from the competition. 

However, many in the industry —including PlayStation head, Jim Ryan— saw Microsoft's acquisition as a move into the mobile space. It was Candy Crush, not Call of Duty, that Xbox was after.

In his testimony during the Xbox vs. FTC hearings, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer echoed this point. According to Spencer, mobile is the fastest-growing sector of the gaming market, whereas console has dramatically stagnated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon closing the ABK deal, Xbox leadership began to visit the newly acquired studios —starting with King.

Spencer sees Xbox as having largely lost the console wars against PlayStation and has said he now sees Google and Amazon as Xbox's biggest competition in gaming. Both Google, via mobile gaming, and Amazon, with cloud streaming service Luna, have made strides in the gaming market in recent years. While Google's attempts at cloud streaming with Stadia failed, its mobile gaming library is already widely supported by developers and publishers, who may benefit from expanding to new audiences on PC.

What you need to know

• Google Play Games beta is now available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
• Previously, the beta version of the service was available for testing in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia.
• The service allows people to play Android games on their PC and sync progress to their mobile devices.

Google just took a major step forward toward delivering Android games on Windows PCs. The company announced earlier this week that Google Play Games beta on PC is now available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Previously, it was only available in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia.

Google Play Games allows people to play Android games on their Windows PCs. It's entirely separate from Microsoft's efforts to have Android apps and games run on Windows. Microsoft has an Android Subsystem for Windows that allows people to use thousands of Android apps on PCs. Notably, Microsoft worked alongside Amazon to bring the Amazon Appstore to Windows.

Google, in contrast, is bringing Android games to Windows through its own app. The catalog of titles has expanded since testing began as well, and now includes 1945 Air Force, Blade Idle, Cookie Run: Kingdom, and Evony: The King’s Return. At the moment, there are 85 games available to beta testers.

When users play through Google Play Games, progress syncs across multiple devices, including phones. 

"Our broader goal continues to be meeting players where they are and giving them access to their games on as many devices as possible," said Google. "Players participating in the beta have expressed excitement at being able to seamlessly play their favorite games across their phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and PCs."

You can sign up for the beta and download the Google Play Games app through the service's website.

When we polled people asking if they'd play Google Play Games on their Windows PC, over 70% said yes.

What you need to know

• Windows Toolbox is advertised as a debloater for Windows 11 and 10, as well as an easy way to get the Google Play Store on Windows 11.
• It's been discovered that this helpful Toolbox utility is, in fact, a Trojan.
• The Toolbox serves its advertised functions despite the fact that it creates headaches such as redirecting web-surfing users to scam URLs.

If you've downloaded Windows Toolbox from GitHub, bad news: Turns out, it's a Trojan that's been quietly messing with your PC. Given the plethora of positive utilities the Toolbox serves, it may come as a shock that it's actually a vehicle for malware that'll redirect your URLs, hit you with unsavory Chrome extensions, and more.

The reason the Toolbox got popular was thanks to its advertised features: It shaves down the bloat of Windows 11 and 10 by getting rid of certain preinstalled apps, disabling Cortana and OneDrive, and much more. Furthermore, it sells itself as a solution for a one-click installation of the Google Play Store on Windows 11.

The kicker: Toolbox actually delivers, for the most part. The issue is that it also features PowerShell code that'll set the stage for malicious scripts to run on your device (via BleepingComputer). You can see the tool's GitHub listing here.

From there, Chromium extensions will be added without your consent, activating revenue harvesting schemes by redirecting you to unwanted promotions as well as referral and affiliate scam URLs. If you believe you've been infected, BleepingComputer has a breakdown of steps to remedy the issue, which you can see by clicking the hyperlink up above.

This isn't the only sneaky, stealth-minded Windows threat to crop up in recent memory. Tarrask malware did a noteworthy-enough job of covering its tracks to get Microsoft's attention.

What you need to know

• It was announced in January 2022 that a Google Play Games for Windows PC beta would arrive for those in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan at some point, though the specific date invites would go out was ambiguous.
• Said invites appear to be going out, alongside user-submitted content showcasing the service's PC client.
• Other regions (beyond the aforementioned three) will gain access to the service at some point in the future.

In January 2022, Google announced that Google Play Games for Windows PC would have a region-restricted beta for those in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Now, less than two months later, it seems invites are being sent out and that the beta is officially live.

As spotted by Mishaal Rahman on Twitter, footage of a user trying out the PC client has hit the web.

There is no proper gameplay footage in the clip so there's no telling how well that aspect of the service performs. But the brief glimpse we've received of the client thus far gives us an idea of the interface as well as a sneak peek at the titles available to play right now (so long as you live in one of the three regions with access to the beta). In the event you want to attempt some regional trickery to bypass the beta's current geographical requirements, note that there's also a proper waitlist and requirement for your account to be approved for beta access, meaning faking qualification for Google Play Games on PC won't be easy.

Should more footage of the beta in action make its way online, we'll be sure to update our coverage to showcase the best Android games running on PC. Until then, stay tuned for further updates from Google on when more regions will gain access.

What you need to know

• During The Game Awards 2021, Google revealed it's bringing Google Play Games to Windows PCs in the future.
• The release will allow users to play many of the top mobile games in the world directly on their PC, with seamless syncing and account progression.
• On Wednesday, Google revealed that the first beta for Google Play Games on PC is coming to Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
• Interested players can sign-up now to potentially join the beta and experience how Google is bringing its mobile gaming platform to Windows.

One of the quieter announcements aired during The Game Awards 2021 was the reveal that Google Play Games is coming to Windows PCs in 2022. On Wednesday, Google announced that the first beta for Google Play Games on PC is coming in the near future to interested users in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea regions, with sign-ups for the beta available now.

Google's efforts to port its gargantuan Google Play Games platform to PCs will allow users to access thousands of the best Android games on Microsoft's Windows operating system, complete with seamless switching between devices, Google Account syncing and cloud saves, Achievements progress, and more. Players will even be able to earn Google Play Points by playing games through Google Play Games on PC. The available mobile games can be downloaded directly to your PC, and will even support mouse and keyboard input as opposed to touch.

While on the surface mirroring Microsoft's efforts to bring Android apps to Windows 11, Google is utilizing its own techniques to make the move. Google Play Games will feature a standalone PC app that serves as the access point for players using the service.

At least with the initial beta, Google is limiting access to three regions at the moment. If you reside in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Korea, and are interested in experiencing what Google is attempting here, you can now sign-up for the Google Play Games on PC beta. The first beta won't include all Google Play Games, but rather a reduced catalog including popular mobile games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Summoners War, State of Survival: The Joker Collaboration, and Three Kingdoms Tactics.

No information is available yet, but Google is planning future betas, which will expand to additional regions to include more people. It's unlikely that Google Play Games titles will become contenders for our list of best PC games, but it may be a welcome addition for thousands of users looking for more casual experiences on their Windows devices.

What you need to know

• Google recently announced that Google Play games will be available on Windows PCs starting at some point in 2022.
• The majority of polled Windows Central readers plan to play Google Play games on their PCs.
• Google Play games will run locally on PCs and use Google's own technology rather than Microsoft's Subsystem for Android.

Google Play games will arrive on Windows PCs at some point in 2022. Google announced the move at the Game Awards 2021. Windows devices will receive a massive library of titles, including the best Android games once Google Play games make their way to PCs. We were curious if our readers plan to play these types of games on Windows or if they'll stick with the best PC games built with computers in mind.

We ran a poll over the weekend to gather the thoughts of our readers. While not overwhelming, the results fall comfortably in favor of using Google Play games on Windows PCs. 62% of polled participants will play these types of games on their PCs as opposed to 38% who will not.

Multiple readers highlighted that Google Play games being on Windows PC will benefit children. "Mostly my daughters who wonder all the time why all the games that everybody plays are never available on Windows... they will use it a lot," said ElRodeo.

DeeMickSee expressed similar thoughts. "Hard to overstate how underserved the toddler age group is in Desktop OS', and how much better the support is in Mobile OS."

Ladydias responded to that comment, stating, "this is such a good point. I have kids who are at the toddler stage and having access to some of those early learning games and apps on PC would be awesome."

TechFreak1 falls on the other side of the argument. "Nope, I'll be playing PC games on my PC not mobile games. Plus with cloud streaming such as xcloud most people don't need mobile games on low end hardware."

Other commenters took a wait-and-see approach. "This depends on games, since not all Android games will have controller or proper Keyboard+Mouse support despite the game seems meant to have it like RPGs. We don't know yet if these Google Play games on Windows will showcase all of the games in the store or just curated ones that can be played well on PC. For now, we just have to wait [to see] what exactly this is," said aXross.

At the Game Awards 2021, Google announced that it's bringing Google Play games to Windows PCs. This addition will add a massive library of titles to PCs, including the best Android games. We'd like to know if the readers of Windows Central plan to play Android games on their PCs.

"Starting in 2022, players will be able to experience their favorite Google Play games on more devices: seamlessly switching between a phone, tablet, Chromebook, and soon, Windows PCs," said Product Director of Games on Android and Google Play Greg Hartrell to The Verge. "This Google built product brings the best of Google Play games to more laptops and desktops, and we are thrilled to expand our platform for players to enjoy their favorite Android games even more."

Google didn't share many details about how these games will run on PCs. We know that a Google Play games app will be available on Windows 11 and Windows 10 in 2022. Titles will run locally rather than being streamed. Google did not discuss the software that allows Android games to run on Windows, but the company did not work with Microsoft or any other companies such as BlueStacks.

Microsoft has its own method of getting Android apps to run on PCs, the Windows Subsystem for Android. Right now, only Android apps from the Amazon Play Store are available through the Microsoft Store. The selection of games in the Amazon Play Store is much smaller than that of the Google Play Store. You can sideload Android apps onto Windows, but that has its own limitations.

The question remains if PC gamers will warm up to mobile games running on a computer. There's often a divide between PC gamers and mobile gamers. Additionally, games built for phones don't always scale well to larger screens.

On the other hand, there are thousands of games on the Google Play Store. Even if only a few of them are a hit with PC gamers, it could be considered a win for Google.

Will you play Google Play games on your PC? Let us know in the poll above and explain your thoughts in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Efforts to bring Android apps to Windows PCs have existed for years, with Microsoft recently building its own implementation into Windows 11.
• During The Game Awards 2021, Google took the stage to announce that it's bringing Google Play Games to Windows PCs.
• Google is using its own technologies to port the Google Play Games platform from Android to Windows sometime in 2022.
• More details about how exactly this will work for players will be shared in the future.

The Game Awards 2021 is celebrating the best PC games of the year while also helping announce the future with new games, trailers and updates, and more. During The Game Awards, Google made a surprise appearance to announce an exciting venture that'll help bring two platforms closer together: Google Play Games is coming to Windows in 2022. The move will bring one of the largest gaming ecosystems from Android to Windows PCs, letting players access hundreds of Android titles from their desktops.

Android apps on Windows are nothing new, as emulation solutions have existed for years. With Windows 11, Microsoft integrated its own Android emulation technologies directly into the platform, with Windows Insiders now able to test out apps from the Amazon Appstore. However, Google's efforts to bring Google Play Games to Windows don't rely on Microsoft's technologies and has been in the works at Google for quite some time as a standalone product.

The move means that players will be able to access titles from the Google Play Games ecosystem on Android phones and tablets, Chromebooks, and Windows PCs simultaneously and with seamless switching between devices. Google didn't share a ton of details about how exactly the experience will play out for users, but we'll learn more about the upcoming desktop application in the future.

The Google Play Games ecosystem is reportedly accessed by over 2.5 billion users every month, and features some of the best Android games on the platform. The application has been designed with feedback from Google's community and developers in mind, hopefully resulting in a polished experience when Google Play Games releases on Windows PCs in 2022.

On Windows 11, you can now install the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) to run Android apps. The problem is that officially, you can only install apps available from the custom version of the Amazon Appstore, which currently only has around 50 apps.

You can sideload Android apps on Windows 11, but it's not possible to use apps that require the Google Play Services, such as Gmail and Google Maps. However, an Italian UX design student (ADeltaX on Twitter) has found a way to make it possible to install the Google Play Store app to bring virtually every Android app to Windows 11.

It's a tedious process, and it may not work on the first try, but once you get it working, you can install all your favorite Android apps.

In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to create a custom version of the Windows Subsystem for Android to install and run Android apps from the Google Play Store.

Disclaimer: Trying to install the Google Play Services may violate the Play Services Agreement. Also, these instructions involve downloading third-party tools and using unsupported methods. Use this guide at your own risk.

How to install Google Play Store and run Android apps

The Google Play Store's installation process on Windows 11 requires the setup of various tools running several Linux, Command Prompt, and PowerShell commands. The instructions below have everything you need to complete this task. If something isn't working correctly, you probably did something wrong. If this is the case, start over with the instructions until it works.

Setting up environment

The preparation process includes removing any previous installation of the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) from your device and installing the Windows Subsystem for Android and Ubuntu. It's also a requirement to enable Developer mode on Windows 11 and install a tool like 7-zip to extract files. Furthermore, you have to download a copy of the original Windows Subsystem for Android, OpenGApps, the WSAGAScript scripts, and the ADBKit tools.

Uninstall WSA

Since you cannot run both the original and custom versions of WSA, you will need to remove the original if it's installed on your computer. Otherwise, continue the WSL2 installation.

To uninstall the original WSA, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click the Apps & features page from the right side.
4. Select the Amazon Appstore.
5. Click the menu (three-dotted button) on the right side.
6. Click the Uninstall button.

7. Click the Uninstall button again.

Once you complete the steps, you can continue with the Linux subsystem installation.

Install WSL2

You will need a Linux distribution to complete this setup. If you don't have the Windows Subsystem for Linux already installed on your computer, then continue with the steps below. Otherwise, continue with the steps to eanble the Developer mode on Windows 11.

To install WSL alongside the Ubuntu distro, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux and Ubuntu and press Enter:wsl --install

4. Restart the computer to apply the changes.
5. Continue with the on-screen directions to set up the Ubuntu distro.

After you complete the steps, the Linux subsystem will install with the Ubuntu distro.

Enable Developer mode

The next step is to make sure that Developer mode is enabled on Windows 11:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the For developers page on the right side.
4. Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, you can sideload applications on Windows 11.

Install 7-zip

Since you will need to retrieve files from different containers, you will need an application like 7-zip. If you already have it, you can skip these steps.

To install 7-zip from the Microsoft Store, use these steps:

1. Open the 7-zip Microsoft Store page.
2. Click the Get button.

After you complete the steps, the file manager application will install on Windows 11.

Download WSA

The process to run Android apps from the Google Play Store requires creating a custom version of the Windows Subsystem for Android, which means that you will need to download the package to modify it.

To download the Windows Subsystem for Android package, use these steps:

1. Open the rg.adguard website.
2. Select the Productid option.
3. Copy and paste this ID 9P3395VX91NR.
4. Select the Slow option.

5. Click the Check button.
6. Scroll down and click the MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_1.7.32815.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle link to download the Windows Subsystem for Android package.Quick note: If the browser refuses to download the file, select the Keep option from the download menu.

Once you complete the steps, there are other components you will need to download to continue with the process, including the OpenGApps tools and the custom WSAScript scripts.

Download OpenGApps

To download the OpenGAapps tools, use these steps:

1. Open the OpenGApps website.
2. Select the x86_64 option for the platform.
3. Select the 11 option for the Android version.
4. Select the pico option for the variant.

5. Click the Download button to save the file on your device.

After you complete the steps, you need to download the WSAGAScript package.

Download WSAGAScript

To download the WSAGAScript scripts, use these steps:

1. Open the WSAGAScript GitHub page.
2. Click the Code menu and select the Download ZIP option.

3. Save the file to your computer.

Once you complete the steps, the scripts package will download on the computer.

Download ADB toolkit

At the end of the process, you will need to use the Android Debugging Bridge (ADB) tools to make the Google Play Store usable.

To download the ADB toolkit, use these steps:

1. Open the MediaFire download page.
2. Click the Download button.
3. Save the file on the computer.

After you complete the steps, the zip will download onto your device.

Create setup folders

Also, you will need to create three folders in the "C" drive to extract all the packages you downloaded earlier.

To set up the folder structure to create a custom version of WSA, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left navigation pane.
3. Open the Local Disk (C drive).
4. Click the New menu and select the Folder option.

5. Name the folder WindowsSubsystemAndroid and press Enter.
6. Click the New menu and select the Folder option.
7. Name the folder GAppsWSA and press Enter.
8. Click the New menu and select the Folder option.
9. Name the folder ADBKit and press Enter.

Once you complete the steps, the setup folders will be created.

Create a custom version of Windows Subsystem for Android

Since the original version of WSA doesn't allow the Google Play Store, you will need to create a custom version. The process involves extracting and modifying files from the original version of the Windows Subsystem for Android.

Set up WindowsSubsystemAndroid contents

To extract the files of the original WSA package to the WindowsSubsystemAndroid folder, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for 7-zip File Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Browse to the folder where you downloaded the Msixbundle file.
4. Double-click the MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_1.7.32815.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle file.

5. Double-click the WsaPackage_1.7.32815.0_x64_Release-Nightly.msix file.

6. Select all the files (Ctrl + A keyboard shortcut).
7. Click the Extract button.
8. In the "Copy to" field, specify the following path, and click the OK button:C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid\

9. Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid\
10. Select the following files while holding the Ctrl key:
    • AppxMetadata.
    • AppxBlockMap.xml.
    • AppxSignature.p7x.
    • Content_Type.xml.
11. Click the Delete button.

After you complete the steps, the files necessary to continue with the process will be available in the WindowsSubsystemAndroid folder.

Set up the GAppsWSA contents

To extract the WSAGAscripts to modify the original Windows Subsystem for Android package, use the steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for 7-zip File Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Browse to the folder where you downloaded the WSAGAScript-main.zip file.
4. Open the WSAGAScript-main folder.
5. Select all the files (Ctrl + A keyboard shortcut).
6. Click the Extract button.
7. In the "Copy to" field, specify the following path and click the OK button:C:\GAppsWSA\

8. Browse to the folder where you downloaded the open_gapps-x86_64-11.0-pico-xxxxxxxx.zip file.
9. Select the open_gapps-x86_64-11.0-pico-xxxxxxxx.zip file.
10. Click the Copy button.
11. Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:C:\GAppsWSA\#GAPPS\

12. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the GAppsWSA folder will include all the files to continue with the process.

Set up the ADBKit folder

To extract the contents of the ADBKit zip folder, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for 7-zip File Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Browse to the folder where you downloaded the ADBKit.zip file.
4. Select all the files (Ctrl + A keyboard shortcut).
5. Click the Extract button.
6. In the "Copy to" field, specify the following path, and click the OK button:C:\ADBKit\

You will be these tools at the end of this guide to fix access to the Google Play Store.

Copy images files

Before proceeding, you will need to copy four essential files from the WindowsSubsystemAndroid folder to the #IMAGES folder using these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the following path:C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid\
3. Select these four files while holding the Ctrl key:
   • vendor.img.
   • system_ext.img.
   • system.img.
   • product.img.

4. Click the Copy button from the command bar.
5. Browse to the following path:C:\GAppsWSA\#IMAGES
6. Click the Paste button from the command bar.

After you complete the steps, you will need to use a Linux distro to create a custom version of the Windows Subsystem for Android.

Modify Windows Subsystem for Android to install Google Play Store

To modify WSA to allow the Google Play Store, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Ubuntu, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:sudo su
4. Type the following command to change location to the GAppsWSA directory and press Enter:cd /mnt/c/GAppsWSA

5. Type the following command to update the system and press Enter:sudo apt-get update
6. Type the following command to install the lzip unzip tool and press Enter:sudo apt-get install unzip lzip

7. Type the following command to install the dos2unix tool and press Enter:sudo apt-get install dos2unix

8. Type the following command to convert the script to Unix format and press Enter:dos2unix ./apply.sh
9. Type the following command to convert the script to Unix format and press Enter:dos2unix ./extend_and_mount_images.sh
10. Type the following command to convert the script to Unix format and press Enter:dos2unix ./extract_gapps_pico.sh
11. Type the following command to convert the script to Unix format and press Enter:dos2unix ./unmount_images.sh
12. Type the following command to convert the script to Unix format and press Enter:dos2unix ./VARIABLES.sh

13. Type the following command to execute the first step and press Enter:./extract_gapps_pico.sh
14. Type the following command to execute the second step and press Enter:./extend_and_mount_images.sh
15. Type the following command to execute the third step and press Enter:./apply.sh

16. Type the following command to execute the fourth step and press Enter:./unmount_images.sh
17. Open File Explorer.
18. Browse to the following path:C:\GAppsWSA\#IMAGES
19. Select these four files while holding the Ctrl key:
    • vendor.img.
    • system_ext.img.
    • system.img.
    • product.img.

20. Click the Copy button from the command bar.
21. Browse to the following path:C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid
22. Click the Paste button from the command bar.
23. Click the Replace the files in the destination option.

24. Browse to the following path:C:\GAppsWSA\misc
25. Select the kernel file.

26. Click the Copy button from the command bar.
27. Browse to the following path:C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid\Tools
28. Select the kernel file.
29. Click the Rename button from the command bar.
30. Change the name to kernel_bak and press Enter:
31. Click the Paste button from the command bar to paste the new kernel file.

Once you complete the steps, the custom version of WSA is ready to be installed on Windows 11.

Install custom version of WSA on Windows 11

To install the Windows Subsystem for Android with PowerShell, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to install the custom WSA package and press Enter:Add-AppxPackage -Register C:\WindowsSubsystemAndroid\AppxManifest.xml

After you complete the steps, the Windows Subsystem for Android and Google Play Store will install on Windows 11. However, the Google Play Store won't work until you do some modifications with the steps below.

Set up Google Play Store on WSA

To set up the Play Store correctly to download Android apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app.
3. Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.

4. Click the Manage developer settings option to spin the WSA virtual machine.
5. Clear the Share my diagnostic data option.

6. Click the Continue button.
7. Click the Close button.
8. Open Start.
9. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
10. Type the following command to change location to the ADBKit folder and press Enter:cd C:\adbkit
11. Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android and press Enter:adb.exe connect 127.0.0.1:58526

12. Type the following command to open the shell and press Enter:adb.exe shell
13. Type the following to gain root access and press Enter:su
14. Type the following command to make the Google Play Store work and press Enter:setenforce 0

15. Open Start.
16. Search for Play Store and click the top result to open the app.
17. Click the Sign in button.

18. Sign in with your Google credentials.
19. Click the Agree button to agree to the terms.

Once you complete the steps, you can now start downloading and installing Android apps from the Google Play Store.

Install Android apps from the Google Play Store

To install and run Play Store Android apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Play Store and click the top result to open the app.
3. Search for an app – for example, Gmail.
4. Click the Install button.

5. Click the Continue button.
6. Click the Skip button.
7. Click the Open button.

8. Continue with the on-screen directions to set up and use the app.

After you complete the steps, you can repeat the above instructions to install virtually any app from the Google Play Store on Windows 11.

More Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know

What you need to know

• A number of Google's services have gone down.
• It is currently unclear what has caused the interruption in service.
• It is also unclear when Google will restore access to services.

As reported by a number of users on Twitter and server monitoring websites like DownDetector, it appears that a number of Google's services are currently down for users.

One user on Twitter has reported that they are unable to access both Gmail or the Google Play Store.

Another user has reported their Google Nest services are not working either. This includes services such as Google Home and even being able to record with their Nest camera.

It is currently unclear what has caused the interruption to Google's services, or when the company will be able to restore access for its customers.

All the big platform players have their own ecosystem of digital content, and Microsoft is all-in on Android for its mobile plans these days, including the brand new Surface Duo. That re-focused approach to mobile opens up new possibilities for content, including Google Play Movies & TV, content that can be purchased in the Play Store on any Android device.

But, while Microsoft doesn't have an app of its own to watch video content bought from its store on Android, likewise Google doesn't have one for Windows 10. But that doesn't mean you can't purchase content on your Android device and watch it on your PC. You just need to know how.

Here's how to watch Google Play Movies & TV on Windows 10.

How to watch Google Play Movies & TV content on Windows 10 with YouTube

If you have a Google account, then you also have a YouTube account, and with the latter, you can watch any movies or TV shows you've bought from the Play Store on any PC with a web browser.

Just follow these steps.

1. Log in to YouTube with the same Google account you purchased the content with.

2. In the sidebar, locate Purchases and click on it.

3. Choose the movie or TV show you want to play and it'll play in a regular YouTube window as any other video on the service would.

You can also purchase movies from YouTube to watch on either your PC, mobile, or other supported devices by visiting the dedicated store page.

All purchases use whatever payment method(s) you have attached to your Google account, and content bought this way will then become available to watch on your Android device and anything else with the Play Movies application or the YouTube application.

For most people around the world, this is the method to use, but for folks in the U.S. there is also an alternative way.

How to watch Google Play Movies & TV on Windows 10 with Movies Anywhere (U.S. only)

If you're in the U.S., there is the alternative of using Movies Anywhere. Both Microsoft and Google are among the companies that support the platform, which is designed to help you watch all of your movies on all of your devices no matter which store you bought them from.

So, if you buy something from Google Play on your Android device, the service will be able to sync it to your Windows 10 PC for you to be able to watch in Microsoft's Movies & TV app.

Besides only being available in the U.S., the other caveat is that it only supports movies, not TV shows. So if you buy TV shows from Google Play, you'll need to resort to the steps above to be able to watch them on your PC.

Whichever method you use, however, it isn't difficult to watch Google-bought content on your Windows 10 PC. It's certainly easier than buying from Microsoft and watching on your Android phone (at least, outside the U.S. anyway).

What you need to know

• Your Phone Companion now has the phrase "LInk to Windows" on its app listing.
• Your Phone Companion is now the #5 free app on Android (US).
• Your Phone Companion will be natively integrated into the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+.
• Samsung and Microsoft used the phrase "link to Windows" often when referring to Your Phone at Galaxy Unpacked.

Microsoft's Your Phone app has a new addition to its listing on the Google Play Store. Its listing is now titled "Your Phone Companion - Link to Windows" (via WindowsUnited). The addition of "Link to Windows" helps users understand the purpose of the application and probably improves the ease of searching for the app. Looking up "Your Phone" on a search engine or the Google Play Store reveals quite a few results.

The Your Phone Companion app received some buzz earlier this week at Galaxy Unpacked. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ will natively integrate with Your Phone Companion, and Microsoft announced that several new features will arrive later this year. Most notably, users will be able to relay phone calls through the Your Phone app. When Microsoft and Samsung referred to Your Phone at Galaxy Unpacked, both companies frequently used the phrase "link to Windows." This addition to the Google Play Store listing reflects that emphasis.

Finally, it is worth noting that in the U.S. Your Phone Companion is now the #5 free download app for Android, just behind Adobe Acrobat but ahead of Google Docs. That news suggests the Samsung-bump is a real thing.

Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love

Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)

This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)

This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

If you're using Windows 10 and want to have all of your music in one place, the Groove music app is a good place to be. We've covered how to get your music out of iTunes and into Groove, but what about if you're using Google Play Music?

Google has no desktop player for its music service but you can still get your music out of there and import it to Groove with relative ease. Whether it's music you uploaded to the cloud or bought from Google's store, we'll show you how to get it onto your Windows 10 PC and into your Groove library.

The first thing you need is the Google Music Manager application. If you uploaded your own music to Google's cloud before then you'll already have it. If you do need it though, grab it from the download link below.

• Download the Google Music Manager app for Windows

With this installed you're going to need to actually download your library from Google. Depending on its size and your connection, you can probably go off and have a hot beverage or two while you're waiting. To download your library follow these steps:

• Open Google Play Music Manager
• Select the option to download your library
• Select the location to download to. iTunes and your Music folder are the two stock options, for anywhere else select the third option.

Once you've downloaded your files the steps are just the same as importing any music files to Groove from your PC. All you need to do is tell the app where to find the music.

• Open up Groove music on your PC.
• Click on the cog icon to open "Settings."
• Under "Music on this PC" click on "Choose where we look for music."
• Click the "+" button and navigate to the folder you downloaded your library to.

With that all the music you have in Google's cloud will now be available offline, on your PC in the Groove music app.

If you want to go one step further and have your Google cloud music available to all your devices, but through Groove/Xbox Music, then just add it to your OneDrive account. We've got a step-by-step on what you need to do at the link below.

• How to use OneDrive with Groove music

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to visit our dedicated help page

Google's lack of official support by way of apps for Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone is by now (in)famous. But, in the case of Windows 8.1 at least, most of Google's cloud services are accessible in their full, unhindered web form by using your browser of choice. And this includes Google Play Music.

Google Play Music is, after all, a pretty great music service that currently offers one big feature that Xbox Music does not; a cloud locker for your own music. But the web app is pretty hit and miss, even in Google's own Chrome browser. Fortunately, for the Windows using Play Music fan, there's outcoldplayer. The best way to get your Google Play Music library on your Windows tablet or computer.

Less Google, more Windows

Perhaps the nicest thing about using outcoldplayer over the web app is the appearance. Sure, it's not a totally unattractive web app, but outcoldplayer is 100% a Windows app.

It also benefits from a couple of neat features that you don't get with the web app. The first is offline caching. Essential for any cloud based music app, and whether or not it's your music or something from your All Access subscription, you're able to download it to play offline. You can also pin your favorite albums, playlists and radio stations to your Start Screen, as well as making use of the live tile.

All the All Access

Outcoldplayer also works just fine with Google's All Access subscription service. You can search for new music and explore the Google suggested tracks and albums as well as use the Radio feature. What you can't do is physically buy anything. Purchases will still need to be carried out on the web, but that's OK, since it's hooked into Google Wallet accounts anyway.

You also get the new, Songza inspired playlist suggestions in regions that support the feature.

Other good stuff

The features don't stop there either. Playlist management, Last.fm scrobbling, Xbox streaming and background music playing are all available. Then there's just the general performance. It's a silky smooth experience as we've come to expect from Windows 8.1 applications. If you're streaming it doesn't take long to hook on and play the music and it's just so easy and pleasant to use.

One thing that is worth noting is how outcoldplayer works with Google 2-Step Authentication. It doesn't use a browser based login, so you'll need to generate a unique password from the web to be able to use outcoldplayer if you've got 2-Step turned on.

The bottom line

If you're using Google Play Music in any capacity, then this is the app to have on your Windows 8.1 device. It's nicer to use than the web app, offers benefits that the web just doesn't, all the while keeping with what purists would desire from the look and feel of a Windows app.

It's going to cost you $5.99, but it's worth every penny.

• outcoldplayer for Google Play Music - $5.99 - Download Now