Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel can now try out Android apps

Windows 11 Android Apps (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

Microsoft recently expanded Android app support to Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel.
Roughly 50 apps are available for testing at the moment.
Previously, testing Android app support on Windows 11 was limited to Beta Channel Insiders.

Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel can now test Android app support on Windows 11. Microsoft expanded its testing of Android apps to the Dev Channel earlier this week. Until November 4, 2021, only Insiders in the Beta Channel could try out Android apps on Windows 11. Microsoft added a brief update to its blog post on the subject that specifies that Dev Channel Insiders can now try out Android apps.

Since Android app support on Windows 11 is in its early stages, it is limited. Only around 50 apps are available for testing, and those apps are downloadable through the Amazon Appstore. At least for now, the Amazon Appstore will be the primary way that Android apps are available on Windows 11. Microsoft explains that more apps will come out for testing over the coming months.

If you're a more technical user, you can sideload Android apps on Windows 11. Some have even created tools for easily installing APKs onto Windows 11. Sideloading apps allows you to install many more apps onto a PCs, though there are still limitations.

Android apps on Windows 11 don't support Google Play services. As a result, some of the most well-known Android apps are unsupported on the OS. You can, however, run Google Play Store Android apps on Windows 11. This takes a bit more work but allows any Android app to run on your PC, including popular apps from Google and apps that rely on Google services.

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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.