How to install Android apps on Windows 11

After setting up the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), you can “install Android apps” on Windows 11 from the Amazon Appstore. If you no longer need an app, the integration also makes it easy to uninstall any Android app you have installed, whether it’s one from the Amazon Appstore or sideload from any source.

If you don’t have the platform already configured on your computer, you can use these instructions to install WSA, and then you can continue with these instructions to install Android apps on Windows 11.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to add and remove apps from the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.

• Install Android apps on Windows 11
• Sideload Android apps on Windows 11
• Uninstall Android apps on Windows 11

Install Android apps on Windows 11

To install an Android app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Amazon Appstore and click the top result to open the app.

3. Sign in with Amazon (U.S.-based) account.

   

4. Search and select the app.

5. Click the Install button.

Once you complete the steps, you can open the Android app from the Start menu. If the app isn’t available through the Appstore, you can sideload them with the instructions below.

Sideload Android apps on Windows 11

To sideload Android apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open the ADB Installer webpage.

2. Under the “ADB and fastboot” section, click the Download button.

   

3. Save the zip file on the computer.

4. Double-click the platform-tools zip folder.

5. Click the Extract all button from the command bar.

   

6. Select the location to extract the files that allow sideloading of Android apps.

7. Click the Extract button.

8. Open Start.

9. Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app settings.

10. Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.

    

11. Click the Manage developer settings option to start WSA on Windows 11 (if applicable).

12. Click the Refresh button in the “IP address” setting.

13. Click the Copy button to copy the IP address of the “Windows Subsystem for Android” virtual machine to the clipboard.

    

14. Open Start.

15. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

16. Type the following command to navigate to the platform-tools folder and press Enter:

    cd C:\platform-tools

    In the command, change the path with the location where you extracted the files.

17. Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android app and press Enter:

    adb connect 172.30.96.225

    In the command, change the IP address corresponding to your WSA instance.

18. Type the following command to “sideload the Android app on Windows 11” and press Enter:

    adb install gmail.apk

    

    In the command, specify the name of the apk package you downloaded from another source and want to install on Windows 11. Also, the .apk file should be stored in the platform-tools folder to work.

After you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11.

Although you can sideload any app apps, the Windows Subsystem for Android won’t allow you to run apps that require Google Play Services, such as Gmail, Google Maps, and others, because it’s not supported.

Uninstall Android apps on Windows 11

To uninstall an Android app from your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click the Apps & features page from the right-side.

4. Select the Android app.

5. Click the menu (three-dotted) button on the right and select the Uninstall button.

   

Alternatively, you can also right-click the app from the Start menu and select the Uninstall button.