How to uninstall Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 11

Removing the Windows Subsystem for Android is as easy as uninstalling an app on Windows 11.

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Windows 11 remove WSA
Windows 11 remove WSA / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To uninstall WSA from Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select “Windows Subsystem for Android,” and click “Uninstall.”
  • Another way to remove WSA is to open Command Prompt (admin) and run the “winget uninstall “Windows Subsystem for AndroidTM” command.

On Windows 11, you can uninstall the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) alongside the Amazon Appstore since Microsoft is discontinuing the feature, and in this guide, I’ll show you how. 

Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Android (similar to WSL) to provide a virtualization environment to run Android apps on Windows 11. One key component of this platform was the collaboration with Amazon that added the Amazon Appstore infrastructure to deliver the apps.

However, on March 5, 2024, the company announced that it would be dropping WSA support on March 5, 2025. After this date, Android apps will no longer work on Windows 11. Although you can continue to access WSA until the support ends, if you rarely use it, now is a good time to remove it from your computer.

In this guide, I will learn the steps to remove the Windows Subsystem for Android, along with all the components (including the Amazon Appstore) and apps, from Windows 11.

Uninstall Windows Subsystem for Android from Settings

To uninstall “Windows Subsystem for Android” on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on Apps.

  3. Click the Installed apps tab.

  4. Select the “Windows Subsystem for Android” app.

  5. Click the three-dotted menu button from the right side and select the Uninstall button to remove the subsystem and components, including Android apps and the Amazon Appstore. 

    WSA uninstall from Settings

  6. Click the Uninstall button again.

  7. Click the Uninstall button one more time.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows Subsystem for Android, Amazon Appstore, and all the Android apps you previously installed will be removed from Windows 11. (You can reinstall the platform with these instructions, but since the platform is retiring, it’s not recommended.)

Uninstall Windows Subsystem for Android from Command Prompt

To uninstall WSA from Command Prompt on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt (or PowerShell), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command to uninstall the Windows Subsystem for Android using commands and press Enter:

    winget uninstall "Windows Subsystem for AndroidTM"

    WSA uninstall from winget command

After you complete the steps, the winget command will remove the Windows Subsystem for Android, Amazon Appstore, and any Android application you may have installed on this platform.

 
Update March 6, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect that Microsoft is discontinuing support.
About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].