Windows 11 to stop supporting Android apps in a year

Windows 11 began supporting Android applications directly (without the use of a third-party emulator like BlueStacks) about three years ago with Windows Subsystem for Android. This allowed users to quickly install and run most of their favourite Android apps on their Windows 11 laptops and desktops with ease using the Amazon App Store.

However, this feature will soon come to and end, and beginning early next year, Windows 11 will no longer support Android apps. In a recent announcement, Microsoft confirmed that it is shutting down Windows Subsytem for Android next year.

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“Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA),” the company said in its announcement, adding that “the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all applications and games dependent on WSA will no longer be supported beginning March 5, 2025.”

While already installed apps will stop being supported a year from today, Microsoft is taking some other measures immediately. Starting March 6, 2024. Windows 11 users will no longer be able to search for the Amazon App Store or its Android apps on the Microsoft Store.

The change is quite a surprise, given Microsoft has been regularly updating Windows Subsystem for Android over the past three years. However, it is quite possible that Microsoft has decided to kill the project due to reasons like not enough users using Android applications on Windows machines, although this hasn’t really been officially confirmed.

What’s next for Android app users on Windows machines?

Windows 11 users can continue to use Android applications until March 5 next year, post which they will have two options. The first is to find native Windows apps instead. Many applications like WhatsApp are now directly available on Windows via the Microsoft Store, eliminating the need to use their Android counterparts on Windows machines.

The second option is to go back to emulators which replicate the experience of Android phones on a Windows machine. Third-party software like BlueStacks allow users to emulate a localised Android subsystem on their machines, which will allow the installation and running of any Android applications.