Windows Subsystem for Android Archives

BetaBeacon

March 25, 2025

How to play Android games on your PC

Google Play Games for Windows allows users to play hundreds of Android games on a Windows PC running Windows 10 or later, as long as the computer has a solid state drive (SSD) as its boot drive and Virtualization support enabled in the BIOS settings. The app offers keyboard and mouse support for all games on the list.

AppWizard

February 25, 2025

Windows is about to lose support for Android apps

Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), effective March 5, which will result in the loss of access to installed Android apps. To ensure user security until the closure, Microsoft released a final set of security updates for WSA. Users seeking to continue using Android applications on Windows can consider third-party solutions, such as the Bluestacks emulator.

AppWizard

February 24, 2025

One Play Store rival fewer: Amazon shutters its Android app store

Amazon will close its app store for Android devices on August 20, after which users will not be able to access the platform or guarantee the functionality of previously downloaded apps. The app store will remain operational for devices running on Fire OS, such as Fire TV and Fire tablets. Additionally, Amazon's Appstore will be removed from the Microsoft Store on March 5, coinciding with the discontinuation of support for the Windows Subsystem for Android. Users are advised to cancel app subscriptions and seek alternatives like Google's Play Store and others. Amazon Coins will also be discontinued on August 20, but users can use existing Coins until then, with refunds for any unused Coins to be provided later.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Amazon to Discontinue Amazon Coins and Amazon Appstore on Android

Amazon will cease the availability of Amazon Coins on February 20, 2025, and the Amazon Appstore on Android devices will be discontinued on August 20, 2025. Customers must use any remaining Amazon Coins by that date, as unspent balances will be refunded afterward. The Appstore will still be available on Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices. Additionally, the Appstore will not be downloadable from the Microsoft store on Windows 11 devices starting March 6, 2024. Amazon Web Services will stop accepting new customers for Amazon Chime on February 19, 2025, with full support until February 20, 2026. The social commerce feature, Inspire, integrated into the Amazon shopping app in 2022, will also be discontinued.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Amazon pulls the plug on its Android app store that you never used anyway

The Amazon Appstore will close for Android devices on August 20, 2025, ending access to its applications for those users. After this date, downloaded apps may not function on Android devices. However, the Appstore will still be available on Amazon Fire devices. Developers will be unable to submit new apps for Android but can update existing ones until the closure. The Amazon Coins program will also end on the same date, with users needing to use any remaining Coins by then. This decision follows a similar shutdown of Appstore support on Windows, indicating Amazon's shift away from the Android platform while maintaining focus on its Fire-branded devices.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Microsoft is once again removing a handy feature from Windows 11 without much explanation

Microsoft is discontinuing the Suggested Actions feature in Windows 11, which provided prompts for copying phone numbers and future dates. This decision is part of a strategy to streamline the user experience, although the reasons for the removal are unclear. The feature allowed users to easily add dates to calendars or initiate calls. Microsoft previously removed the Windows Subsystem for Android from Windows 11, indicating a trend of refining its software based on user feedback and market demands.

Winsage

November 14, 2024

PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and other mobile games are here for Windows 11’s Microsoft Store — here’s why you can’t play them

Several popular mobile games, including PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and REDnote, are now available to Windows Insiders in China due to a collaboration between Microsoft and Tencent. This access is limited to users in China, as Microsoft plans to discontinue the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 11 by March 5, 2025. Giorgio Sardo, Microsoft’s General Manager of Apps, highlighted the benefits of this partnership for mobile developers in China. The decision to end WSA was influenced by its lack of profitability, as noted by Andrew Clinick, a Microsoft veteran. WSA's integration of Android apps did not gain significant traction, partly due to the absence of Google Play services, which limited functionality for users.

BetaBeacon

November 13, 2024

Tencent brings Android games to Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Microsoft and Tencent have partnered to bring Android apps to Windows 11 PCs in China. This partnership allows Chinese Windows Insiders to access popular games like PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings through the Microsoft Store. Tencent plans to bring over 1,500 mobile apps and games to the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 users in China.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Users beg for Windows 11 to keep its ability to run Android apps

Microsoft has announced the deprecation of the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), initially introduced with Windows 11 in 2021 and released in 2022. The Amazon Appstore and all associated apps and games will cease to function by March 5, 2025. Users can continue to use the Amazon Appstore and Android applications until the deprecation date of March 5, 2024. The decision has led to significant backlash from users, with many expressing concerns about the lack of alternatives for popular applications on Windows and the importance of WSA for testing Android applications. Some users have chosen devices like the Surface Pro specifically for the ability to run Android apps. Microsoft has indicated that it does not derive significant revenue from WSA, making it unlikely to reverse its decision.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

“Don’t kill Android (WSA) in Windows 11” is now a top feedback, but will Microsoft listen?

Microsoft will discontinue the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) in 2025, along with the removal of the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store. Many users rely on WSA for accessing Android applications not available on Windows, leading to significant disappointment among them. A post on the Feedback Hub advocating for WSA has received nearly 700 upvotes, indicating user frustration. WSA is seen as essential for both daily tasks and for developers testing Android applications. The decision to discontinue WSA is linked to the financial performance of the Microsoft Store and a lack of support from Google. Initially, WSA was only available in the United States, which limited its user base.