About three weeks after the stable release of Windows 11, Microsoft began offering Android app support to Beta testers in the US. You currently need an Amazon US account to run and install Android apps on Windows 11. Also, the Amazon Appstore currently only offers a limited number of Android apps. So, if you want to install TikTok, Snapchat or any of your favorite apps on Windows 11, let’s find out how to bypass all the limitations and sideload Android apps on Windows 11. Your Windows 11 PC with the help of ADB. So, without any delay, let’s go ahead and learn how to sideload APKs in Windows 11.
Sideload Android Apps on Windows 11 (2021)
In this article, we have included the step-by-step process for sideloading Android apps in Windows 11. In fact, with this method, you can install any Android application you want on your PC, other than the Amazon App Store. For an easier setup, I recommend sticking with the instructions below. However, if you are a professional user, proceed to the relevant section from the table below.
Find IP Address of Windows Subsystem for Android
1. First of all, you need to install Windows Subsystem for Android to run and install Android apps on your Windows 11 PC. You can do follow our linked guide for detailed steps.
2. After doing that, open Windows Subsystem for Android from: start menu.
3. After that, under Windows Subsystem for Android settings, click “developer mode“. A new popup will open. Let it complete the process.
4. Now, “RefreshPress the ” button next to the IP address. An IP address will be created that you need to write down. If an IP address is not assigned, follow the next step to manually find the IP address of Windows System for Android.
5. If an IP address is not visible, press “Manage developer settings” Under developer mode.
6. Next, scroll down in the Developer options menu and tap on “.Wireless debugging“.
7. Here, Note down the IP address shows under wireless debugging settings. like mine 172.22.172.245. No need to copy port. Now, close the window.
Connecting to Windows Subsystem for Android via ADB
1. Once you have the WSA IP address, go ahead and setup ADB on your Windows 11 PC. you can go to this link and Download Platform Tools for windows. Windows 11 requires sideloading Android app APKs.
2. Now, open Platform Tools and extract it to the desktop or a location of your choice. Under the folder, click on it. address bar and write cmdand press Enter. This will instantly open Command Prompt in the same folder.
3. Here we need to connect to Windows Subsystem for Android. Run the command as follows. just replace IP_address with real IP address you noted above. You should get the output “Connected to IP_address”.
adb connect IP_address
4. If you get a “Connection failed” error, don’t worry. Run the command again and this time you will be connected. You can also run adb devices Command to check if you are connected to Windows Subsystem for Android.
Sideload Any Android App on Your Windows 11 PC
1. Once connected, go ahead and download your favorite Android app that you want to sideload on your Windows 11 PC. You can download APKs from APKMirror or other legitimate websites. I would like recommend Download x86_64 bundled APKs for better performance. You can also download ARM64 APKs if the app doesn’t have x86 APKs. You also have the option to sideload Universal bundled APKs in Windows 11.
2. After downloading, right click on the APK and select “Copy as Path” to copy the path address (file location) to the APK.
3. Now go back to the CMD window and type the following command. relocate apk_path with the road address you copied above. You can do Right click on CMD black screen to easily paste the copied address.
adb install apk_path
4. Finally, press Enter and the Android app will be installed on your Windows 11 PC. you will get “SuccessAfter the installation is complete, the printout is taken. If you get any errors, ARM, x86_64, Universal etc. Download other APK files of different architecture, such as If you get an error like “Multiple devices/emulators”, we’ve included a fix for this issue below. .
5. After the app is sideloaded, Find it in the Start Menu, just like any other Windows application. You can even search for Android apps from the Start Menu and pin them to the Taskbar.
6. For example, here I run WhatsApp, Instagram, Signal, Apple Music and Aurora Store at the same time. And all work surprisingly well. They act like a native application and scale well on Windows 11 without any DPI or scaling issues.
Install Third-Party App Store to Uninstall Android Apps in Windows 11
If you don’t want to install applications one by one via command line, Aurora Store APK (download) from CMD in Windows 11 for a one-time installation. After that, you can easily install popular Android apps from Aurora Store with just a few clicks. No need to use the Amazon Appstore, which requires a US Amazon account and has a limited library of apps. Meanwhile, Aurora Store is an open source and excellent alternative to the Google Play Store.
How to Uninstall Android Apps in Windows 11
To uninstall an Android app from your Windows 11 PC, right-click on it in the Start Menu and select “remove“. That’s it. You can uninstall Android apps from your computer just like any other Windows app.
How to Fix ‘Multiple Devices/Emulators’ Error in Windows 11
if you are takingmultiple devices/emulatorsIf you’re getting the ” error on Windows 11 while installing Android apps, you’re probably running an Android emulator. To fix the problem immediately, you can either uninstall the emulator or define your command as below to sideload the APK on Windows Subsystem for Android. Simply change IP_address and apk_path.
adb -s IP_address install apk_path
Install Any Android App Outside of Amazon App Store on Windows 11
This is how you can install any Android app on your Windows 11 PC. The best part is, with ADB, you can bypass the Amazon Appstore and install all your favorite Android apps hassle-free. I haven’t tried Android games on Windows 11 yet, but stay tuned for more exciting discoveries about the Windows Subsystem for Android. Anyway, that’s it for us. If you want to install Windows Subsystem for Linux on your Windows 10/ 11 computer, follow our linked article. And if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.
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