The highlighting element of the latest Windows 11 operating system is to support the Android applications on the board and it is an incredible and impressive implementation by Microsoft. We know that the Windows operating system opens the door to the internet and various other aspects to carry out our work but having the support of Android applications on the board offers extra freedom and the same is now available on the latest windows 11. The operating system enables users to download Android applications via the official store but the store offers limited number of applications only at this moment of time. If you want to install APK then there is a way for the same as well.
Microsoft offers ADB on Windows 11 to install any APK file but the process is a bit confusing. You don’t have to rely on command lines or Amazon’s selection of software if you want to test out some of your favourite mobile apps on a desktop. Instead, to make any APK a double-click install, all you need is a straightforward GUI called WSA PacMan, short for Package Manager. In this article, we will guide you on the way to install APK on your computer.
1. Verify Your Windows 11 PC Meets the System Requirements for Android Apps
Keep in mind that not every computer running Windows 11 can download the most recent Windows Subsystem for Android App. Let’s look at the specific hardware requirements for this new system.
• RAM: 8 or 16 gigabytes (recommended)
• Solid State Drive as a storage medium (SSD)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3000, Intel Core i3 8th or later, or Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c or later.
• x64 or ARM64 as the processor architecture
• Virtual Device Platform: Windows 11 must have virtualization enabled.
2. Check to see if your Windows 11 computer satisfies the requirements for installing APK:
2.1 To open Settings, press Windows + I.
2.2 On the window for system settings, click “Systems,” then click “About.”
2.3 Verify that your computer satisfies the prerequisites for installing APK on Windows 11:
You can now install APK on Windows 11 if your computer satisfies all the requirements.
3. Get the Amazon Appstore.
WSA PacMan only functions as an interface to speed up sideloading, so you’ll still need to set up the fundamentals of Android support on Windows 11. If you don’t already have it, you must first install the Amazon Appstore because it contains the Windows Subsystem for Android.
• Launch the Microsoft Store on your computer.
• Utilize the search bar at the top of the page to look up “Amazon Appstore.”
• To install the app on your computer, select “Get.”
Installing it on your device is enough to add WSA; you don’t even need to log into the Amazon Appstore.
Readers from other countries will unfortunately have to go through a few hoops in order to use WSA because the Appstore is currently only available in the US.
4. Install and run WSA PacMan
We’re getting closer to sideloading because now Windows Subsystem for Android is installed on your computer. Next, you must complete the following.
4.1 Locate and launch Windows Subsystem for Android from the Start menu.
4.2 Ensure that developer mode is turned on. This is a required step because all sideloading must be done through ADB commands, even if you’re using a third-party GUI.
4.3 After selecting “Manage developer settings,” locate USB debugging and turn it on. Android users should be able to recognise this screen because it is the same menu that can be found in any AOSP build.
4.4 if you haven’t already, download the most recent version of WSA PacMan from GitHub by clicking “Releases.” If you’d rather not use an.exe file, there is also a portable version available.
4.5 Once WSA PacMan is installed and running on your computer, launch the application from the Start menu. A “Connected” notification will appear at the top of the app if everything is set up and ready to go.
5. Using WSA PacMan to install APKs on Windows 11
The Windows Subsystem for Android and WSA PacMan can now be closed because you don’t need to have them open in order to install APKs on your computer. You’ve already put in the effort; all that’s left to do is install the app.
Locate the APK file on your device or download one from a website like APK Mirror, then double-click it to launch it in Windows just like any other.exe file. WSA PacMan handles the remaining tasks and displays a message akin to what you might see on an Android device. Once your app is installed, you’ll also have the choice of making a desktop shortcut for it. The app will operate from this point forward just like any other piece of computer software. It can be accessed from the Start menu, pinned to the taskbar, and even removed with a straightforward right-click. Just be aware that not all apps will function correctly here. Because Windows 11 does not yet support Winevine, streaming apps like Netflix, for instance, will probably experience DRM-related problems.
Windows 11’s ability to run Android apps without relying on the Amazon Appstore certainly makes the future of this platform a little more promising. Fortunately, after setting up WSA PacMan, it’s simple to install almost any of your favourite mobile apps or games.
So this is how you can able to install APK on your Windows powered computer. If you find any doubts then do let us know in the comments section below and stay tuned with us for more tricks.