The process to run Android apps requires installing WSA on Windows 11. If you do not have it already installed, follow these instructions in the provided link and continue with the steps below.

Sideload Android apps on Windows 11

To sideload Android apps on Windows 11 through the WSA platform, use these steps:

  • Open the ADB Installer webpage.
  • Under the “ADB and fastboot” section, click the Download button for the Windows 11 platform.
  • Save the zip file on the computer.
  • Double-click the platform-tools zip folder.
  • Click the Extract all button from the command bar.
  • Select the location to extract the files that allow sideloading of Android apps.
  • Click the Extract button.
  • Open Start.
  • Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app settings.
  • Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.
  • Click the Manage developer settings option to start WSA on Windows 11 (if applicable).
  • Click the Refresh button in the “IP address” setting.
  • Click the Copy button to copy the IP address of the “Windows Subsystem for Android” virtual machine to the clipboard.
  • Open Start.
  • Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  • Type the following command to navigate to the platform-tools folder and press Enter:
  • cd C:\platform-tools
  • In the command, change the path with the location where you extracted the files.
  • Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android app and press Enter:
  • adb connect 172.30.96.225
  • In the command, change the IP address corresponding to your WSA instance.
  • Type the following command to “sideload the Android app on Windows 11” and press Enter:
  • adb install gmail.apk
  • In the command, specify the name of the apk package you downloaded from another source and want to install on Windows 11. Also, the .apk file should be stored in the platform-tools folder to work.

Once you complete the steps, the Android app will install on Windows 11, and it’ll be available from the Start menu like any other app.

Open the ADB Installer webpage.

Under the “ADB and fastboot” section, click the Download button for the Windows 11 platform.

Save the zip file on the computer.

Double-click the platform-tools zip folder.

Click the Extract all button from the command bar.

Select the location to extract the files that allow sideloading of Android apps.

Click the Extract button.

Open Start.

Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click the top result to open the app settings.

Turn on the Developer mode toggle switch.

Click the Manage developer settings option to start WSA on Windows 11 (if applicable).

Click the Refresh button in the “IP address” setting.

Click the Copy button to copy the IP address of the “Windows Subsystem for Android” virtual machine to the clipboard.

Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to navigate to the platform-tools folder and press Enter:

cd C:\platform-tools

In the command, change the path with the location where you extracted the files.

Type the following command to connect to the Windows Subsystem for Android app and press Enter:

adb connect 172.30.96.225

In the command, change the IP address corresponding to your WSA instance.

Type the following command to “sideload the Android app on Windows 11” and press Enter:

adb install gmail.apk

In the command, specify the name of the apk package you downloaded from another source and want to install on Windows 11. Also, the .apk file should be stored in the platform-tools folder to work.

If you want to uninstall the app, right-click the app from the Start menu, and select the Uninstall button.

Before installing Android apps on Windows 11, you first need to install the Windows Subsystem for Android. However, virtualization needs to be enabled on the motherboard’s firmware before adding the platform. If you don’t have this feature enabled, check your computer manufacturer to find the specific details to complete this task.

In addition, you have to enable the Virtual Machine Platform on the Windows Features page. You can turn on this by opening Start, searching for “Turn Windows features on or off” and clicking the top result. Then check the Virtual Machine Platform option, click the OK button, and restart the computer.