How to install Android APKs on Windows 11

These days, most of your workflow can probably be tackled within a web browser. You might have 30 or 40 tabs open at once, which can be a headache, especially if you don’t always need immediate access to those web pages. Dedicated apps make things cleaner, and with Windows 11, you aren’t restricted to software found in the Microsoft Store. Instead, you can bring your favorite mobile apps to your PC, stored within the Start menu or accessible from your taskbar.

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There’s one catch, though. Microsoft partnered with Amazon to bring its Appstore to Windows 11, not the Google Play Store. That means that, unlike on some of our favorite Chromebooks, you’re limited in the number of apps you’ll find on your computer, which could turn you off from the experience altogether. However, with a bit of know-how, sideloading Android apps is quick and easy.

If you want to try your favorite mobile apps on a desktop, you don’t need to rely on command lines or Amazon’s software lineup. Instead, you only need a simple GUI, known as WSA PacMan (short for Package Manager), to turn any APK into a double-click install. Here’s how it works.

Grab the Amazon Appstore

Because WSA PacMan is an interface designed to streamline sideloading, you’ll need to get the bones of Android support up and running on Windows 11. If you don’t have it, you’ll start by installing the Amazon Appstore since it includes Windows Subsystem for Android.

1. Open the Microsoft Store on your computer.
2. Search for “Amazon Appstore” using the search bar at the top of the page.
3. Click the Get option to install the app on your computer.

You don’t need to log in to the Amazon Appstore. Installing it is enough to add WSA to your device.

The Amazon Appstore is supported in a ton of regions, including the U.S., so browse this list to see if your country is supported. If it isn’t, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops to get WSA up and running. It’s a complicated process, but we created a Windows 11 WSA installation guide, and the Amazon Appstore isn’t required.

Get WSA PacMan up and running

With Windows Subsystem for Android ready to go on your PC, you’re one step closer to sideloading paradise. Here’s what you’ll do next.

1. Using the Start menu, locate and open Windows Subsystem for Android.
2. Make sure Developer mode is enabled. Since all sideloading is done through ADB commands (even if you’re running a third-party GUI), this is a necessary step. It’s found using the left side menu in settings, which may require you to open a hamburger menu if the app screen isn’t wide enough to expand it.
3. Click Manage developer settings, then look for USB debugging and toggle it on. This screen should look familiar to Android users. It’s the same menu you’ll find in any AOSP build.
4. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, download WSA PacMan from GitHub by selecting the latest version under Releases. There’s also a portable version if you don’t want to use a .exe file.
5. Follow the installation process to get WSA PacMan running on your computer, then open the app from the Start menu.
6. When everything is ready to go, you’ll see a “Connected” notification at the top of the app.

Install APKs on Windows 11 with WSA PacMan

From here, you can close Windows Subsystem for Android and WSA PacMan, as they don’t need to be open to install APKs on your computer. After all, you’ve done the hard work. Now all you need is an app to install.

Locate the APK file on your device in Explorer, or grab one from a site like APK Mirror, and double-click it like any other .exe file on Windows. WSA PacMan takes care of the rest, delivering a similar installation prompt to what you’d see on Android. Once installed, you also have the option to create a desktop shortcut for your app.

From here, the app functions like any other software on your computer. It can be accessed from the Start menu, pinned to your taskbar, and uninstalled with a simple right-click. Just keep in mind that not every app is guaranteed to work. Streaming apps like Netflix, for example, will likely run into DRM-related issues, as Windows 11 lacks Winevine support.

Get ready to download your favorite Android apps

Whether Android apps on Windows 11 catch on is still an open question, but the option not to rely on the Amazon Appstore makes its future a little brighter. Once WSA PacMan is set up, installing nearly any of our favorite mobile games is a total breeze, even on underpowered hardware.