The ability to install Android apps is one of Windows 11’s most exciting features. Some of your favorite mobile apps can now be used on your desktop PC. How did Microsoft pull this off? Let’s take a closer look.
You Will Require
Android app support was not included in the initial release of Windows 11. You can only install Android apps on Windows 11’s beta Insider Preview channel as of October 2021.
Android app support will be added to all Windows 11 devices that have the necessary hardware virtualization support in the future.
Windows 11 laptops and desktops, like Chromebooks, will run Android apps out of the box, and M1 Macs will run iPhone and iPad apps.
Intel Bridge Technology
Applications are similar to puzzle pieces in that they only fit in specific places. Apps for Mac cannot run on Windows, but Android apps can run on an iPhone. Microsoft had to do some clever things to get Android apps to work inside Windows 11.
Intel Bridge Technology is the secret sauce behind Android apps in Windows 11. (IBT). IBT is known technically as a “runtime post-compiler.”
A compiler is what instructs your computer on what to do with the code contained within an app. Without the compiler, the app is essentially a document written in a foreign language that is sent to your computer. Compilers translate the document and package it so that the computer can understand it.
This code is recompiled by a post-compiler. In this case, an app is first compiled to run on Android, and then Intel Bridge Technology recompiles it with everything required to run in Windows 11. It connects native Android and native Windows functions.
The important thing to note here is that Android app developers do not need to do anything special to make their apps run on Windows. In theory, any Android app can run inside Windows 11. That doesn’t mean they’ll all run flawlessly, but they should.
It’s More Than Just an Emulator
This isn’t the first time you’ve been able to run Android apps in Windows. Emulators such as BlueStacks have made it possible for a while, but there are some significant drawbacks. The Intel Bridge Technology is not a virtual machine.
Emulators create a virtual environment in which apps can run. It’s a virtual Android device that runs on your Windows PC. This necessitates a large number of resources, which can put a strain on your computer and cause it to run slowly.
Android apps can now run natively on Windows 11, just like regular Windows apps, thanks to IBT. Native Android features are mirrored in their Windows counterparts. That means you won’t be taxing your computer by watching TikTok alongside Microsoft Office.
Where Do the Apps Come From?
We now have a better understanding of how Android apps work in Windows 11, but where do you get them? Microsoft collaborated with Amazon to make Android apps available through the Amazon Appstore. The Appstore is the same one that comes with Fire Tablets.
Installing an Android app from the Amazon Appstore is a simple process. Simply download the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store and then download Android apps as usual.
If the Amazon Appstore isn’t enough for you, you can also sideload APKs. However, it is not as simple on Windows 11 as it is on an Android device. However, it is an option if you require a specific app.
The most important thing to remember about Android apps on Windows 11 is that they run natively thanks to Intel Bridge Technology. The days of using screen mirroring and emulators to run Android apps on your PC are long gone. Windows and Android have never worked better together, thanks to Microsoft’s Your Phone apps.
