Windows Subsystem for Android

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Although this product has been released, it remains under active development - information may change frequently and could be outdated or irrelevant.

Windows Subsystem for Android

Developers
	Microsoft
Release dates
Windows	October 21, 2021

Key points

Won't be supported beginning March 5, 2025.

High image and audio quality comparable to a native Android device.

No Vulkan support.

No keymapper, must rely on game support to properly control games.

May experience GPU rendering issues, heavy RAM consumption, and slow booting.

Can't normally run apps that depend on Google Services, SafetyNet, protected lockscreens, or which require rooting.

Public version is based on Android 11 (API level 30) source code, while Insider versions are based on Android 12.1 (API Level 32).

Capable of utilizing Intel Bridge Technology to run certain Android apps not written in Java or compiled to run natively on x86-based devices.

General information

Introducing Android™ Apps on Windows 11 to Windows Insiders

Windows Subsystem for Android™ support page

Windows Subsystem for Android™ developer documentation

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Microsoft Store		Only available in the US (Sideloaded versions are region-free). Also includes Amazon Appstore.

Essential improvements

Application Compatibility Tracker

Application compatibility can be tracked at Github

Easy app sideload

EasySideload-WSA makes sideloading APKs easier for WSA.

Easy file copy to WSA

EasyPush-WSA makes file copying easier for WSA, files goes to the Downloads folder on Android when done.

Full Android settings menu

Create a Windows shortcut with the following destination: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe\WsaClient.exe /launch wsa://com.android.settings

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows

Video

Graphics feature	State	Notes
Widescreen resolution		May cause issues with certain older games that aren't adapting latest Android codes.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD		VM does run at 4K but not all games support that.
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Depending on games
Anti-aliasing (AA)		Depending on games
Vertical sync (Vsync)		Android always forced on VSync
60 FPS and 120+ FPS		Although the VM does support 120 FPS, game must have 120 or unlocked FPS option to run at 120 FPS or more.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.
Color blind mode		If accessed in the Settings app → Accessibility → Text & Screen, the "Invert Colors" option has no effect.

Input

Keyboard and mouse, touch	State	Notes
Remapping		Only support for games that have proper input remap
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus		Although users can use mouse to interact with game menu, hover tooltips and contexts are rarely implemented for games.
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Touchscreen optimised
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Separate volume controls depending on game support
Surround sound
Subtitles		Subtitles depending on game support
Closed captions		Closed captions depending on game support
Mute on focus lost

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Italian
Norwegian

Issues fixed

Apps are unable to connect to the internet

Turn off "Advanced Network" in the subsystem settings
Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings. Go to System → Advanced Network, and toggle it to Off.

Issues unresolved

Apps crash due to Google Services Framework lacking permissions

Even if com.google.android.gsf has been sideloaded, the crash logs show java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to get provider com.google.android.gsf.gservices.GservicesProvider: java.lang.SecurityException: Permission denial: reading from settings requires:android.permission.READ_DEVICE_CONFIG due to Microsoft not allowing apps to be given read_device_config permission.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	11
OpenGL	ES 3.0
Software renderer		"Windows Subsystem for Android Settings" → Graphics & Performance → GPU used for Android apps → Microsoft Basic Render Driver

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	ARM	Notes
Windows				Not all app support native x86 or x64 especially when it comes from Google Play (Rare older games may support x86 library only), but ARM apps can be loaded in the x64 Subsystem version.

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	11
Processor (CPU)	Same as Windows 11
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	2 GB
Video card (GPU)	Same as Windows 11

Requires Intel VT-x/AMD-V.

The GPU used can be selected through the subsystem settings.

Booting WSA alone will require at least 2 GB of free physical RAM (standby memory do count as free physical RAM) and does not run on pagefile. In theory it is impossible to run on system with 4 GB RAM or less even with a pagefile. Avoid running unnecessary background applications on systems with less than 16 GB RAM.