Microsoft is developing a WSA subsystem: Android apps can run on Intel/AMD/ARM devices

Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) will be released later this year. Microsoft said that Android applications can run on all devices including Intel, AMD and ARM. Microsoft is adding an Android subsystem to Windows 11 to support AOSP, allowing users to run Android applications on the desktop.

This is similar to how Linux GUI applications work in Windows 11 using the Linux Subsystem (WSL). AOSP stands for Android Open Source Project, an open source development project maintained by Google, where anyone (including Microsoft) can contribute code, new features, and fixes to the project library for free. This has been an important factor in Microsoft's continued development of the Surface Duo operating system, and now it will come to Windows with the next generation of the operating system.

Microsoft has been adapting the project internally for their own purposes, such as Android app support in Windows. In addition to AOSP, Microsoft is also developing its own Android subsystem, which will establish a proxy between the Android and Windows application models, running Android apps on the desktop.

To improve the Android app experience on Windows, Microsoft is working with Intel and Amazon. While Amazon's contribution is limited to integrating its Appstore, Intel is working with Microsoft to develop Bridge technology, a runtime post-compiler for x86-based applications.

On Intel PCs, Bridge technology will be used to run mobile apps. However, Intel Bridge will not be needed on AMD or ARM, according to a Microsoft representative. Android apps will run on all officially supported Windows 11 devices, regardless of the processor and hardware requirements.

"On AMD and ARM, Intel's bridging technology will not be needed/used. On ARM devices, Android ARM apps will not need emulation/bridging technology," Microsoft officials said at the second Windows event for developers.

Android apps are compiled for ARM, so obviously no bridging technology is needed. For AMD, it's unclear how the feature will work, but Microsoft clarified that bridging technology is not needed or required on AMD hardware, a move that will bring Android apps to more desktop users than originally expected.

While Android apps will be available through the Amazon Appstore, Microsoft has also confirmed that users will also be able to sideload apps to Windows 11. After enabling developer mode, it will be possible to install APK files downloaded from third-party sources.