It’s finally possible to run Android apps on Windows PCs. But why bother? If you’re skeptical about Android apps in Windows 11, we’ll explain why you should give it a try.
Technically, Windows 11 is not the first time Android apps have been able to run on Windows. Emulators like BlueStacks have made it possible for years, but Windows 11 makes the experience, well, good. That doesn’t mean you know what to do with it, though. We can help.
Technology has seen a massive shift toward mobile devices in the last 20 years. Because of that, there are many services that simply don’t exist on PCs. If you want to use these services, you need a smartphone or tablet.
RELATED: Here's How Android Apps Work on Windows 11
By using Android apps in Windows 11, you can bridge the gap between your phone and PC. Popular services like Ring. Roomba, Ecobee, and Eero don’t have desktop experiences. You have to stop what you’re doing and pull out your phone, which can be very distracting.
It may seem obvious, but this is a very big part of why mobile apps on desktop operating systems matter. A lot of services are geared toward mobile devices. Now you can have the best of both worlds.
Speaking of apps designed for mobile devices, what do they have that not all Windows devices have? Touchscreens. Mobile apps are designed specifically to be used with touch, whereas some Windows apps work okay with touch.
The Best Tech Newsletter Anywhere
Join 425,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of features, articles, news, and trivia.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
If you have a Windows 11 PC that sports a touchscreen—especially a Windows tablet—you may find Android apps work better with touch input. That’s just the nature of how mobile apps are designed. Even the best touch-friendly Windows apps have to think about keyboards and mice.
Android apps in Windows 11 can make your “hybrid” PC even more of a convertible device.
RELATED: How to Change the Size of the Touch Keyboard on Windows 11
We’ve been talking a lot about Android apps, but of course, Android games work in Windows 11 as well. You can finally bring your favorite mobile games into the desktop interface.
RELATED: How to Play Android Games on Windows 11
While many Android games are designed to work with simply touch input, there are plenty of complex games too. There’s a reason why people connect Xbox and PS5 controllers to their Android devices.
Maybe you don’t need a keyboard and mouse to play your favorite Android game, but it’s still more convenient if you spend a lot of time on your PC. And since many games can sync progress, you can still play on your phone too.
Thankfully, most of the popular social networks now have fully functional desktop apps or websites. Still, you may prefer the mobile versions, and not every social media app is available on Windows.
Snapchat, for example, has an extremely barebones browser experience. These types of social media services are very heavily geared toward smartphones. If you want the best experience, the experience the developers are focusing on the most, you’ll want the Android version.
RELATED: How to Post on Instagram From a PC or Mac
Android apps in Windows 11 are all about filling in the gaps. You don’t have to wish you could access your bank’s mobile app on your PC anymore. You don’t have to pull out your phone to check that Ring notification.
Maybe you don’t need to use Android apps in Windows 11. These reasons may not be relevant to you and that’s okay. However, it’s worth a shot if you’re curious. There’s even a lot more you can do with this feature if you do a little extra tinkering.
RELATED: How to Sideload Android Apps on Windows 11