Windows 10 can now run Android apps – but we wouldn’t recommend it
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Windows 10 users can take advantage of using Android apps on their desktop, via the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), thanks to a newly discovered fudge – but it’s not something we’d recommend the average user put up with. get going.
As you probably know, one of the big steps Windows 11 made was supporting Android apps with WSA, something Windows 10 has been missing so far. Because if liliputing (opens in new tab) spotted, a patch has been released that can be applied to Windows 10 22H2 to bring Android support.
We say patch, but we don’t get the impression that it simply involves downloading and applying a simple file to implement the workaround.
The method provided through this GitHub project (opens in new tab) is somewhat complicated and involves retrieving files from Windows 11, modifying installers, and various other bits of tinkering that are probably beyond the scope of computer knowledge many people possess.
But if you’re confident enough to handle this kind of task, then there’s nothing stopping you from getting the Windows Subsystem for Android running under Windows 10.
Analysis: Question marks around risk factors
Even for those tech savvy enough to handle the procedure of enabling WSA in Windows 10, there are obvious questions here. Exactly how stable will this confused WSA be? And can it even damage your Windows installation (especially if you do something wrong when you run it)?
For those who aren’t sure but still like the idea, a safer way to play around with Android apps (or games, of course) on your Windows 10 desktop is to use a solution like Bluestacks. This is emulator software with a solid reputation and long track record at the moment, but keep in mind that even Bluestacks 5 (the latest incarnation) is now being touted as being optimized for Windows 11.
While an emulator might not be as slick as WSA, which is tightly integrated with the operating system, we have our doubts that such a forced WSA install on Windows 10 could present some of its own problems, as noted.
Through Newwin (opens in new tab)