Android app support in Windows 11 comes with a few nasty surprises

Date:
Fri, 18 Feb 2022 11:40:17 +0000

Description:
Cant wait for Windows 11 to get Android apps? Youll need to be aware of a few things

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One of the most exciting new features coming to Windows 11 is its ability to run Android apps , but Microsoft has revealed a few requirements that may dampen peoples enthusiasm.

According to Microsofts new FAQ for the feature , if you want Android apps to run on your PC, youll need to meet certain requirements to do so.

So, youll need to have a device that runs Windows 11 version 21H2, or later, which is the version that introduces the new feature.

Youll also need a solid state drive (SSD) and have a modern x64 or ARM64 processor. While these requirements arent too bad, and most people running Windows 11 will have them, things then become a little trickier.

Microsoft says you need 8GB of RAM minimum, but16GB is recommended. That 16GB recommendation is quite surprising for a feature we wouldnt have thought was too demanding (these are apps that are supposed to run on smartphones, after all).

However, the 8GB minimum setting means people running Windows 11 on devices with 4GB of RAM which is technically possible wont be able to use this feature. So low-powered, older, or embedded devices, which may have
benefitted the most from getting Android apps, will be left out.

Youll also need to turn on the Virtual Machine Platform, which is a setting found in Windows 11s Control Panel.

Theres also one final requirement that may annoy people. As weve reported before, Windows 11 uses the Amazon Store for Android apps , rather than Googles own Play Store.

This means you dont get the vast collection of apps that youd find in the
Play Store. Nor can you use Play Store credit to buy apps, and any apps or games youve bought on your Android devices through the Play Store will need
to be re-bought.

Youll also need an Amazon account as well. While many people probably already have one, due to the popularity of the online store, there will be plenty of people who dont want an Amazon account for various reasons. Having to sign up for yet another account you dont want may be too much of an ask. Analysis: Does this kill the Android app hype in Windows 11?

Are these requirements enough to kill off some peoples excitement for getting Android apps in Windows 11? While the potential of having thousands of apps instantly available in Windows 11, and which can be installed via the Microsoft Store like other Windows 11 apps, remains exciting, we have to
admit having our hype has reduced a bit.

The 8GB RAM requirement, for example, means that hopes of making an old, less powerful, Windows 11 device essentially an Android tablet , are less likely now.

Microsofts decision to go with the Amazon Appstore also continues to baffle and annoy. Many of us will have a large library of Android apps installed on our devices, and the thought that wed have to pay for certain apps and games again because we bought them through Google Play instantly puts a damper on things.

If you want to give Android apps a go in Windows 11, you can download the Windows 11 KB5010414 update , which is an optional update that adds an early look at how Android apps will be integrated into the operating system. At the moment, this feature is only available in the US. Here's how to download Windows 11

Via WindowsLatest



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/android-app-support-in-windows-11-comes-with-a- few-nasty-surprises/


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