Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Android apps come to the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 via the Amazon App Store

By

At the June 24 Microsoft event, Microsoft confirmed what was long believed to be true. Windows 11 will support Android apps via the Amazon App Store. The apps have the ability to be locally installed and will function without the need for a smartphone, appearing native in your Taskbar and Start Menu.

Microsoft didn’t share many details, but rumors had indicated that the feature could be powered by the Windows Subsystem for Linux. All Android apps that are compatible with Windows 11 will show up in a special section in the Microsoft Store.

android apps in app store on windows 11 - Tiktok
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft showcased a screenshot showing apps that can run on Windows 11, and the TikTok app is one of them. The app is able to resize, can be dragged around to a mobile view, and doesn’t appear to run full-screen.

Recommended Videos

This is similar to the behavior in the Your Phone app, where you are able to sync apps from select Samsung phones through Wi-Fi and the local network. The difference here is that things are now running natively, independent of phones and other devices.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Other than support for Android apps, Microsoft mentioned that the new Microsoft Store on Windows 11 will be more of an open storefront. The store will support all kinds of different apps, including Win32, UWP, and PWA. This means that you’ll be able to find apps like Google Chrome in the Microsoft Store and won’t have to depend on going on the internet to download Win32 apps from other sources.

Related

Microsoft even showcased some new apps in the Microsoft Store in Windows 11. The list includes Disney+, as well as Adobe Creative Cloud. Intel worked together with Microsoft on the technology, and Intel’s bridge technology will bring the apps to life to create a more seamless experience.

As a shot at Apple, Microsoft even announced that apps can have their own commerce engine where developers can take home all the revenue without a cut for Microsoft.

It’s not clear when this feature will come to everyone for testing, but it’s likely to be available once Windows 11 hits general availability in the fall. Microsoft will need to test the feature via the Windows Insider program before launching it to the general public. So be on the lookout for more updates soon.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Passkeys in Windows 11 are about to get safer and easier to use
Customer using 1Password on their Windows laptop, sitting on a couch.

According to a new Developer Blog post, Microsoft is expanding its support for passkeys on Windows 11 soon, with plans to let you choose how your passkeys are saved and where they're stored. A new API will also allow third-party password managers like 1Password or Bitwarden to integrate more seamlessly into the Windows passkey experience.

With Windows Hello, users will be prompted to complete a one-time setup for each passkey-friendly website using their Microsoft account. Once that's done, you can log in across all your Windows 11 devices using whichever authentication method you prefer -- PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition. All passkeys will be secured with end-to-end encryption and use your PC's TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to keep them protected.

Read more
Microsoft’s forgotten Android phone just got its final update
The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has a unique two-screen design.

Remember the Microsoft Surface Duo 2? It wasn't exactly the popular kid in school — especially at its launch price — but it did represent a major improvement over the first Duo. Unfortunately, there isn't likely to be a Surface Duo 3. It was originally intended to be another folding phone, but Microsoft canceled any development or production for it. Now, the Surface Duo 2 is receiving its last update.

Microsoft released a final Android 12 update for the Surface Duo 2 just a little over a week before it's scheduled for its end-of-life security update on October 21. According to Android Headlines, the update was first noticed by Reddit user u/Affectionate-Tax9885, who shared a screenshot of the download screen and the size of the file: a surprisingly minuscule 54.76 MB.

Read more
Microsoft Word may delete your files — here’s how to avoid it
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

There's a new bug in Microsoft Word that may delete your files, and according to user reports, they're not always recoverable through the Recycle Bin. Fortunately, Microsoft is aware of the problem, but it's unclear when the issue might be fixed. If you want to make sure that your files stay safe, we've got a few workarounds to help you out.

In the last few days, the Microsoft community boards have been flooded with reports of people complaining about their files randomly being deleted, with one user saying: "I use Word. Today, it deleted eight hours of work." Further reports quickly made it clear that the affected files have a few things in common.

Read more