Amazon has announced the general availability of its Appstore on Windows 11. Facilitated through a collaboration with Microsoft, the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) allows running Android apps from the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.
The Amazon Appstore operates through the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), providing a platform for Android apps to run on Windows 11. Users of Windows 11 can now easily install and use a range of popular Android apps and games, such as Audible, TikTok, Lords Mobile, Hungry Shark Evolution, and Epic Seven, directly on their PCs. Despite this, the Amazon Appstore's offerings are significantly fewer than the Google Play Store, and it remains to be seen how many developers will take advantage of the new opportunity.
The Amazon Appstore for Android in Windows 11 ended its preview phase after 18 months, with the first preview release arriving in February 2022. Despite claims of over 50,000 apps in the store, actual numbers have been disputed, with some reports suggesting only dozens of apps are available. It is available in multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and many European countries. It can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Store in Windows 11.
Parallel to the Amazon Appstore availability, Microsoft has released a new preview update for Windows Subsystem for Android, adding support for drag and drop for more file types, improvements to picture-in-picture, a new Linux kernel, Android 13 security updates and more.
Amazon Input SDK: A New Tool for Developers
To improve the development process and enhance user experience, Amazon has also launched the Amazon Input SDK. This tool allows developers to offer users an in-app overlay that details the available mouse and keyboard controls, potentially reducing the time required to create in-app input tutorials.
Developers looking to test an Android app in the Windows desktop environment need to set up their development environment. This process involves meeting specific device requirements and installing the Amazon Appstore. The Microsoft Store will automatically install the Windows Subsystem for Android when either the Amazon Appstore is installed or an Android app is installed for the first time from the Microsoft Store.
Developers can test and debug their Android app on a Windows 11 device using the Windows Subsystem for Android. This involves enabling developer mode in Windows Settings and connecting to the Windows Subsystem for Android VM for debugging. Developers can also use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to connect their development workstation directly to their Android device for installing packages and evaluating changes.
