Microsoft has released a new preview update for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), the software that allows users to run Android apps on Windows 11. The update, version 2306, includes a number of new features and improvements, including improvements for camera compatibility, networking improvements, and fixes for several issues.
While this is not a feature update for WSA, it is a release that will make the overall experience more stable for users. The build in question is Version 2306 and it is currently only available in preview. As usual, Microsoft will allow preview testing this month before launching the build to all users towards the end of July.
It is worth noting that WSA is not a part of the Windows Insider Program. You will not get preview updates through Insider channels. Instead, you can receive WSA test builds individually but filling out this Microsoft Forms page.
Here is the full changelog for Windows Subsystem for Android 2306
- Camera compatibility improvements
- Fullscreen mode with F11 now displays hover taskbar to improve mouse and touch experience
- Local networking (under Advanced settings – Experimental features) now replacing “Advanced networking”. Android apps can connect to devices on the same network, on all versions of Windows, respect Windows firewall rules, and work with VPNs
- Share user folders (under Advanced settings – Experimental features) now gives users the option to change their default shared folder
- The subsystem will now prompt if an app is trying to use a permission that the subsystem does not have
- The subsystem has switched from EROFS to EXT4 for read-only disks
- Fix for OneDrive folders not showing up in Android apps
- Support for drag and drop for more file types (feature request Unsupported Mimes Types when Drag'n Drop file on app #335)
- Improvements to picture-in-picture (new UI buttons when in PIP)
- Partially running mode now enabled by default for devices with at least 16 GB of memory
- Stability fixes for ARM devices
- Linux kernel updated to 5.15.104
- Android 13 security updates
Recent Updates Increase Android Support on Windows 11
Windows 11 is the first version of Windows that lets you run Android apps on your PC. This is possible thanks to the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), a technology that integrates Android apps with the Windows environment. You can access and install Android apps from the Amazon App Store, which offers more than 20,000 apps for Windows 11 users. Microsoft is not resting on its laurels, though. It has been releasing regular updates for the WSA to make it faster, smoother, and more secure.
Here are some of the highlights of the recent updates:
- May 2023: You can now adjust the amount of RAM allocated to the WSA, which can improve app performance and responsiveness. You can also scan Android app packages with your anti-virus software before installing them, which can protect your PC from malware.
- April 2023: You can now run Android video apps in Picture-in-Picture mode, which lets you watch videos in a small window while doing other tasks on your PC. You can resize and move the video window as you like.
- March 2023: This update improved various aspects of the WSA, such as stability, graphics, audio, and security. It also fixed some bugs and glitches that affected some apps and features.
- February 2023: This update boosted the performance of the WSA significantly, especially for x86 processors, such as AMD and Intel CPUs. It also improved performance for ARM processors, which are used in some laptops and tablets. You can now run Android apps faster and smoother on your PC.
- December 2022: This update upgraded the WSA to Android 13, which brought several enhancements to the Android app experience on Windows 11. For example, it improved mouse input, clipboard stability, and app resizing.
