In March 2024, Microsoft unexpectedly retired the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), which enabled Android app support on Windows 11. This decision surprised many Windows 11 users, as it was a key feature distinguishing Windows 11 from its predecessor. However, WSA is not entirely dead. Microsoft and Tencent announced a partnership allowing customers in China to run Android apps from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11.
The announcement does not explicitly mention the Android App Support on Windows/Windows Subsystem for Android or its availability outside China. However, there are indications that this new initiative may continue where WSA left off. For instance, the blog post (in Chinese) notes that the “computer version of Tencent App Store” uses Android OS based on Android 13, which was the last update for WSA.
The partnership will also leverage Intel Bridge and Celadon to enable ARM apps to run on x86 systems, allowing access to cameras, microphones, GPS, and even NPUs. Microsoft and Tencent aim to make Android apps behave like native ones, supporting resizable windows, search, shortcuts, and installation from the Microsoft Store—features reminiscent of WSA.
Here is what Tencent VP Lin Songtao said about the partnership (translated):
Tencent intends to introduce over 1,500 mobile apps and games to the Microsoft Store. Given the immense popularity of mobile gaming in China, it’s understandable why Microsoft is targeting this market. Following the news of WSA’s discontinuation, reports surfaced about the project’s closure due to its inability to generate profit alongside the Amazon App Store. The outcome of the new Microsoft-Tencent partnership will be intriguing to observe.