Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Sideloading Android apps in Windows 11 might be easier thanks to Amazon

By

Amazon is making changes to the Amazon Appstore that might end up benefiting the ability to sideload Android apps in Windows 11. The store now will support the Android App Bundle, which is the new Android app standard that Google has been pushing developers to get on board with.

Previously, Google had announced it was shifting developers away from the APK file format  — which Microsoft had confirmed could be used to sideload Android apps on Windows 11. This would have complicated the ability to run apps that aren’t officially available in Amazon’s Appstore, but Amazon’s news offers hope that this won’t be the case.

Android Apps on Windows 11
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon says that in addition to the APK format, the company is working with developers to support the Android App Bundle format for different app submissions. It doesn’t appear to be something that will happen right away, however. The company noted that updates on this will be shared later this year, as it wants to make app submissions as simple and as “friction-less” as possible for developers.

Recommended Videos

Unlike Google, however, Amazon isn’t mandating the Android App Bundle format. Developers can still keep using APKs and submitting in the same way as before. This should mean that Windows 11 users will still see a wide range of apps available for download as well as sideload.

Related

“Amazon Appstore is actively working to support the new format, which will provide benefits such as smaller app size downloads for customers and on-demand downloads for features and assets. These changes benefit customers by helping them download specific aspects of an app in real-time as needed,” said Amazon.

Microsoft has yet to ship a version of Windows 11 with the Amazon App Store or support for Android apps. The company has already pushed out three versions of Windows 11 since the initial release for beta testing. These Windows 11 builds tweaked the Start Menu, app previews in the Taskbar, and even introduced a new Widget.

If you’re eager to try out Android apps in Windows 11, you can sign up to become a Windows Insider and then enroll your device in the program. This will let you beta test Windows 11 ahead of the general release this holiday season.

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…
Microsoft announces a new threat to push people to Windows 11
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

Microsoft is sharing more details of its plans to transition customers still using Windows 10 from a free offering to a paid structure if they wish to continue receiving security updates.

The company is phasing out the legacy operating system, which will reach its end-of-life support on October 14, 2025. After this, Microsoft will begin charging enterprise users a monthly fee for Extended Security Updates (ESU). Businesses must purchase an ESU license for all Windows 10 devices in order to maintain security support beyond the cutoff date.

Read more
How to adjust screen resolution in Windows 11 and older
microsoft surface laptop go review featured image

You're not actually stuck with the screen resolution setting your Windows PC came with. In addition to tons of other device personalization options, screen resolutions are customizable on Windows PCs. And adjusting the screen resolution on your Windows machine is easier than you think. All it takes is a quick trip to your Settings app or Control Panel (depending on which version of Windows you're running) and a few clicks and you're on your way to an easier-to-view screen. Here, we'll show you how to adjust screen resolutions for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 7 PCs.
In Windows 11
Step 1: Navigate to the Windows 11 Settings app.

Step 2: Click Display.

Read more
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: finally time to upgrade?
The screen of the Surface Pro 9.

Windows 11 is the newest version of Windows, and it's one of the best Windows versions released. At launch, the operating system was very similar to Windows 10, but it has morphed a lot over the past several years. Now, Windows 11 has several key differences compared to Windows 10.

If you've been holding out on upgrading, we have everything you need to know about Windows 11 and how it's different than Windows 10 in this article. We'll detail the differences, as well as show you the areas where Windows 11 is growing faster than Windows 10.
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: what's new

Read more