Microsoft’s Windows 11 showcase showed off a slew of new features and upgrades coming in the next iteration of its OS, but one that has us particularly excited is native support for Android apps. These apps will be available for download from the Microsoft store and will be fully integrated into Windows 11.
How much is that Android in the Windows?
Apps are discoverable through the Microsoft store via Amazon’s app store, ready and waiting for your download. And they’re, apparently, fully integrated into the OS as well. You won’t be fiddling around with some virtual hand-held developer mode tool or Bluestacks to watch your favourite TikToks on your desktop.
You’ll be able to make use of your apps the same way you would any other native PC app, pinning to Start, to your taskbar, adding it to your desktop, and more. Microsoft is utilising Intel’s Bridge technology to make it all work.
We think it’s a great new addition. Most mobile apps, even the most popular ones, don’t have desktop versions. Sometimes they have browser options, but those are often pretty lacking. As much as you’re probably not going to be using your laptop for Snapchat and TikTok, it’s always nice to have options. Plus it makes some of the more finicky aspects of editing apps easier to manage. A cursor is far more accurate than those big, obtrusive fingers poking around a tiny screen, after all.
