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Android apps on Windows: Microsoft's Windows subsystem for Android has been significantly updated

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Microsoft has updated the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) to Android 12.1 and shipped improvements for Android and Windows integration, networking, in-app cameras, settings apps, and more.

Android on Windows has been touted as a slow boil, and few apps need to be installed from the Amazon Appstore. Released on Windows 11 in October. Microsoft released an additional 1,000 games and apps for mainstream users in February, but with minimum hardware requirements, the Amazon Appstore is still only available in the United States.

Aside from current limitations, Microsoft continues to invest in migrating Android to Windows 11, as seen in the update from WSA (version 2204.40000.15) on Windows 11 to Android 12.1. This is available to insiders in the development channel. Microsoft blog post. WSA was released on Android 11.

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Microsoft has improved the network of Windows subsystems for Android to allow Android apps to connect to devices on the same network as Windows PCs. Advanced networking allows users to set up smart home devices such as speakers and security cameras using compatible Android apps. This feature is available in Windows 11 preview build 22621 and later, and advanced networking is turned on by default in new x64 Windows builds.

The integration between Android and Windows has also been improved. The Windows taskbar icon now shows Android apps that are currently using hardware features such as the microphone and location in the system tray.

The taskbar is now correctly shown or hidden when the app is running or stopped. Android notifications are now also displayed as Windows notifications, and the Windows title of an Android app now reflects the title of the Android activity. The Android app will not restart again after exiting connection standby mode, but instead resume from where the app paused.

Of the “many camera updates” in this release, Microsoft has fixed the camera orientation to its natural orientation, with incorrect camera previews, letterboxes (app windows wider than height, or longer horizontally), and “Crushing the camera feed”.

Improved mouse and keyboard input for Windows Subsystem for Android. Microsoft has also improved scroll wheel support, fixed the on-screen keyboard focus, and made the Android soft keyboard display correctly.

The updated Android Settings app’s Windows subsystem got a redesigned UX and diagnostic data viewer. At the time of this update, telemetry collection is turned off by default. However, Microsoft recommends that users enable the setting, so they can collect data about Android app usage.

look: Windows 11 Security: How to Protect Your Home or Small Business PC

Other important updates include reducing flicker when the app is restored from a minimized state, adding VP8 and VP9 video hardware decoding, and adding Chromium WebView 100 to the Windows subsystem for Android.

Camera instability on Arm devices, unstable printing via Android apps, low resolution rendered app layout issues, some VPNs may not work on advanced networks, etc. There are still known issues.

“Some apps that were previously available may not work properly for missing, unlaunchable, or various known issues from the experience. Work with your partner to address these issues. We’re working on it as soon as possible, “Microsoft warns.

It may take some time for more Android apps to appear in Windows 11. Currently, Amazon is not accepting new submissions to the Amazon Appstore for Windows 11 devices that exceed the 1,000 apps selected for the program in February.

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