With the previous Windows versions, the easiest way to use native Android apps on the PC was to download an emulator like BlueStacks. However, while the emulator works well, it still means you have to open separate programs every time you want to run the Windows 11 Google Play Store to download new apps.
Here’s an in-depth explanation on how to Install the Google Play Store on windows 11 quickly and easily.
Part 1: Setting Up the Virtual Device
First off, you’ll need to enable or disable several features which are critical for this process to work, the chief among them being virtualization and native virtual machines. Without them, you might be able to download the third-party program, but running it will display only errors.
Step 1. Go to Settings.
Step 2. In the “System” tab, choose “For Developers,” then turn on “Developer Mode.”
Step 3. You will receive a pop-up confirmation that you’ll need to press “Yes” on to confirm the choice. Close the Settings window after.
Step 4. Open the “Run” command with “Win + R.”
Step 5. In the textbox, type or paste “optionalfeatures” and hit Enter.
Step 6. Enable the “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Hypervisor Platform.”
Step 7. Hit “OK” and wait for the process to finish. You’ll be prompted to restart your PC to complete the setup. However, before doing that, read through the guide to complete the following steps as well.
Step 8. While restarting, hit “Esc” or “F2” to show your Windows boot options, then enter BIOS setup. The exact command will differ depending on the motherboard or laptop manufacturer.
Step 9. In the BIOS settings, the virtualization options should be under the “Advanced” tab.
Step 10. Find an option named “Virtualization” or “Virtualization Technology” and enable it.
Step 11. Usually, you’ll need to hit F10 to accept the changes, which will restart your PC again. This time, let it boot the system as usual.
Part 2: Downloading the Custom Windows Subsystem for Android
With the setup done, you can turn on Google Play Store for Windows by using the Windows Subsystem for Android, or WSA. However, only one such system can be used simultaneously, as they would clash with one another.
Step 1. Check your installed programs for WSA applications. One of the most common ones is “Amazon Appstore,” which is a significantly stunted version of the Google Play Store.
Step 2. Remove these programs from your PC.
Step 3. Go to the Custom WSA Builds repository by MustardChef.
Step 4. Scroll down and download the first option in the “Assets” section.
Step 5. Open the downloaded file. You may need 7Zip or WinRAR to unzip the file and extract it in a folder. However, the stock Windows 11 unzipper could also work. You can right-click on the downloaded file, select “Extract All,” and choose where to put the resulting folder.
Step 6. Open the extracted folder, right-click on an empty space inside of it, and select “Open in Terminal.”
Step 7. In the Terminal, paste the following command and hit “Enter:”
PowerShell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\Install.ps1
Step 8. You may be prompted for administration permissions, which you’ll need to confirm. When the command runs, you’ll have to press “a” or “y” to complete it.
This installs the WSA on your device and allows you to use the Google Play Store natively. If it doesn’t work, refer to the WSA repository linked in Step 3 for additional requirements or setup.
Part 3: Using the Google Play Store
When you complete the installation from Part 2, the virtual machine should open immediately. If not, you can find it through your start menu by searching for “Windows Subsystem for Android.”
The program opens a separate window, similar to an emulator, that shows the basic Android functionality. From there, you can use the Google Play Store as if you were on an Android device by logging in with a Google account.
Applications you install through the WSA will also show up on your Windows search bar, and running them will automatically open the WSA.
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