Windows 10: How to access SD Card from Windows Subsystem for Android WSA

I have successfully installed the Windows Subsystem for Android WSA, and also successfully installed several applications from the Amazon App Store. Some of the applications I have downloaded have features/functions that allow for the downloading of files. For example, I have installed a comic reader CDisplayEX that can download comics for offline reading. I am using a Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet with a SD Card installed. I have been unable to save files from Android applications to the SD Card. The SD Card does not even show up in the Android File explorer. Just the "Subsystem for Andro

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How to install Play store on Windows subsystem for Android with the unmodified WSA

How to install Play store on Windows subsystem for Android with the unmodified WSA

 

Use Windows Subsystem for Android in Windows 11

Windows Subsystem for Android i.e. WSA allows your device to run Android apps natively in Windows 11. This article explains how to set up WSA in Windows 11 to Run Android Apps. WSA runs as a virtual machine using Hyper-V and is based on AOSP version 11. Also, The feature is only available for Windows Insiders in Beta Channel as of now.





WhatsApp for Android, WSA and Amazon App Store installed in Windows 11

Requirements

As of now, WSA has some specific requirements. With time, some pre-requisites like Region would be eased. See the following requirements:

1. Your Device must be running Build 22000 and meeting the requirements for Windows 11, including supported processors.
   
2. The Computer must support virtualization and be enabled in BIOS/UEFI and Optional Features.
   
3. The device must have at least 8GB of RAM and SSD as a Storage device. For WSA, a Hard drive is not supported.
   
4. The Store version must be 22110.1402.6.0 or higher. Go to Store Library to update.
   
5. The PC's Region must be set to the US.
   
6. The Amazon account you plan to use must be US-based.
   
7. Your PC must be in Windows Insider Program Beta Channel.
   

If these requirements are met, follow the steps below to set up and use Windows Subsystem for Android.

Getting started with Windows Subsystem for Android

1. Open the Amazon App store from this link.
   
2. Click Install. It would download Amazon AppStore and Windows subsystem for Android.
   
3. When done, you would see the Windows subsystem for Android on your app list, together with Amazon AppStore.
   
4. Open the Amazon AppStore, and sign in with your US-based Amazon Account on the screen that shows.
   
5. Locate your App in the catalogue and click Install. At the time of writing, only around 50 apps are available in the Store, but Microsoft will update the list over time.
   

Amazon AppStore starting using WSA

Windows Subsystem for Android Settings.

There are also a bunch of Android Settings you can customize as well, which are as under.

1. Files show the files which Apps download to the Device.
   
2. Subsystem Screen reader helps accessibility wise, like screen reading on in Android apps you plan to run.
   
3. Developer mode helps you to sideload an APK file manually using ADB. See .
   
4. Resources: If the Subsystem is selected As needed, no resources are used in the Background, so as a result, apps open slowly. If a continuous option is selected, resources continue to be used in the Background, and Apps open quickly.
   

To conclude, these steps can help you get started with running Android apps using Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. Hopefully, it would be available for the general public soon.

In addition, if you are outside the United States and wish to try out WSA manually, you can follow this guide:

Install and configure Android apps in Windows 11 - Your Windows Guide

1. Download WSABundle from here.
   
2. Move the file to the root of the C drive.
   
3. When it is finished downloading, open an elevated PowerShell window. To open an elevated Powershell, Press the Win+R keys on the keyboard and type Powershell in the dialogue box. Afterwards, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter and press yes when prompted.
   
4. Type the following command to change the Directory to the root of the C drive.
   
   CD /
   
5. Then install the MSIX Bundle using this command:
   
   Add-AppxPackage 2.msixbundle
   

Follow the rest of the steps on APK installation in the article link.

Do read:

Introducing Android™ Apps on Windows 11 to Windows Insiders | Windows Insider Blog

Announcing Android™ apps on Windows 11 Preview for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel | Windows Insider Blog

Windows Subsystem for Android™ (microsoft.com)

 

Windows Subsystem for Android toggle Wireless Debugging fails

The subject says it all. I'm trying to set up wireless debugging in order to work with the Windows Subsystem for Android. Can someone help me fix this?

Here are the steps I'm taking:

1. Install the Windows Subsystem for Android with Amazon Appstore (I've actually tried both installing the Appstore to get WSA and installing WSA to get the Appstore. At least 3 attempts with no success at this point.)
   
   1. Ensure Virtual Machine Platform is turned on.
      
   2. Ensure Windows hypervisor platform is turned on.
      
2. Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings
   
3. Enable Developer Mode
   
4. Select "Manage Developer Settings"
   
5. I try two different things next with functionally the same result:
   
   1. Attempt to toggle "Wireless debugging"
      
   2. Click on the "Wireless debugging" text to go into the "Wireless debugging" submenu" and try to toggle "Wireless debugging" there.
      

What happens:

The toggle momentarily flashes to the on color and momentarily the toggles to the on position. Then the switch immediately switches back to the off position and off color. This is incredibly short. When first entering the wireless debugging submenu, the option will sometimes turn "on" just long enough to see a list of other pieces of information or options show up beneath it, but they quickly vanish. All other toggles in the developer settings work as intended. This is the only one that fails.

What I expect to happen:

I expect Wireless Debugging to be turned on and stay on so that I can use wireless debugging with the WSA.

System Details:

Windows Build 22000.1042

AppStore 22207.1401.9.0

16 GB RAM

12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U