3 ways to install the Google Play Store in Windows 11 and download smartphone apps and games on your PC
With the latest versions of Windows 11 and with the new updates released by Google for its store we can finally download Android apps and games directly onto the PC, without any type of emulator or without having to follow absurd or difficult procedures.
In the following chapters we can see together what to do install the Google Play Store with all Android games and apps on Windows 11 using the official procedure provided by Microsoft and Google. For completeness, we will also show you alternative methods for launching games and mobile apps on PC, so that you always have an alternative to use for your favorite apps.
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1) Virtualization requirements
Before starting there is a requirement that must be met in order to start any emulation method provided by the guide, that is hardware virtualization enabledwhich can be activated from BIOS/UEFI.
By opening the task manager (press the keys together CTRL-Maiusc-Esc), go to Performance > CPU and read below Virtualization and enabled.
If it isn’t, you have to enter the BIOS and activate the option Intel VT-X if you use an Intel processor or the option AMD-V if there is an AMD CPU in the PC.
Also make sure you have thelatest version of Windows 11 installed and update all apps from Microsoft Storegoing to the section Collections (from the store app, press the bottom left button for the list of apps).
2) Google Play Games
The first safe and immediate method to play Android games on Windows 11 involves installing Google Play Games on PCan official emulator developed by Google and capable of running most of the games developed for Android also on PC.
To get started, download the installer, launch it and press on Install to start the installation of the official Android emulator for Windows 11. If the emulator does not start, you need to check that you have respected the minimum requirements to play Android games on PC.
Once the installation is complete, we execute Google Play Gameslog in with a Google or Gmail account (the one used on your Android phone is also fine) and install one of the Windows 11 compatible games, such as Asphalt 9: Legends.
If we don’t know which games to install we can take a look at the list in the official list of games included in Google Play PC Games.
3) Amazon Appstore
The second official method to launch Android apps and games on Windows 11 involves downloading theAmazon AppStore directly from the Microsoft Store, which will in turn install the Windows Subsystem for Androidwhich is required to successfully launch Android apps from Windowsc11.
After installation, all we have to do is open the app Amazon Storeuse your Amazon account and install the Android apps available on this store, so you can also use them on PC.
There are many of the same games seen on phones too, making it one of the best ways to get Android apps on PC right away without too much hassle.
4) WSATools
The old, unofficial but effective method for install any android app on windows 11 (not just games) is about the use of WSAToolsa small program developed by an Italian capable of installing Android games and apps via APK, adding them like any PC program.
To get started we download this tool from the Microsoft Store, also confirming the installation of Windows Subsystem for Androidnecessary to be able to launch both the app and the APKs correctly.
At the end of the installation, restart the PC and get the APKs of your favorite apps, using secure sites such as APKPure o APKMirror.
Once we have the APK, we launch WSATools, drag the APK inside and wait for it to be installed on Windows 11. Once finished, we search for the name of the Android app or game directly in the Start menu, so as to launch it.
For further information we can read the guide above how to play android games on PC.
In addition to these methods you can also use virtual machine managers like VirtualBox o VMWare Playeras well as emulators dedicated to Android games and apps such as BlueStacks.