Windows 11 has no official Google Play Store installation route. Microsoft removed Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) and the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store on March 5, 2025.
You can still run the Play Store with an unofficial, community-built WSA package that includes Google Play Store and Google Play Services. This guide uses the actively maintained MustardChef/WSABuilds project. Because the package is modified third-party software and its installer requests administrator access, inspect the release and download it only from the project’s official GitHub repository.
What you need before installing
WSA runs Android inside a virtualized environment, so your PC must support both Windows and hardware virtualization.
| Requirement | Minimum or option |
|---|---|
| Windows version | Windows 11 build 22000.526 or later |
| Processor architecture | x86_64 for most Intel and AMD PCs, or ARM64 for Windows on ARM |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM minimum; 16 GB recommended |
| Storage | At least 10 GB free on the system drive, normally C: |
| File system | NTFS; exFAT is not supported |
| Windows features | Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform |
| Firmware setting | CPU hardware virtualization enabled in UEFI/BIOS |
Modified Windows editions such as Tiny11, ReviOS, and Ghost Spectre may remove components WSA needs and can cause installation or startup problems.
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Check your Windows build
- Press Win+R.
- Type winver and press Enter.
- Check the OS build in the About Windows window. It must meet the package’s stated requirement.
Enable CPU virtualization
Restart the computer and open its UEFI/BIOS setup. The key varies by manufacturer; common choices include Delete, F2, F10, or Esc. Look for one of these settings:
- Intel Virtualization Technology
- Intel VT-x
- AMD-V
- SVM Mode
Enable the setting, save the change, and boot back into Windows. Microsoft also documents this process in its Windows virtualization guide.
Enable Windows virtualization features
- Open Start and search for Windows features.
- Select Turn Windows features on or off.
- Enable Virtual Machine Platform.
- Enable Windows Hypervisor Platform.
- Select OK and restart if Windows asks you to do so.
Remove an existing WSA installation
Do not install the modified package on top of an existing Microsoft Store or third-party WSA installation. Remove the old package first.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Windows Subsystem for Android.
- Select the three-dot menu beside it and choose Uninstall.
- Confirm the removal.
Uninstalling WSA also removes Android apps and subsystem data. If you have files or app data you need, back up the WSA virtual disk before uninstalling.
Back up WSA data
For the standard WSA package, the user-data disk is normally stored at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\userdata.vhdx.
Copy userdata.vhdx to another drive or folder. This is a backup of the virtual disk, not a guarantee that every app will restore correctly in a different build.
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Download a WSA package containing Google Play
- Open the WSABuilds releases page.
- Open the current Windows 11 release. The current LTS hotfix identifies itself as WSA build 2407.40000.4.0 and Android 13.
- Expand the Assets section.
- Download the package matching your architecture: x64 for standard Intel and AMD PCs, or arm64 for Windows on ARM.
- Choose a filename containing both MindTheGapps and RemovedAmazon.
MindTheGapps indicates that Google Play Store and Google Play Services are included. RemovedAmazon avoids installing the discontinued Amazon Appstore. Do not choose a NoGApps package, and do not download GitHub’s Source code archive. The installation package is a release asset with a .7z extension.
The current LTS release notes list MindTheGapps package version 20240213. Builds that include Magisk list version v30.6; KernelSU builds list v3.0.0. These are modified packages, not Microsoft or Google releases.
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- Extract the downloaded .7z file using an up-to-date version of 7-Zip or WinRAR.
- Rename the extracted folder to WSA.
- Move the folder to a permanent location on an NTFS drive, such as C:\WSA.
- Open the WSA folder.
- Double-click Run.bat.
- Approve the administrator prompt.
- Wait for the script to finish registering and installing the subsystem.
Keep the folder where you put it. Do not delete or move C:\WSA after installation. WSA is registered from files in that folder, so moving the folder later can stop the subsystem from launching.
The first installation may show a diagnostic-information consent window. The project notes that the same window can occasionally appear twice during the initial setup.
Open and sign in to Google Play Store
- Open Start.
- Search for Play Store.
- Open the app.
- Sign in with a Google Account.
Google Play Services is already included in the MindTheGapps package. Installing the Play Store APK by itself is not a substitute: the Store depends on Google Play Services and other framework components.
If Run.bat fails
Run the installer from an elevated Windows Terminal so that any error remains visible.
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- Press Win+X.
- Select Terminal (Admin).
- Change to the folder containing the extracted files by entering cd “C:\WSA”, replacing the example path with your actual folder location.
- Run the PowerShell installer: PowerShell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\Install.ps1.
If package registration fails, try this command from the same folder: Add-AppxPackage -ForceApplicationShutdown -ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion -Register .\AppxManifest.xml.
If it returns an Activity ID, use that ID to retrieve the package log: Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID <UUID>. Replace <UUID> with the Activity ID shown by the registration command.
Common problems and fixes
WSA or Play Store will not start
Check the following in order:
- Both Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform are enabled.
- Intel VT-x, Intel Virtualization Technology, AMD-V, or SVM Mode is enabled in UEFI/BIOS.
- The package is on an NTFS drive, not exFAT.
- The WSA folder has not been moved or deleted.
- You downloaded the correct x64 or ARM64 package.
- Your graphics driver is current.
WSABuilds reports startup and graphics issues with Intel HD Graphics 530 and older GPUs. Nvidia hardware can also produce graphical glitches or startup problems on some systems.
Apps crash or remain at the splash screen
Use the current LTS hotfix rather than an older WSA build. The January 2026 hotfix addresses apps failing to open, crashing, or hanging at the splash screen because of an ARM translation-layer issue. Back up userdata.vhdx before replacing a working installation.
Google sign-in says that you are offline
Temporarily check whether a VPN, proxy, firewall, DNS filter, or security product is blocking Google services. The message can also indicate a WSA networking problem or an incompatible GApps build.
If the problem continues, perform a clean uninstall and reinstall. Do not mix files from OpenGApps and MindTheGapps packages: the WSABuilds documentation says they cannot be switched in place.
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An Android app will not install or run
The Play Store’s availability does not make every Android app compatible with WSA. An app may depend on:
- Google Play Integrity or SafetyNet certification
- Phone-only hardware features
- ARM-native libraries
- GPS, telephony, Bluetooth, or a camera
- DRM or device certification
- Google licensing services
WSABuilds states that a WSA virtual machine cannot pass SafetyNet or Play Integrity on its own because it does not have Google signing. Banking, streaming, competitive-game, and device-management apps are therefore especially likely to fail or impose restrictions.
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Magisk is included
Some current LTS GApps builds include Magisk by default because the project says it is required for those builds to function. Ordinary app installation does not require you to use root features, but Magisk confirms that the package is substantially modified beyond Microsoft’s original WSA.
A Windows update breaks the installation
Microsoft no longer supports WSA, and modified packages do not receive updates through the Microsoft Store. A future Windows update can expose compatibility issues that the community project must address separately. Keep a backup of userdata.vhdx before updating or replacing WSA.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about Developer Mode on Windows 11 25H2?
Some older sideloading guides tell you to open Settings > System > For developers. On Windows 11 25H2 and later, Microsoft moved this page to Settings > System > Advanced > For developers.
That setting is not normally needed for the prebuilt WSABuilds installation because Run.bat and Install.ps1 perform the registration. It mainly matters when manually sideloading packages or following instructions that explicitly require Developer Mode.
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Official alternative for Android games
If you only want Android games, consider Google Play Games on PC. It is an official Google Windows application, but it is not the Google Play Store and does not install general Android apps. Google lists requirements including Windows 10 version 2004 or later, 8 GB RAM, 10 GB of SSD space, four physical CPU cores, an administrator account, and hardware virtualization.
FAQ
Is there an official Google Play Store for Windows 11?
No. Microsoft removed Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store on March 5, 2025. The method described here uses an unofficial community-built WSA package.
Which WSABuilds package includes Google Play Store?
Choose a Windows 11 package whose filename contains MindTheGapps. For a package without the discontinued Amazon Appstore, also choose one containing RemovedAmazon. Avoid packages marked NoGApps.
Can I install Google Play Store as an APK?
Not reliably. The Play Store requires Google Play Services and related framework components. A compatible WSA package bundles these components through MindTheGapps.
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Will every Android app work after installing Play Store?
No. Apps that require Play Integrity, SafetyNet, DRM certification, phone hardware, ARM libraries, GPS, telephony, or other device-specific services may not install or run.
Can I move the WSA folder after installing it?
No. Keep the extracted folder in its permanent NTFS location. WSA is registered from files in that folder, and moving or deleting it can prevent startup.
Is the WSABuilds method safe?
It is unofficial third-party software. Review the GitHub repository and release assets before installation, scan downloaded files, and understand that the installer runs with administrator privileges. Microsoft and Google do not support this package.
The Bottom Line
The practical way to add Google Play Store to Windows 11 is to install a third-party WSA build containing MindTheGapps, preferably with RemovedAmazon. Enable Windows and hardware virtualization first, remove any old WSA installation, install the matching x64 or ARM64 release from the official WSABuilds repository, and keep its folder in place.
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