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Windows 11 has no official Google Play Store installation method. Microsoft removed Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) and the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store on March 5, 2025, and WSA is no longer supported by Microsoft. The practical route now is an unofficial, community-built WSA package that includes Google Play Store and Google Play Services.
This guide uses the WSABuilds project. It is third-party software, and its installation script requires administrator access. Read the release notes, download only from the project’s GitHub releases page, and keep a backup of any existing WSA data before replacing an installation.
What you will install
WSABuilds distributes modified Windows Subsystem for Android packages. For Google Play access, select a package containing MindTheGapps. These packages include Google Play Store and Google Play Services.
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To avoid installing the discontinued Amazon Appstore, choose a filename that also contains RemovedAmazon. Do not choose a package containing NoGApps; those builds do not include Google services.
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The current Windows 11 LTS hotfix release is based on WSA build 2407.40000.4.0 and Android 13. Some variants also include Magisk or KernelSU. These are modified builds rather than Microsoft-supported software.
Check the requirements first
WSABuilds lists the following requirements:
| Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Windows version | Windows 11 build 22000.526 or later |
| Processor | x86_64 for most Intel and AMD PCs, or ARM64 for Windows on ARM |
| Memory | 8 GB minimum; 16 GB recommended |
| Storage | At least 10 GB free on the system drive |
| File system | NTFS; exFAT is not supported for the WSA installation |
| Virtualization | Hardware virtualization, Virtual Machine Platform, and Windows Hypervisor Platform |
Check your Windows build
- Press Win+R.
- Enter
winverand press Enter. - Check the OS build number in the About Windows window.
Enable virtualization in UEFI or BIOS
Restart the computer and open its UEFI/BIOS setup. The key varies by manufacturer; common keys include F2, Delete, F10, or Esc. Enable the setting named something similar to:
- Intel Virtualization Technology or Intel VT-x
- SVM Mode or AMD-V
Save the change and boot back into Windows. Microsoft’s virtualization guide covers the general process, although the firmware menu is specific to your computer.
Turn on 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 requests it.
Remove an older WSA installation
Do not install a modified WSA package over an existing Microsoft Store or community WSA installation. Remove the old version 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 removes its Android apps and subsystem data. If you have files or app data inside an existing installation, back it up before continuing.
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Back up the WSA virtual disk
The existing user-data disk is normally located at:
%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalCacheuserdata.vhdxCopy userdata.vhdx to another drive or folder before uninstalling. This is a backup only; do not expect every Android app to restore cleanly into a different WSA build.
Download the Google Play-enabled WSA package
- Open the WSABuilds releases page.
- Open the current Windows 11 release.
- Expand the Assets section.
- Download the package matching your processor architecture.
Choose:
x64for ordinary Intel and AMD computersarm64for Windows on ARM computers
The filename should contain both:
MindTheGappsRemovedAmazon
Download the release’s .7z package, not GitHub’s Source code (zip) or Source code (tar.gz) links. If the release offers several variants, read the release notes before choosing one. Packages containing NoGApps will not provide the Play Store.
Install Google Play Store on Windows 11
- Extract the downloaded
.7zarchive with current 7-Zip or WinRAR. - Rename the extracted folder to
WSA. - Move it to a permanent location on an NTFS drive, for example
C:WSA. - Open the folder and double-click
Run.bat. - Approve the administrator prompt.
- Wait for the installation script to finish.
Do not delete or move C:WSA after installation. The subsystem is registered from files in that folder, so moving the folder can stop WSA from launching.
During the first run, WSABuilds may show a diagnostic-information consent window. The project notes that the same window can occasionally appear twice. Complete the prompt and allow the installation to continue.
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Open and sign in to Google Play Store
- Open Start.
- Search for Play Store.
- Open the app.
- Sign in with a Google Account when prompted.
You do not install Google Play Store as a normal Windows app, and installing only a Play Store APK is not enough. The Play Store depends on Google Play Services and other framework components; that is why the MindTheGapps WSA package is used.
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If Run.bat fails
Run the installer manually from an elevated Windows Terminal so that you can see its error output.
- Press Win+X.
- Select Terminal (Admin).
- Change to the folder containing the extracted files:
cd "C:WSA"Then run:
PowerShell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .Install.ps1If package registration fails, try:
Add-AppxPackage -ForceApplicationShutdown -ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion -Register .AppxManifest.xmlIf that command reports an Activity ID, use it to retrieve the AppX installation log:
Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID <UUID>Replace <UUID> with the actual Activity ID from the error.
Fixes for common problems
WSA or Play Store will not open
- Confirm that hardware virtualization is enabled in UEFI/BIOS.
- Confirm that Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform are enabled.
- Make sure the installation is on an NTFS drive, not exFAT.
- Check that you selected the correct x64 or ARM64 package.
- Restore the WSA folder to its original location if it was moved.
- Update the graphics driver.
Older GPUs can be a limiting factor. WSABuilds specifically notes problems with Intel HD Graphics 530 and older graphics hardware, as well as possible startup or graphical issues with some Nvidia configurations. Modified Windows images such as Tiny11, ReviOS, and Ghost Spectre may also remove components WSA needs.
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Apps crash or hang at the splash screen
Use the current LTS hotfix rather than an older WSA package. The current release notes describe fixes for apps that fail to open, crash, or remain on the splash screen because of an ARM translation-layer problem. Back up userdata.vhdx before replacing an installation.
Google sign-in says that you are offline
Temporarily check whether a VPN, proxy, firewall, DNS filter, or security application is blocking Google services. Also test the installation without mixing files from another GApps package. WSABuilds states that OpenGApps and MindTheGapps cannot be switched in place; uninstall WSA completely before changing between them.
An app is unavailable or refuses to run
Google Play Store availability does not make WSA equivalent to an Android phone. An app may depend on:
- Play Integrity or SafetyNet certification
- ARM-native libraries
- GPS, telephony, Bluetooth, camera, or other physical hardware
- DRM or device certification
- Google licensing services
WSABuilds notes that WSA virtual machines cannot pass SafetyNet or Play Integrity on their own because they do not have Google signing. Banking, streaming, competitive-gaming, and device-dependent apps are therefore especially likely to fail.
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What happens after a Windows update?
Because Microsoft no longer supports WSA, modified WSA packages do not receive Microsoft Store updates. A Windows update can expose compatibility problems that the community project must address separately. Keep a copy of userdata.vhdx before updating or replacing WSA, and check the WSABuilds release notes if the subsystem stops working.
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Official alternative for Android games
If you only want to play supported Android games, install Google Play Games on PC. It is an official Google Windows application, but it is not the Google Play Store and does not provide a general Android app catalog. Google lists requirements including 8 GB of RAM, 10 GB of SSD space, four physical CPU cores, an administrator account, and hardware virtualization.
FAQ
Is Google Play Store officially available for Windows 11?
No. Microsoft removed Windows Subsystem for Android and Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store on March 5, 2025. The method described here uses an unofficial, modified WSA package from a community project.
Can I install Google Play Store with an APK?
Not reliably. The Play Store requires Google Play Services and supporting framework components. Use a WSA package containing MindTheGapps rather than installing the Play Store APK by itself.
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For Google Play, choose a Windows 11 package containing MindTheGapps. To omit the discontinued Amazon Appstore, choose one that also contains RemovedAmazon. Select x64 for most Intel and AMD PCs, or arm64 for Windows on ARM.
Do I need Developer Mode?
Usually not for a prebuilt WSABuilds package. Its Run.bat and Install.ps1 process performs the installation. On Windows 11 25H2 and later, developer settings are under Settings > System > Advanced > For developers.
Will every Google Play app work in WSA?
No. Apps can require phone hardware, ARM libraries, DRM, device certification, SafetyNet, or Play Integrity. Many banking, streaming, and hardware-dependent apps may not work even when the Play Store itself opens.
The Bottom Line
The supported Microsoft Store route no longer exists. To run Google Play Store on Windows 11, install a third-party WSA package containing MindTheGapps, preferably with RemovedAmazon, after enabling Windows virtualization and confirming that your hardware meets the requirements. Keep the package folder in place, maintain a backup of userdata.vhdx, and expect some Android apps to remain incompatible.
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