Android Apps on Windows 11 Are Getting Better Networking & File Access

Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Android in Windows 11, allowing PCs to run some Android applications without installing a traditional virtual machine or other utility. The feature has been updated a few times since then, and now another update is rolling out that further improves the Android app experience on Windows.

Microsoft has released an update for the Windows Subsystem for Android, version number 2306.40000.4.0, in all Insider channels of Windows 11. It comes after the last major update added true file sharing between the Windows and Android environments, allowing you to open files from your PC in an Android application without moving them to a specific folder first. The new update includes a fix for OneDrive folders not appearing in Android apps, and dragging and dropping files between Windows and Android apps now works with more file types.

The new Windows Subsystem for Android update also improves networking support, with a new "Local network" option replacing "Advanced networking" in the advanced section of the settings app. Local networking allows Android apps to connect to other devices on your PC's network, while still respecting Windows firewall rules and any active VPN connections. That opens the door for Android apps to support LAN gaming, direct streaming for security cameras and other local devices, and other use cases that were previously unavailable.

There are a few other minor changes, such as the inclusion of Google's latest Android 13 security updates, an updated Linux kernel (it's now on version 5.15.104), new buttons in the picture-in-picture mode, camera compatibility improvements, and better permissions prompts.

This Windows Subsystem for Android update is still limited to Windows Insider builds, but it should soon roll out to all Windows 11 PCs with the Subsystem installed, once any critical bugs have been fixed. If you want to try out the Subsystem on your Windows PC, check out our guide for installing Android apps on Windows 11. There's still no Google Play Store, so many popular applications and games are still missing without sideloading Google services first. Google has its own Google Play Games desktop application for that, which is compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11.