To install Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 10 or 11, you need to use a community build from GitHub since Microsoft officially discontinued WSA on March 5, 2025. The MustardChef WSABuilds project provides custom WSA packages with Google Play Store support that you can download, extract, and install by running a batch file as administrator.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 9, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft discontinued WSA on March 5, 2025 — the official version has been removed from the Microsoft Store and is no longer supported
- Community builds are the only option — the MustardChef WSABuilds GitHub project provides custom WSA packages that still work on Windows 10 and 11
- Google Play Store is included — the community build comes with Google Play support, so you can install Android apps directly from the Play Store
- Virtualization must be enabled — WSA requires Virtual Machine Platform and hardware virtualization (VT-x/AMD-V) enabled in your BIOS
- An SSD is strongly recommended — WSA runs poorly on mechanical hard drives due to the heavy I/O requirements of running a full Android subsystem
Quick Steps
- Enable Virtual Machine Platform in Windows Features and enable virtualization in your BIOS
- Uninstall the official WSA if it is currently installed on your system
- Download the WSABuilds package from the MustardChef GitHub page for your Windows version
- Extract the zip file, rename the folder to “WSA”, and move it to your C: drive
- Right-click the “Run” batch file inside the WSA folder and select Run as administrator
- Decline optional diagnostic data and let the installation finish
- Sign in to Google Play and start installing Android apps
Why Is WSA No Longer Available From Microsoft?
Microsoft announced in 2024 that Windows Subsystem for Android would be discontinued, and they officially ended support on March 5, 2025. The WSA listing was removed from the Microsoft Store, which means you cannot install the official version anymore regardless of which Windows version you are running.
Important: The official Microsoft WSA is dead. If you had it installed previously, it may still work but will no longer receive updates or security patches. The community build covered in this guide is now the only way to get WSA functionality on Windows.
The good news is that the community stepped up. A developer known as MustardChef created the WSABuilds project on GitHub, which packages WSA with Google Play Store support already built in. This is the method I cover in this guide, and it works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If you would rather not use WSA at all, traditional Android emulators like BlueStacks still work and may be a simpler alternative for basic app usage. But if you want native Android integration with Windows, the community build is the way to go.
What Are the System Requirements for WSA?
Before downloading anything, make sure your system meets the requirements. The MustardChef GitHub page lists everything you need, and I recommend checking it before proceeding.
Here are the key requirements:
- Windows version: Windows 10 (22H2) or Windows 11 (latest update recommended)
- RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
- CPU: Modern processor with virtualization support (VT-x for Intel, AMD-V for AMD)
- Storage: SSD strongly recommended — WSA does not run well on HDDs
- Partition: Must be NTFS formatted (not FAT32 or exFAT)
- Virtual Machine Platform: Must be enabled in Windows Features
- Hardware virtualization: Must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI
The virtualization requirement is what trips up most people. You need to enable it in two places: once in your BIOS settings, and once inside Windows. If you are not sure how to enable virtualization in your BIOS, I have a dedicated guide that walks you through it for every major motherboard brand: how to enable virtualization on Windows 10 and 11.
To enable Virtual Machine Platform inside Windows, search for “Turn Windows features on or off” in the Start menu, scroll down to Virtual Machine Platform, check the box, and click OK. Your computer will need to restart.
How to Download the WSA Community Build
Head to the MustardChef WSABuilds GitHub page and find the latest release for your Windows version. There are separate builds for Windows 10 and Windows 11, so make sure you grab the correct one.
Warning: If you currently have the official Microsoft WSA installed, you must uninstall it completely before installing the community build. Having both installed at the same time will cause conflicts. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for “Windows Subsystem for Android”, and uninstall it.
When choosing a build, I recommend picking the stable release rather than any pre-release or beta version. You will also need to choose between a version that includes Google apps plus the Amazon Appstore, or one with Google apps only. Either option works fine — pick whichever you prefer.
The download is a zip file and it is roughly 1 GB in size, so it may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed. You will need 7-Zip or another archive tool to extract it.
How to Install WSA on Windows 10 or 11
Once you have downloaded and extracted the zip file, the installation process is straightforward. Here is exactly what to do:
Step 1: Rename the extracted folder to something simple like “WSA” and move it to your C: drive root (so the path is C:\WSA). This avoids potential issues with long file paths or special characters in folder names.
Step 2: Open the WSA folder and find the file named “Run” (it is a batch file). Right-click it and select Run as administrator. This is required — the installer will not work without admin privileges.
Step 3: A command prompt window will open and begin the installation process. When asked about optional diagnostic data, decline it — this is not required for WSA to function. Let the installation run until it completes.
Step 4: Once installation finishes, WSA should launch automatically. You will see the Windows Subsystem for Android settings window, which means everything installed correctly.
The entire process takes about 5-10 minutes depending on your system speed. If you run into errors during installation, make sure Virtual Machine Platform is enabled and that you have restarted your computer after enabling it.
How to Sign In to Google Play and Install Apps
With WSA installed, you can now open the Google Play Store directly from your Start menu. Search for “Play Store” and launch it. You will be prompted to sign in with your Google account — this is the same account you use on your Android phone.
Once signed in, you can browse and install Android apps just like you would on a phone. I tested this with VLC and it installed and ran without any issues. Apps open in their own windows on your desktop, and you can resize and move them around like any other Windows application.
Not every Android app will work perfectly through WSA. Apps that rely heavily on specific phone hardware (GPS, accelerometer, NFC) may not function correctly. But productivity apps, media players, messaging apps, and most games work just fine.
Troubleshooting Common WSA Issues
If WSA does not install or run correctly, here are the most common issues and their fixes:
“Virtualization is not enabled” error: This means either Virtual Machine Platform is not turned on in Windows Features, or hardware virtualization is disabled in your BIOS. Follow my guide on how to enable virtualization to fix this. You need to restart your computer after making changes in both places.
Installation fails with an error code: Make sure you downloaded the correct build for your Windows version (Windows 10 vs Windows 11). Also confirm your partition is NTFS formatted — WSA will not install on FAT32 or exFAT drives.
WSA runs very slowly: This almost always means you are running WSA on a mechanical hard drive. An SSD is strongly recommended. Also make sure you have at least 8 GB of RAM available — close other memory-heavy applications if needed.
Google Play Store will not open: Try restarting WSA from the Windows Subsystem for Android settings. If that does not work, uninstall WSA completely and reinstall it using the steps above. Sometimes a fresh install resolves Play Store authentication issues.
If you want to run a full Android environment in a virtual machine instead of using WSA, VMware Workstation Pro is another option worth considering. And if you just need to mirror and control your Android phone from your computer, that might be a simpler solution depending on your use case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WSA still available from Microsoft?
No. Microsoft officially discontinued Windows Subsystem for Android on March 5, 2025 and removed it from the Microsoft Store. The only way to install WSA now is through community builds like the MustardChef WSABuilds project on GitHub, which packages WSA with Google Play Store support.
Can I still use the Google Play Store with WSA?
Yes. The community build from MustardChef includes Google Play Store support out of the box. Once WSA is installed, you can sign in with your Google account and install apps directly from the Play Store, just like on an Android phone.
Does WSA work on Windows 10?
Yes. The MustardChef WSABuilds project provides separate builds for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Make sure you download the build that matches your operating system. Windows 10 requires version 22H2 or later, and you still need virtualization enabled in your BIOS and Virtual Machine Platform turned on in Windows Features.
Is it safe to install WSA from a GitHub community build?
The MustardChef WSABuilds project is open source, which means anyone can inspect the code and build process. It has been widely used by the community since Microsoft’s official WSA was discontinued. That said, as with any third-party software, you are installing it at your own risk — there are no official Microsoft guarantees or support.
What are the alternatives to WSA for running Android apps on Windows?
If you do not want to use the community WSA build, Android emulators like BlueStacks and LDPlayer still work and are easier to set up. You can also run a full Android OS in a virtual machine using VMware Workstation Pro. For basic tasks like responding to messages, mirroring your Android phone to your PC might be all you need.
