Windows Subsystem for Android Gets Update to Android 13

Amazon App Store for Android on Windows 11.
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows Insiders will get the first taste of a major update to the Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. In a new update going to all channels, update 2211.40000.11.0, Microsoft is stepping up to Android 13.

All of the other changes are under the hood, providing reliability and performance improvements, including faster boot performance, a more stable clipboard and better mouse input and app resizing. The full change list can be found in Microsoft's blog post, or right here:

  • Windows Subsystem for Android updated to Android 13
  • Improvements in boot performance
  • Improvements to mouse click input
  • Improvements in clipboard stability
  • Improvements to application resizing
  • Reliability improvements to media files opening in Windows
  • Jumplist entries for applications supporting app shortcuts

The Windows Subsystem for Android first started previewing last year February. This update brings Windows up to using the latest version of Google's OS. Back when Android app emulation became available to Windows Insiders, we detailed how to use Android apps on Windows, as well as how to sideload them. Microsoft is currently only using the Amazon App Store, not Google Play. If you're looking to download the Windows Subsytem or Android, you can find it in the Microsoft Store.

This update is going to Insiders in every ring: dev, beta and release preview. Some users already have been updated to Android 13; those who are members of the WSA Preview Program got it towards the end of 2022.

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.