Microsoft has recently released support for running Android 13 in beta on the Windows System for Android (WSA) on Windows 11. The announcement was quietly made on GitHub, and this new support is only available to those users who have signed up for the dedicated Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program, which is separate from the usual Windows 11 Insider builds.
Windows 11 users can now test Android 13 on the Windows Subsystem for Android in beta
The latest update to the WSA includes a number of significant changes and improvements. In addition to upgrading to Android 13, Microsoft has also claimed that the WSA has seen big performance gains in boot times, with the subsystem now being up to 50% faster. There are a total of nine changes with this latest update, including:
- A new command that shuts down the WSA for automation
- Improvements to mouse click input
- Improvements in clipboard stability
- Improvements to application resizing
- An upgrade to Intel bridge technology for Android 13
- Reliability improvements for media files opening in Windows
- Jumplist entries for applications supporting app shortcuts
To access this latest beta version of the WSA with Android 13, users will need to visit Microsoft’s website and sign up for the Windows Subsystem for Android preview program using a Microsoft account. After receiving a confirmation email, it may take up to seven days for the update to become available through the Microsoft Store. It is also possible to side load the update with the appropriate files, but this process may be more complicated.
It is important to note that the purpose of this preview program is to allow users to test early versions of the WSA and provide feedback to Microsoft, without risking harm to their PCs. There is no word yet on when this update will be rolled out to all users of Windows 11 outside of the beta program, but it is likely to take a few weeks or months, as Microsoft is currently entering the holiday season and has recently released the final Dev Channel Windows 11 build.
Overall, the inclusion of Android 13 on the Windows Subsystem for Android is a significant milestone and represents a major step forward for the platform. With improved performance and a range of new features and enhancements, this update is sure to be well-received by users of the WSA.
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