Microsoft is going to reveal more about “what’s next for Windows” at a June 24 event, but some details about the rumored new Windows 11 operating system may have just been revealed. There is now some evidence that Microsoft may be working on an Android emulator for Windows, according to a new report from MSPoweruser.
The basis for this report is a specific change log entry for the latest release of Windows Subsystem for Linux. There are two specific mentions of Android in the journal. One reads “fix that the android emulator window does not move when there is no frame”. The other mentions “fix that the android emulator window doesn’t move and falls down when minimized”.
The Windows subsystem for Linux is for developers, so it’s no surprise that Android is mentioned there. More likely, the changelog simply refers to bugs that developers may encounter when working on their applications. Nevertheless, there remains a small chance that it’s more than that.
Microsoft could use the emulation in the Windows Subsystem for Linux as the basis for Android apps to appear on Windows and the Microsoft Store. In late 2020, there were rumors that Microsoft was working with developers to do just that, in a project known as “Latte.”
Of course, since most apps depend on Google Play Services, the scope of Android apps would be limited. But combined with the mention of Android in the changelog, it suggests that this could become a reality for the next version of Windows.
It’s a bit of a stretch, but Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella may have even hinted at it during the Build 2021 developer conference. In his keynote speech, he mentioned that “we’re about to unveil one of the most significant Windows updates in a decade to open up more economic opportunities for developers and creators.”
Nadella didn’t stop there. He also mentioned that he welcomes “every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to create, distribute and monetize apps.”
It looks like we’re talking about a new Microsoft Store with Android apps, but time will tell. In the meantime, you can run Android apps on Windows through Your Phone and Link to Windows, or through third-party programs.
