How to Install Google Play Store and Google Apps on Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA)

If you’re running Windows 11, you’ve probably heard about the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) — Microsoft’s built-in tool that allows you to run Android apps natively. While WSA is a great feature, out of the box it doesn’t include Google Play Services or the Google Play Store, which means you’re stuck sideloading apps or using alternatives like the Amazon Appstore.

Fortunately, there’s a way around that. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Google Play Store and essential Google apps into your WSA setup — enabling full access to the Android ecosystem on your Windows machine.

🔍 Requirements

Before we begin, here’s what you need:

✅ Prerequisites:

• Windows 11 (build 22000 or later)
• WSA installed and running at least once
• Windows Terminal or PowerShell (Admin access)
• WSA Tools (optional GUI)
• A GitHub account (for downloading patched WSA)
• 7-Zip or WinRAR
• Internet connection

🧱 Step 1: Install Windows Subsystem for Android

If you haven’t already:

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Windows Subsystem for Android and click Install.
3. Alternatively, install Amazon Appstore, which installs WSA automatically.

Once installed, open WSA settings once to initialize the environment.

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🔄 Step 2: Enable Developer Mode

1. Open the WSA Settings.
2. Scroll down to Developer Mode and toggle it ON.
3. Make note of the IP Address — you’ll need it later for ADB connections.

Also, in Windows Settings > Privacy & Security > For Developers, enable Developer Mode for the system itself.

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🛠 Step 3: Uninstall Existing WSA (Optional but Recommended)

To avoid conflicts, you may want to uninstall the default WSA version:

powershellCopyEditGet-AppxPackage *WindowsSubsystemForAndroid* | Remove-AppxPackage

💾 Step 4: Download Modified WSA with Google Play (Magisk + OpenGApps Integrated)

Thanks to the open-source community, we have pre-patched WSA builds with integrated Magisk and OpenGApps (which includes the Play Store and Google Services). Here’s how:

1. Go to the WSAGAScript fork GitHub or a reliable project like WSA-Integrate.
2. Download the latest Magisk + GApps WSA build from the releases section.
3. Extract the ZIP file using 7-Zip or similar.

The folder will include everything needed: modified WSA images, installation scripts, and configuration files.

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⚙️ Step 5: Install the Modified WSA Package

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Navigate to the extracted WSA folder using cd command.
3. Run the install script:

powershellCopyEdit.\Install.ps1

⚠️ Note: Some builds may have a different install method, like using a batch file or running via WSA PacMan GUI.

The script will register the new WSA image with Windows and enable all necessary components, including the Play Store.

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🔌 Step 6: Connect ADB and Test Google Play Store

Once installed:

1. Launch Windows Subsystem for Android from the Start menu.
2. Wait for it to fully boot (it might take longer on the first run).
3. Open a terminal and run:

bashCopyEditadb connect 127.0.0.1:58526
adb shell

4. Type:

bashCopyEditsu

This checks for root access (via Magisk). If successful, you’re good to go.

Now go back to the Android interface and open the Google Play Store — you should be able to sign in with your Google account and install apps like you would on any Android phone.

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🧩 Optional: Update or Manage Google Apps

If you want to add more Google apps (e.g., Gmail, Google Photos, etc.), you can either:

• Use the Play Store directly
• Sideload APKs using adb install <filename.apk>
• Use a third-party app store like Aurora Store or APKMirror

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🛡 Troubleshooting

❓ Google Play Store crashes or doesn’t open

• Make sure Google Play Services is installed correctly.
• Try clearing data/cache via ADB or within the Android settings.

❓ Can’t sign in to Google account

• Some builds may have issues with device certification. Try:
  • Clearing Play Services data
  • Using a different GApps variant (e.g., pico, nano)

❓ WSA doesn’t start

• Make sure Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform are enabled in Windows Features.
• Restart your PC and try again.

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📌 Final Thoughts

By installing Google Play on WSA, you unlock the true Android experience on Windows — allowing full access to your purchased apps, games, and synced services. It’s a powerful bridge between the two ecosystems, and once set up, it works surprisingly well.

Whether you’re a developer looking to test apps or just want to run your favorite Android apps on desktop, this guide should get you up and running quickly.

📚 Resources & Further Reading

• Microsoft Docs – WSA Overview
• GitHub – MagiskOnWSA Project
• ADB Installation Guide
• WSA PacMan (GUI Installer)