microsoft
Is there a chance to link APK files and install them quickly in the future?
Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe
Is there a chance to link APK files and install them quickly in the future? Currently, WSA app installations can only be installed through the Amazon Appstore, but compared to Google Play App Store software, it is only rare. Even the mainstream Android mobile app stores also provide side-loading installation of APK applications. At present, WSA wants to install sideloaded applications need to use ADB tools and some commands (these things WSA does not support), can only be through some third-party tools provided by the Microsoft Store to fool sideloading. Will there be a chance for WSA or App Installer to add APK, APKS, and ABB file associations to quickly install Android apps in the future?
Describe the solution you'd like
Hope to provide a solution for quick side-loading of applications (your Microsoft Store applications (MSIX) are not fully limited)
Describe alternatives you've considered
No
Have you set this feature request's Milestone field to Future Release?
- [X] I have set this issue's milestone to Future Release
Hi, which commands specifically are you referring to which the subsystem doesn't support? If you're looking to test and debug your APKs, this can be done easily by sideloading your APK as outlined in our developer documentation!
Hi, which commands specifically are you referring to which the subsystem doesn't support? If you're looking to test and debug your APKs, this can be done easily by sideloading your APK as outlined in our developer documentation!
I know how to use the command to install the APK program quickly. In your Microsoft Store, there are two ways to install the installed MSIX/APPX package. One is to open the Powershell command and input the Add-appxpackage "file path" command to install the msix/Appx package. The other is to install the Msix/Appx package directly using the GUI provided by you. Compared with the former, the second scheme is more convenient and user-friendly for ordinary users. This is not to say that the subsystem does not support any commands, but that it would be easier for WSA to install side-loads.
Yeah I have to agree here. Why not add *.APK support to the APPX/MSIX installer App?
That would make it much easier and comfortable to try out the APKs, especially in scenarios where you want to test your APK on a different device or even give other people your APK to test on their devices.
Also as you may be aware some peope already use third party APK installer from the Store already. It would benefit everyone if there would be a (better) official solution for it.
An alternative would be to go the Astoria route where we could package APKs into APPX files to install them that way.
Hi @Gaoyifei1011 @Tourniquet88, can you provide more context about your scenarios?
@Tourniquet88 you mentioned this would make it easier to test out APKs, like "testing your APK on a different device or giving other people your APK to test", are your scenarios limited to just testing? Or would you also be planning on distributing your app directly from your website to end-users via a downloadable APK? If so, can you share more about what your app is?
@Gaoyifei1011 can you explain who you're envisioning would directly sideload your APK? Are you a developer of an Android app and would want to distribute your app directly to users outside of a Store? Or are you speaking from a consumer perspective, wanting to sideload APKs found on APKPure and other websites?
Thanks everyone!
We're continuing to monitor feedback in this space but there's nothing on the immediate roadmap.
Our customer's LOB is based Android. in this scenario link .apk to the WSA can allow our customers easily deploy they Android LOB app on our Surface Pro. or is there any other way to massively deploy Android LOB App to the WSA.
