You can now open Android apps in Windows 11 Search, at least if you’re an Insider with a supported phone. Type an app’s name, click “Mobile App,” and Phone Link mirrors it from your phone to your PC. It isn’t the old Android subsystem coming back.
Here are the facts you need before you try it.
- Spotted by Windows Latest on October 30, 2026, on build 26340.9767 in the Experimental channel.
- Needs Phone Link and a supported Android phone running Android 10 or newer.
- The app runs on your phone, not on your PC.
- Microsoft’s release notes don’t mention app streaming yet, so treat it as unofficial.
The short version: it’s early, it’s limited, and it could save you a few clicks.
How Android apps in Windows 11 Search actually work
The new taskbar Search can list apps installed on a linked phone. In Windows Latest’s test, typing “Bluesky” showed a result labeled “Mobile App” near the top.
Clicking Open launched the app on the phone. A “Phone screen” window from Phone Link then appeared on the PC.
Before this, you had to open Phone Link first and start mirroring by hand. Search now does that step for you, which is a small but real time saver.
Not the old Windows Subsystem for Android
Windows Subsystem for Android has been discontinued. That system ran Android apps on your PC itself. This new route is different, because your phone does all the work.
That has trade-offs. Your phone must stay nearby, awake, and on the same Wi-Fi network as your PC. If the phone is off, the app won’t open.
On the plus side, you get the real app with your real logins and data. You don’t have to sign in again or sync anything.
What you need before it will work
The feature builds on Phone Link, so the same rules apply. Here’s what to check.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Windows build | Windows 11 26H2 build 26340.9767 was used in the test. Build 26340.9843 adds more Search features. |
| Channel | Experimental channel for Windows Insiders, rolling out gradually. |
| Phone | Select Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo or Xiaomi phones with Link to Windows preinstalled. |
| Android version | Android 10 or newer. |
| Network | Phone and PC on the same Wi-Fi network. |
Pairing for calls and texts doesn’t guarantee app streaming will work on your phone. The tester used a Samsung Galaxy A26 on Android 16 and a Surface Laptop 7th Edition.
The other new Search features in build 26340.9843
Microsoft’s October 30 Insider post covers a bigger Search upgrade. It’s worth knowing about, because the Android app trick rides on top of it.
- Inline sliders for volume, brightness and cursor size right in the results.
- Phone actions: call or text a contact and toggle Do Not Disturb through Phone Link.
- File previews with details like last modified date and author, plus web answers for weather and stocks.
- Filters for Files & Folders, Settings and Actions.
Microsoft says Android support is available now, with iPhone support coming early next year. Store and web results can be turned off in Settings if you’d rather keep Search local.
If you like tweaking how Windows behaves, our guide on remapping the Copilot key in Windows 11 is a good next read. You can also see how to get Windows 11 26H2 first.
Should you try Android apps in Windows 11 Search?
It depends on how you work. If you often jump between your phone and PC, this removes a few steps. Think of replying in a chat app, checking a banking app, or testing a mobile-only service.
If you’re not on an Insider build, you can’t use it yet. Experimental builds can also be unstable, so don’t put one on your main work PC just for this.
A good test is simple. Pair your phone in Phone Link, open Search, and type the name of an app you use daily. If a “Mobile App” result appears, you’re set. If it doesn’t, your phone model likely isn’t supported yet.
Also keep privacy in mind. Mirroring shows your phone’s app on a bigger screen, so notifications and messages may be visible to anyone near your PC. Lock your phone when you’re done.
What we don’t know yet
Microsoft hasn’t said when phone actions will reach everyone. The Windows Latest article doesn’t give a date for phone app streaming either.
The tester only opened one app. We don’t know how well it handles several apps, notifications or games.
So don’t plan your workflow around it yet. Treat it as a preview of where Phone Link is headed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run Android apps on my PC in Windows 11 now?
Only by streaming them from a linked phone. The apps run on the phone, and Windows shows a mirrored window.
Is Windows Subsystem for Android still available?
No. It has been discontinued, so phone streaming through Phone Link is the official route for Android apps.
Which phones work with this?
Per Microsoft’s Phone Link requirements, select Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo and Xiaomi phones with Link to Windows preinstalled. You also need Android 10 or newer.
Does it work on iPhone?
Not yet. Microsoft says iPhone support for the new phone actions is coming early next year.
When will everyone get it?
Microsoft hasn’t said. The new Search is rolling out gradually to Insiders, and app streaming isn’t in the official notes yet.
My take: it’s a neat shortcut, but wait for Microsoft to confirm it in release notes before you count on it. If you own a supported phone and run Insider builds, give it a try. Everyone else loses nothing by waiting for the stable release.
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