Windows 10 Android applications without Google Play Store

Microsoft's Android application project for Windows 10 is codenamed "Latte" and will apparently use the Windows Subsystem for Linux as a compatibility level.

On top of Windows Subsystem for Linux, Microsoft plans to use an Android subsystem to enable native support for Android applications.

Windows Subsystem for Linux is required to run executable Linux natively on Windows 10. Microsoft in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 has enabled a true Linux kernel on Windows 10 to facilitate the experience for Linux systems / applications and, apparently, Android .

Android app support for Windows 10 is likely to arrive in the second half of 2021 as part of the major Windows 10 21H2 upgrade.

The Project Latte will allow developers to convert Android applications to MSIX format, which is a package-only format for Windows.

As you may already know, anyone can download the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code and create their own version of Android or use it as a basis for their own services or platforms.

In this case, Microsoft plans to use the Android subsystem and Android Runtime to translate the bytecode of each application into native Windows 10 applications.

Developers will be able to submit the converted MSIX package to the Microsoft Store, but there is a gap - converted applications will not support Google services.

Google services are very convenient, but most applications do not need to use them. The Android subsystem is enough to run all of Google's standalone applications and mobile APIs, and Microsoft may allow developers to replace Google Maps, Gmail, Calendar, and others with its own applications, such as Windows Maps and Outlook.

If Microsoft's top leadership approves the project, the Windows Store will soon have Android apps alongside UWP and PWA.