Windows 11 might let you load the new Android file format

Amazon has officially confirmed that it is working on support for the new Android App Bundle format mandated by Google, thus resolving the question of whether or not. It is not entirely clear if this means that you will be able to sideloading Android apps of all types in Windows 11, which will let you run Android apps on a PC, but it does offer some hope on the horizon for cross-compatibility.

Amazon published the news in a short blog post, and there aren’t too many details yet. The company plans to support app bundles for all submission types, citing the benefits of the new file format, including “smaller app downloads for customers and on-demand downloads for functionalities and assets “. The Amazon Appstore will also continue to support the existing APK file format. However, Amazon will not require developers to submit the new type of .aab file to its Appstore, nor will they have to resubmit an app published in APK format.

There was some uncertainty as to how the Google App bundle mandate would affect third-party Android app stores. Specifically, it wasn’t clear if the change would mean you couldn’t load the .aab files on Windows 11. We’re still not sure exactly what the result will look like. It will be interesting to see how Amazon’s Appstore translates this unbundling to Windows machines, even with the addition of the operating system. native support for Android applications.

Amazon’s decision is the opposite of Google’s approach to the Android App Bundle or to the .aab file type. Starting in August, developers will need to release proprietary-format apps before they are available on the Play Store. The requirement applies to all new app submissions. Existing apps are exempt, but it should be noted that many major apps have already made the change due to the real drop in file sizes. The Android App Bundle basically divides the APK into all of its important parts, installing only the necessary components related to the device.

Google initially introduced the Android app package in Android 9 to help alleviate the overhead associated with app distribution. The app bundle is essentially an archived file of split APKs, each representing an essential part of the entire app package, and the parts installed depend on your device configuration. For example, if you are using a flagship smartphone with the latest mobile processor, you will only get the assets related to that particular hardware.

The current Windows 11 beta preview does not include Android app functionality. We probably won’t know what that looks like until Windows 11 officially launches, although Amazon says it will provide more details closer to deployment.