Microsoft updated the WSA (Android-based Windows Subsystem) on the Windows 11 system (version 2204.40000.150.0), and the system version was updated to Android 12.1, which is Android 12L.
Thanks to this, Android apps are now better integrated with Windows, and you can now see which apps are using your microphone, as well as private information like location, on the Windows taskbar tray.
Additionally, you can see alerts from Android apps (integrated into Windows notifications), and Android apps now also support Windows 11’s advanced networking features, allowing them to connect to other smart devices on your local area network (such as cameras or speakers).
Microsoft has made major adjustments to the WSA settings in this version, combining similar settings and options into groups for a better experience. Microsoft also added a diagnostic data viewer to WSA with information on all data collected by the subsystem and disabled optional diagnostic data by default.
Also, with newer Insider Preview builds (OS Build 22621+), when your device comes out of standby, the Android app doesn’t restart but picks up where you left off (presumably referring to a background warm start).
In other respects, the new version has also upgraded some hardware support, such as VP8 and VP9 decoding support, and Chromium 100 support; and the camera app has also been improved, and even the input device has also received attention from Microsoft and will bring Comes with better mouse wheel support, support for app resizing and arrow keys, a fixed on-screen keyboard, new keyboard skins, and more.
Full Changelog
- Windows Subsystem for Android updated to Android 12.1
- Newer x64 Windows versions have advanced networking enabled by default
- Updated Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app: Added redesigned UX and Diagnostic Data Viewer
- Simpleperf CPU profiler logging now works with Windows Subsystem for Android
- The Windows taskbar now shows which Android apps are using the microphone and location
- Improved Android app notifications displayed as Windows notifications
- Reduced flickering when the app resumes from minimized state
- In recent Windows versions, the application does not restart when the device is taken out of connected standby
- New video hardware decoding (VP8 and VP9)
- Fixed on-screen keyboard in-app
- Fix fullscreen Android apps and auto-hiding Windows taskbar
- Updated Windows Subsystem for Android with Chromium WebView 100
- Added support for Android NetworkLocationProvider in addition to GpsLocationProvider
- Optimize system fluency, improve system stability, performance and reliability
Known Issues
- Camera instability on ARM devices
- Printing via the Android app is unstable
- Some applications rendered at lower resolutions may not have the correct layout
- Some VPNs may not work with premium networks. If you use a VPN and find that the Android app has no internet connection, disable advanced networking in the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app
- Some previously available applications may be missing from the experience, fail to launch, or fail to function properly due to various known issues. We are working with our partners to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.