4.7 KiB
Installation Guide
This guide walks you through installing WSA Installer on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system.
Prerequisites
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11 | Windows 11 22H2+ |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Disk Space | 10 GB free | SSD with 20 GB free |
| Internet | Required for initial download | Broadband recommended |
| Privileges | Administrator | Administrator |
| Virtualization | Enabled in BIOS/UEFI | Intel VT-x or AMD-V |
Windows Features Required
The following Windows features must be enabled. WSA Installer can enable them automatically:
- Hyper-V — Microsoft's hardware virtualization
- VirtualMachinePlatform — Required for WSA
- HypervisorPlatform — Hypervisor interface
- Windows Subsystem for Linux — Required for WSA
Download
Option A: Installer Only
Download WSA_Installer_Setup.exe (~228 MB) from the latest release.
The installer will download WSA packages directly from GitHub during installation.
Option B: Installer + Bundle
Download both:
WSA_Installer_Setup.exe(~228 MB)bundle.wsa(~1.21 GB)
Place both files in the same folder. The installer will detect the bundle automatically.
Installation Steps
Step 1: Run the Installer
- Right-click
WSA_Installer_Setup.exe - Select Run as administrator
- Accept the UAC (User Account Control) prompt
Step 2: Welcome Screen
The installer will display a welcome page with information about the installation process. Click Next to continue.
Step 3: System Check
The installer automatically scans your system for:
- Virtualization support (VT-x/AMD-V)
- Hyper-V status
- VirtualMachinePlatform status
- HypervisorPlatform status
- WSL status
If any required features are missing, the installer will offer to enable them. You may need to restart your computer after enabling features.
Step 4: Install WSA
The installer proceeds through 6 phases:
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Locate Package | Finds WSA package (from bundle or GitHub download) |
| 2. Verify Assets | Validates archive integrity |
| 3. Prepare System | Extracts files, copies to installation directory |
| 4. Apply Patches | Developer Mode settings, registry fixes, WsaClient patches |
| 5. Register Package | Registers WSA with Windows |
| 6. Finalize | Creates shortcuts, configures background service |
Step 5: Add Play Store (Optional)
If you selected the Play Store option, the installer proceeds through 7 additional phases:
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Prerequisites | Checks WSA is running and Developer Mode is enabled |
| 2. Enable Dev Mode | Patches settings.dat for Developer Mode |
| 3. Connect ADB | Establishes ADB connection to WSA |
| 4. Prepare Package | Locates and verifies GApps package |
| 5. Apply Patches | Merges Play Store files into WSA |
| 6. Run Installer | Executes Run.bat via ADB |
| 7. Finalize | Verifies Play Store, cleans up, restarts WSA |
Step 6: Complete
Once installation is complete:
- Play Store shortcut appears in Start Menu
- Windows Subsystem for Android shortcut appears on Desktop
- WSABackgroundService is installed and running
- You can now launch Android apps directly from the Start Menu
Silent Installation
For automated deployment:
WSA_Installer_Setup.exe /S
The silent installer:
- Installs to
C:\Program Files\WSA Installer - Registers the Windows service
- Creates desktop and Start Menu shortcuts
- Does NOT show any UI
Post-Installation
Verify WSA is Working
- Open the Start Menu
- Search for "Windows Subsystem for Android"
- Launch the WSA Settings app
- Enable Developer Mode if not already enabled
Verify Play Store
- Open the Start Menu
- Search for "Play Store"
- Sign in with your Google account
- Install Android apps
Check Background Service
- Open Windows Services (
services.msc) - Find
WSABackgroundService - Verify it's running
Troubleshooting
Installation Fails
- Ensure you're running as administrator
- Check that virtualization is enabled in BIOS/UEFI
- Try enabling Hyper-V manually:
dism.exe /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V /All
WSA Won't Start
- Restart your computer after installation
- Check that all Windows features are enabled
- Run the installer again and use the Repair option
Play Store Not Working
- Ensure Developer Mode is enabled in WSA Settings
- Wait a few minutes for Play Store to initialize
- Try signing out and back into your Google account
For more troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting Guide.