When Windows 10 was announced, Microsoft made clear that they would take the platform and developers seriously, doing everything in their power to ensure that porting existing programs and applications as easy as possible. Microsoft announced several bridges that would facilitate this, with the iOS, Android and Win32 bridges making it easy for developers of each of those platforms to quickly transfer their app with full support for Windows 10, and Mobile.
As one would expect, shortly after the first build was released that supported these features, fans found a way to install Android apps on their devices. I myself enjoyed this feature, where I could easily install APK’s for apps that weren’t on Windows 10, and use them as is. It was an incredibly useful option to have, if you were willing to sideload applications, with all the risks that go with it.
But in February, Microsoft announced that the Android bridge would be completely scrapped, and this support removed from subsequent builds. However, the iOS and Win32 bridges would remain intact and would function as you would expect. The issue here is that you cannot successfully sideload iOS apps on Windows Mobile devices, like with Android, and the best feature Windows Mobile had in years was stripped from our hands.
One could understand why this was, Microsoft was concerned about having the relatively insecure Android subsystem in their software, opening up a smorgasbord of malware attacks to their software. Beyond that, most of these applications wouldn’t work due to Google not supporting their services on Windows 10 beyond a lazy ‘Google web app’ that gives you a way to search the web—even though Chrome exists—and have gone on to proactively disable access to Youtube applications that wasn’t built complying their obscure requirements.
But what Microsoft fails to realize is that the few that remain on the platform wouldn’t be regarded as the ‘average’ user. Windows Phone users—even with their overwhelmingly angry demeanor—knows and for the most part understands the risks of using such a feature. Windows Insiders are people who like to tinker with the latest builds, give feedback on how the platform should evolve, and in some cases demand things they know Microsoft have no power over.
Giving us, the user the option to activate the Android bridge would supply us with ‘best of both worlds’ approach. We understand the benefits of supporting native applications, however, we all know that there will always be popular and useful applications that are only available on platforms like iOS and Android. Licensing will play a key role here, but just like with Backwards Compatibility, Microsoft can work with Google (like they’re already doing) in giving access to applications and services, much like the way Backwards Compatibility ‘fools’ the Xbox One in thinking its running games on the Xbox 360. Microsoft could build in an Android subsystem (fully licensed by Google), that will effectively emulate those applications and services on Windows 10.
Windows 10 Mobile is currently within the margin of error for game and app developers, and it might as well be used by nobody in the free world, but Android app emulation would give users of the platform reason to remain, and ‘if’ Windows 10 grew to a sizable chunk of the market—however unlikely—Microsoft could start making the case for the Universal app store on Mobile. Microsoft can ‘tout’ the 350 Million users on Windows 10 until they’re blue in the face, but if their Mobile platform is regarded as ‘dead’ by the majority, it wouldn’t matter one bit. If Microsoft were to become a bigger part of the market, the case could be made that these customers on Windows 10 would be better served by using native App support, UWP and Microsoft services.
So, as a Windows Phone user since the early days and one of those stubborn fans of the platform, I have one request. Bring back Android app support on Windows 10 Mobile, and do everything in your power to make something like that happen, even if it means ripping out your heart and serving it on a platter to Google or Apple, giving them the keys to the castle. Because, just like in House of Cards, that’s how you win.
Dreyer was a regular ICXM contributor between 2016–2017, publishing 139 articles across opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative. They post on X as @dreyer_smit.