This Tool Lets You Run Android APKs on Windows 10 Mobile

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Yesterday, the documents related to Project Astoria were leaked, and now we have links to the tools needed to run an Android App (APK Format) on Windows 10 Mobile. This tool as of now only supports preview version 10166, and list of devices we shared yesterday.  In this guide, we are sharing how to install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile.

First posted at Baidu Forums, the developer who tried has warned that this is still not stable, but you can give it a try. The best way to use it will be trying out Android apps which don’t need Google Play services. I tried this myself, and yes it works. Check out the below video, followed by detailed instructions.

PS: This worked for us and may not work for you. It can brick your phone, and you will need to install everything again using the recovery tool. SO TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK

Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

Video Demo: Below is the video demo of how you can install Android Apps on the Window 10 Mobile.

Step to Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

  • First, download the Connect tool from here, and then Android SDK in the adb tool from here
  • Unzip good SDK ensure ADB commands are working.
  • Unzip the connect tool, install IpOverUsbInstaller.msi and vcredist_x86.exe.
  • Now open Windows 10 Phone Settings  >  Update and security  > Developers. Check developer mode, open the Device Discovery

Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

  • Just unzip the archive directory (assuming D:\tools\) Open a command line mode:
    1) If you have connected your phone over USB. Run D: \tool \ wconnect.exe USB
    2) If you are connected to WiFi,  and your PC and Phone or on the same network. Run D: \ tools \ wconnect.exe 192.168.xxx.xxx
  • Both methods run smoothly, and it will prompt for pairing using a pin code. Enter the same.

Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

  • In case you get Error code make sure the device is connected, your pairing codes are correct, and the phone is available in the support list.
  • To check the list of devices attached, try the ADB command “ADB Devices.”

Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs
Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

 

  • Now Download the APK to this directory, and use the command “adb install xxx.apk” to install it on Windows 10 Mobile.

Install Android Apps on Windows 10 Mobile or APKs

Here is a sample of Casper, a third party chat app for Snapchat.

Via Robert | Thanks Rajesh for the Tip

Ashish Mohta
A die-hard fan of Windows, PC Gaming, and Xbox. He is a seasoned content writer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is a specialist in writing about Windows, software reviews, troubleshooting Windows, and automation.

94 COMMENTS

  1. Hello, is lumia 640 xl 4g supported?
    Or i need only the last Technical Preview installed? Thank you

  2. Nice, thanks for this, I gota try this, I rolled back but, the new build should be out in a day or 2….

    Wonder if this is just a temp thing or is Microsoft going to kill this off on the next build ?

  3. Even I’m getting Error code 9 even though insider update is set to fast and latest update has been installed.

  4. I installed several Apps from Android but after Build 10512 Windows 10 Mobile I cannot use them since the keyboard doesn’t appear when I open each “ported” app

  5. I tried doing this from a Windows 10 Professional computer and when I run the “wconnect.exe usb” command I get an error. “Windows Connect Client for Project A debugging has stopped working”.

  6. thats what im going to try, but i will be way tow slow with my tinkering to offer input to an answer

  7. I get the success message indicating the app installed. The app does not show up on my Lumia 928 any where. If I try the adb uninstall on the package I get a [Package_Not_Found] error. If I try installing again I get and error indicating it was already installed. I tried installing GeoQupon. (com.mm.views).

    Any suggestions.

  8. Hi! I discovered an aplication named “gmaps patcher”. It removes the google play services dependency, but i’m not using windows 10 mobile. Did someone tried?

  9. I’d like to know whether the Lumia 1320 be supported (It’s not on list though) as it’s just a version of 1520 with lesser configuration….???

    Can anybody confirm this?

  10. any way to solve “DELETING_EXISTING_APPLICATIONDATA_STORE_FAILED” problem? I have tried to unpair and pair again but still fail…

  11. anyone has an idea about this error code 14? I’ve got a 640 xl, i know its not in the list but it has 1gb ram…i thought it might work.

  12. For example, the lumia 435 is working, but the 520 not. I have only for this reason bought a 435 for emulation….

  13. i have installed 2 apps, working fine. But after restart the Phone, i press on ‘developer mode’ (under updates), then the Phone put me back to the menu. And connect usb gives the error code 9. Any idea?

  14. start following service from windows services and try again,,

    Windows Phone IP over USB Transport (IpOverUsbSvc)

  15. I already tried everyting in this conversation and keep on getting error code 9.. Help please

  16. will this work with 535, i got to adb devices and list of devices shows nothing… all steps followed correctly, i want this for mobdro and kodi… tbh i wish there was an easier way to get these installed or dual boot the phone…

  17. I exactly got the same error … i tries soft reset which didnt help so I had to do hard reset.. now the developer mode is working but the error code 9 is still persistent…

  18. C:UsersVickylanceDownloadsAstoriaadbplatform-tools>adb devices

    List of devices attached
    emulator-5554 device
    emulator-5556 device

    two devices are showing for me although I have connected my only device via wifi since usb is not working getting error code 9 .. so it only connects via wifi for now successfully (anyone getting an error code 9 this is a workaround for now) but i cannot deploy any apks because the adb devices shows 2 devices attached which i have no idea how to solve please help…

    EDIT: Ok I have solved it using the command

    adb -s emulator-5556 install APKNAME.apk

    mine is connected to emulator-5556 replace it with the device of yours…

    EDIT: for those getting an error code 9 .. disconnect your phone connected via usb and then make sure both your PC and phone are connected to the same WiFi. then make a note of your ip address by going to your phone settings->network&wireless->WiFi->(long press your connected wifi)->Edit->see the Ip address.

    then use the command as follows to connect via Wifi

    wconnect.exe 192.168.XXX.XXX (Replace the X with your Ip address)

    EDIT: One important thing never turn off or restart your device when developer mode is ON always turn it off when you got your work done … Just a safety measure to not get any wierd errors during connecting

  19. Check in task manager if wconnectsrv.exe is running.. if it is running then end task it… and try again.

  20. EDIT: for those getting an error code 9 .. disconnect your phone connected via usb and then make sure both your PC and phone are connected to the same WiFi. then make a note of your ip address by going to your phone settings->network&wireless->WiFi->(long press your connected wifi)->Edit->see the Ip address.

    then use the command as follows to connect via Wifi

    wconnect.exe 192.168.XXX.XXX (Replace the X with your Ip address)

  21. EDIT: for those getting an error code 9 .. disconnect your phone connected via usb and then make sure both your PC and phone are connected to the same WiFi. then make a note of your ip address by going to your phone settings->network&wireless->WiFi->(long press your connected wifi)->Edit->see the Ip address.

    then use the command as follows to connect via Wifi

    wconnect.exe 192.168.XXX.XXX (Replace the X with your Ip address) this should work :)

  22. EDIT: for those getting an error code 9 .. disconnect your phone connected via usb and then make sure both your PC and phone are connected to the same WiFi. then make a note of your ip address by going to your phone settings->network&wireless->WiFi->(long press your connected wifi)->Edit->see the Ip address.

    then use the command as follows to connect via Wifi

    wconnect.exe 192.168.XXX.XXX (Replace the X with your Ip address)

  23. EDIT: for those getting an error code 9 .. disconnect your phone connected via usb and then make sure both your PC and phone are connected to the same WiFi. then make a note of your ip address by going to your phone settings->network&wireless->WiFi->(long press your connected wifi)->Edit->see the Ip address.

    then use the command as follows to connect via Wifi

    wconnect.exe 192.168.XXX.XXX (Replace the X with your Ip address)

    this should work ;)

  24. Same…. :(

    EDIT: I receive this error when running an application written against .net 4.6, while running on windows 7.
    Apparently EventSetInformation is windows 8+ only.

  25. Why would Microsoft restrict to only some devices ?. I can’t see a single reason why I should not be able to do this with my 640 XL

  26. I am trying to install the Windows Phone Ip over USB but, It wont install. It says “Service”Windows Phone IP over USB Transport (IpOverUsbSvc)’ (IpOverUsbSvc) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficent privleges to start system services.

  27. Yes bro i’m also facing the same error=14

    Error while booting astoria platform on windows device

  28. I also have 1020. On build 10166 I managed to connect and install ONE!!! apk, and it was the first one I tried. And that app didn’t work super well. After that, no other apks could be installed. And the phone also got very slow and I couldn’t update the win10 to build 10536 directly. I then rerolled the phone back to Win8.1 and then once again back to Win10, this time to build 10536. It was here that I started getting Error=14. So I think it’s not possible to use Astoria on 1020 on build 10536. And on build 10166 it is not very smooth. But I did manage to have it work once. I am now going back to build 10166 to try some more. And that is a shame, because build 10536 is much better. But I really want the Tidal music app to work on my Lumia 1020, so I’ll keep on trying.

  29. It is the situation same as weio-shioun Lin.
    wconnectsrv did not exist when I watched Task Manager.
    What can I do?

  30. Windows Phone IP over USB Transport (IpOverUsbSvc)’ (IpOverUsbSvc) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficent privleges to start system services.
    Have this problem, please help

  31. This worked with older builds but with the last 3 builds up to and including 10586 it gives an error 14. Any ideas?

  32. I use Windows10mobile 1511 on FREETEL FTJ152E.
    wconnect.exe gives me Error 14…..
    Please give me any ideas.

    And,This Project has Surported Lumia 950xl yet??

  33. Does someone have solved the problem of the “sufficient proviledges” for the IpOverUsbSvc?

  34. I am getting error 9 on USB and error 14 on wi-fi. My phone is currently on the latest build, 14291.1001, but still I am getting error 14. Any ideas how to fix it?

  35. You have to run this Windows Phone over Ip Program as a administrator. Just right click and then select “run as administrator”

  36. i am having the same problem in my 830.error code 8.. error bootstraping.. any one can solve??

  37. i have Microsoft lumia 640 LTE in windows 10 i want to use apk but IpOverUsbInstaller it not install and command also error what i will do now??? plz hep me…

  38. i have Microsoft lumia 640 LTE in windows 10 i want to use apk but IpOverUsbInstaller it not install and command also error what i will do now??? plz hep me…

  39. Its over this no longer works. You people thought they would let you continue playing google games. lol

  40. Its been taken off. Its disabled by Microsoft. It was meant to help dev bring there apps to the windows phone not let you play anything.

  41. im using lumia 730 i want to change windows to andriod plz share in the ink bellow of apk file …….

  42. Hello,

    the last comment was a long time ago, but maybe this question will be read.

    My problem is, after entering “wconnect.exe usb” it asks for pairing. I wrote down the code from the smarthone before, then cancelled. Then I created the pairing code on the PC and entered both codes one after the other. This error message appears: “Your pairing code was not accepted by the device. Error code = 6”. If I do not cancel the pairing code on the smartphone and then enter both codes, the smartphone is connected. However, the PC says no and the tool displays the message “Error bootstrapping the device. Error code = 8”. According to the PC, Windows 10 SDK version 1803 or higher must be present for device detection. This is installed, but still does not work. Is there a solution to this? Am I doing something wrong?

    Many thanks.
    Bernie from Germany

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