Virtualization Enable or Disable Open Links with Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:
  • Tags Tags
    wsa

WSA_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable opening supported links with Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) by default for your account in Windows 11.

The Amazon Appstore app gets installed as part of installing Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). WSA enables your Windows 11 device to run Android apps available from the Amazon Appstore.

By default, supported web links will open with Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) via the Amazon Appstore app.

For example, if you click/tap on an Amazon track package link in your email app like below, it may try to open with WSA by default instead of your default web browser (ex: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome).

Amazon_tracking_link.png


If you are having issues with links you can't stop from trying to open with WSA by default, you can disable this to have the links open in your default web browser instead.

Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) is being deprecated beginning March 5, 2025


www.elevenforum.com

Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) is being deprecated beginning March 5, 2025

Microsoft Learn: Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android™️ (WSA). As a result, the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all applications and games dependent on WSA will no longer be supported beginning March 5, 2025. Until then, technical support will remain available to...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com


EXAMPLE: Default supported web links to open with WSA

Open_links_with_WSA.png



Here's How:

1 Perform one of the following steps below to open WSA settings for the Amazon Appstore app: (see screenshots below)
  • Open Start > All apps, right click on Amazon Appstore, click/tap on More, and click/tap on App settings.
  • Open the Windows Subsystem for Android app from Start > All apps, click/tap on Apps, click/tap on the 3 dots button for the Amazon Appstore app, and click/tap on App settings.
Open_links_with_WSA-1.jpg
Open_links_with_WSA-2.png

2 Click/tap on Open by default. (see screenshot below)

Open_links_with_WSA-3.png

3 Turn On (default) or Off Open supported links for what you want. (see screenshots below)

4 You can now close Windows Subsystem for Android Settings if you like.

Open_links_with_WSA-4.png
Open_links_with_WSA-5.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
I followed these steps, but Amazon links still start with the Windows Subsystem for Android process. The WSA window opens for several seconds, sometimes up to 30, before disappearing and opening the link in my default browser. Is there a way instead to immediately open Amazon links in the default browser?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
WildWanderer said:
I followed these steps, but Amazon links still start with the Windows Subsystem for Android process. The WSA window opens for several seconds, sometimes up to 30, before disappearing and opening the link in my default browser. Is there a way instead to immediately open Amazon links in the default browser?
Click to expand...

Hello, and welcome.

It appears WSA is a hot mess with this right now. Please send feedback (Win+F) to Microsoft about this issue to hopefully get it sorted in a future update. :(
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
I was able to resolve this, but I'm not sure what did the trick. It may have been enabling WSA in the background all the time.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
This is actually an annoying bug that Microsoft never fixed. The problem and solution is mentioned here as I am still using WSA which I have tested and works:

github.com

WSA messes up the default browser to open a link in Windows · Issue #361 · microsoft/WSA

Steps to reproduce Install an android program that has a "open link in app" support, and go to Android settings (wsa://com.android.settings), "Apps", find the installed app, and go to "Open by defa...
github.com github.com

1) Make sure WSA is turned off before proceeding.
2) Navigate to the following registry location in Windows Registry Editor:
Code: 
  Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\SystemAppData\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppUriHandlers\
3) Delete the problematic site keys under the AppUriHandlers folder. For example, delete the google.com key if it's causing issues.

How to Test:
1) In Google Chrome, type microsoft-edge:google.com in the address bar while WSA is turned off.
2) Before the fix, this should open Google through WSA.
3) After the fix, a dialog should pop up asking whether to open with WSA or Chrome. Select Chrome.
4) The first time you do this, it might open a strange XML file, but on the second attempt, the link will work correctly in Chrome.
Just to be sure it won't happen again, I deleted the entire AppUriHandlers folder, so that other links, such as amazon.com, won't open in WSA anymore.

And this is my contribution:
If you decide to change the default browser for the site in question, simply delete the sites under:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\AppUrlAssociations
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

WindowsXP/7/8/8.1/10/11,Linux,Android,FreeBSD...Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen 2.2Ghz up to 4....64GB using 2x32GB CL16 Mushkin redLine modulesIntel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti wi...
OS
WindowsXP/7/8/8.1/10/11,Linux,Android,FreeBSD Unix
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell XPS 15 9570
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
Motherboard
Dell XPS 15 9570
Memory
64GB using 2x32GB CL16 Mushkin redLine modules
Graphics Card(s)
Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
Sound Card
Realtek ALC3266-CG
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
Screen Resolution
3840x2160 4K UltraHD
Hard Drives
Samsung MZ-V9P4T0B/AM 990 PRO 4TB PCIe®4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD was Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1TB SSD
PSU
Dell XPS 15 9570
Case
Dell XPS 15 9570
Cooling
Stock
Keyboard
Stock
Mouse
SwitftPoint ProPoint
Internet Speed
Comcast/XFinity 1.44Gbps/42.5Mbps
Browser
Microsoft EDGE (Chromium based) & Google Chrome
Antivirus
Windows Defender that came with Windows
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Windows 11 Tutorials

  • Article Article
System Enable or Disable Dim Keyboard Backlight when using Energy Saver in Windows 11
Replies
0
Views
217
Brink
Brink
  • Article Article
System Enable or Disable Hide Flashing on Taskbar Apps when Start Focus Session in Windows 11
Replies
0
Views
469
Brink
Brink
  • Article Article
Devices Enable or Disable Keyboard Backlight Autobrightness in Windows 11
Replies
0
Views
228
Brink
Brink
  • Article Article
Devices Enable or Disable Windows Ready Print in Windows 11
Replies
3
Views
607
KevTech
K
  • Article Article
Privacy and Security Enable or Disable Let Apps Take Screenshots and Record Screen in Windows 11
Replies
3
Views
2K
Ghot
Ghot
  • Article Article
System Enable or Disable Hide Badges on Taskbar Apps when Start Focus Session in Windows 11
Replies
0
Views
391
Brink
Brink
  • Article Article
Apps Enable or Disable Copilot Access to Microphone in Windows 11
Replies
0
Views
2K
Brink
Brink

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom