Developer enables Android application support on Windows 10 Mobile
The Megler open-source project allows Android apps to run directly on Windows 10 Mobile devices without requiring a system-level subsystem.
Developer Computershik has introduced Megler, an open-source project that allows Android applications to execute on Windows 10 Mobile devices running version 15063 or later. The project bypasses traditional hardware emulation or OS-level Android subsystems by running Android environments as a native Windows application.
Technically, Megler implements its own dynamic linkers, C libraries, and Java runtimes, leveraging Windows-native APIs like Direct3D 11 and ANGLE for system functions and graphics rendering. By running native ARM code directly on the processor and utilizing a JIT compiler for Java methods, the project aims to minimize the performance overhead typically associated with emulation.
Megler supports Google Play Services, allowing users to download apps, sign in to accounts, and utilize system hardware including cameras, biometrics via Windows Hello, and media playback. Users can transform Android apps into standalone Windows applications with dedicated tiles and processes. This contrasts with Microsoft's defunct "Project Astoria," which attempted to integrate a full Android compatibility layer into the OS.
Current limitations include a lack of support for 64-bit ARM Android apps and the Vulkan API, both restricted by the 32-bit architecture of Windows 10 Mobile. Additionally, users must enable developer mode and perform an interop unlock on their devices to execute the project's code.