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What the August 2022 update added
Microsoft announced WSA version 2206.40000.15.0 on August 2, 2022. It was a WSA package update, not a Windows 11 cumulative update. Microsoft said it was rolling out to all Windows Insider channels in the United States. The release added compatibility shims that could be toggled in Windows Subsystem for Android Settings; it did not make every Android game or controller work automatically. Microsoft’s announcement described four input-related additions:
- Compatibility for gamepads in games.
- Joystick movement mapped to WASD keys.
- Aiming with arrow keys.
- Sliding with arrow keys.
Those options adapted Windows input for Android apps. They were not a universal controller-translation layer, and they did not give Android games the same input behavior as native Windows games.
How the input options worked
Gamepad compatibility
The gamepad option could help a game that already handled controller input, but it did not add controller support to a touch-only game. The game still needed to recognize the relevant input, and behavior could vary by title.
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Joystick-to-WASD mapping
Mapping a joystick to WASD sends keyboard-style directional input. It is not the same as analog movement: a game may not receive gradual stick position, which can matter for steering, aiming, or fine movement.
Arrow-key aiming and sliding
These were keyboard-input adaptations for games whose controls could use directional keys. They did not promise analog aiming, touch-gesture equivalence, correct controller prompts, or a complete mapping for every action.
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- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Who could use the update, and how it was enabled
The announcement covered Windows Insiders in the United States across all Insider channels. That was distinct from a general Windows 11 release or a worldwide rollout. Microsoft said the shims could be toggled in the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app. For the 2022 Insider-era software, the basic process was:
- Install the eligible WSA update.
- Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings.
- Find the relevant input or compatibility options and enable the desired shim. Exact labels may vary by release.
- Launch an Android game and test its controls; if needed, close and reopen the game after changing a setting.
These are historical steps, not a current Microsoft-supported installation guide. WSA is no longer available for new installation through the Microsoft Store.
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- Supported Multi-Platform:Switch/Switch 2 (NO support wake-up function)/iOS/Android/Windows PC (Notice:Not compatible with Xbox, PlayStation or GeForce Now, For game platforms not mentioned, please consult customer service before buying）
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Controller and game compatibility
Microsoft’s current supported-inputs documentation identifies an authorized Xbox controller for gamepad input in mobile apps on Windows. That qualification should not be expanded into a guarantee for every controller, Android game, or legacy WSA installation.
- Windows must recognize the controller, but that alone does not mean an Android game will.
- A game with native Android gamepad support is more likely to respond directly than a touch-only title.
- A shim may help with particular input patterns, but analog sticks, triggers, vibration, button prompts, and menus can behave differently from game to game.
- Microsoft did not publish a complete list of games compatible with the 2022 update.
If a controller failed, useful troubleshooting was to check Windows detection, confirm that the game supported gamepad input, review the WSA input settings, then test another controller-compatible game. Those checks can help distinguish a device or app limitation from a WSA setting; they cannot guarantee a fix.
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Other changes in version 2206.40000.15.0
The input options were the gaming-relevant part of a broader update. Microsoft also listed scrolling and networking improvements, graphics and reliability fixes, security updates, a default minimum Android window size of 220dp, an improved dialog for unsupported VPNs, and a setting to view or save diagnostic data. These changes were part of the same WSA release, not separate Windows features.
VPN and networking caveat
Microsoft warned that some VPNs might not work with Advanced Networking. If Android apps lost network access while a VPN was in use, Microsoft recommended turning off Advanced Networking in WSA Settings. That could affect games that need a connection for sign-in, matchmaking, saves, or downloads. The advice applied to WSA while it was available.
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Microsoft ended Microsoft Store availability for WSA and the Amazon Appstore on March 5, 2025. Its current support information treats the feature as discontinued, so joining Windows Insider does not provide a supported route to install WSA today. Existing installations and apps are no longer supported after that cutoff. Microsoft’s WSA GitHub repository remains a historical project reference, not evidence of a supported consumer installation path.
For readers in 2026, the gamepad update is best understood as a feature of a discontinued Windows-and-Android platform. Unofficial packages and old installation guides fall outside Microsoft’s supported path, and the cited materials do not establish their safety or compatibility.
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