Windows Subsystem for Android Registry Key Locations

This article outlines the specific Windows Registry paths where Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) stores its active configuration parameters, service settings, and package runtime data. By navigating these keys using the Registry Editor (regedit), administrators and power users can inspect and modify low-level WSA settings directly.

Primary User Configuration Path

The core user-level preferences, feature flags, and active configuration settings for WSA are located under the current user hive:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Subsystem for Android

Inside this key, you will find parameters related to: * Developer Mode Settings: Toggle state and active debugging ports (such as ADB connection parameters). * Resource Allocation: Flags for continuous or as-needed memory usage modes. * Graphics Preferences: GPU selection overrides and hardware acceleration toggles. * Network Settings: Local network access permissions and IP routing configurations.

Package AppData and State Storage

Because WSA is distributed as a packaged MSIX application, detailed application-state settings and package metadata are stored under the AppModel registry tree:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\SystemAppData\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Key subfolders include: * \Parameters: Execution environment settings applied when the micro-VM boots. * \StateStore: Persistent runtime key-value pairs cached by the WSA management interface.

System Service Configuration

The background service managing the virtualization host for Android, known as WsaService, stores its initialization parameters and startup behavior under the local machine hive:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WsaService

This path contains: * Start: Controls the startup type (e.g., manual, automatic, or on-demand trigger). * ImagePath: The path to the core executable running the host service (WsaService.exe). * Parameters: Micro-VM virtualization parameters passed to the Hyper-V/Virtual Machine Platform host during startup.

How to Safely Access and Edit These Keys

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Copy and paste any of the paths above directly into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor.
  3. Completely stop the Windows Subsystem for Android using the WSA Settings app (“Turn off Windows Subsystem for Android”) before making manual modifications to prevent values from being overwritten upon shutdown.