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Microsoft’s August 2, 2022 update to the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) added input-compatibility shims for Android games: gamepad support, joystick-to-WASD mapping, and arrow-key controls for aiming and sliding. The release was limited to Windows Insiders in the United States, and WSA is now discontinued: Microsoft Store availability for WSA and Amazon Appstore ended on March 5, 2025.
What Microsoft added in WSA version 2206.40000.15.0
Microsoft announced WSA version 2206.40000.15.0 on August 2, 2022, for all Windows Insider channels in the United States. The central change was compatibility support for gamepads in Android games, delivered through new shims in the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app. Microsoft’s announcement described four relevant input options:
- Gamepad compatibility in games.
- Joystick compatibility mapped to WASD.
- Aiming with arrow keys.
- Sliding with arrow keys.
These were compatibility mechanisms for presenting Windows input to Android applications. They were not a universal controller-translation layer. A controller still had to be recognized by Windows, the Android game had to handle the relevant input events, and the title’s control design had to support them.
What “gamepad support” did—and did not—mean
It could help games with existing controller handling
Android games that already listened for standard gamepad events were the most likely to benefit. The update could also help some games designed around keyboard-like directional controls through the joystick-to-WASD and arrow-key shims.
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It did not make every game controller-compatible
The release did not guarantee that every Android game would recognize every controller. Touch-only games could still require mouse input, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or separate remapping software. It also did not give Android titles the same input behavior as native Windows games.
Joystick-to-WASD is not analog movement
Mapping a joystick to WASD produces directional keyboard-style input. That is different from smooth analog movement, which can matter in racing games, twin-stick shooters, platformers, and games that distinguish walking from sprinting.
Arrow-key aiming and sliding are workarounds
Arrow-key shims can assist games whose controls respond to directional keys, but they do not provide guaranteed analog aiming, touch-gesture equivalence, complete action mapping, or correct controller prompts.
Who received the update?
The August 2022 rollout was for all Windows Insider channels in the United States only. It was not a worldwide release for all Windows 11 users, and it should not be confused with a general Windows cumulative update. The version number identified the WSA package itself.
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How the historical setting was enabled
For eligible Insider installations at the time, Microsoft directed users to the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app. Because the interface changed between releases, the announcement did not establish a permanent submenu name. The historically accurate process was:
- Install the eligible WSA update.
- Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings.
- Locate the input or compatibility shim controls.
- Enable the gamepad, joystick, aiming, or sliding option needed by the game.
- Launch or restart the Android game and test its controls.
These steps describe the 2022 Insider-era software, not a current Microsoft-supported installation path.
Controller and game compatibility
Microsoft’s current supported-input documentation identifies an authorized Xbox controller for mobile-app gamepad input on Windows: Supported inputs for mobile apps on Windows. That wording should not be expanded into a guarantee for every USB, Bluetooth, PlayStation, Nintendo, or third-party controller.
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- Windows must detect the controller correctly.
- WSA must expose the relevant input behavior.
- The Android game must listen for gamepad or keyboard events.
- The game’s Android version and required services must work in the WSA environment.
Consequently, a controller can work in one game and fail in another without either result proving that WSA itself is broken. Games differ in their controller APIs, button layouts, analog-stick support, triggers, vibration, on-screen prompts, and reliance on touch controls. Microsoft did not publish a complete list of compatible games with this update.
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Other changes in the August 2022 release
Game input was the headline change, but WSA version 2206.40000.15.0 also included:
- Scrolling improvements.
- Networking and graphics improvements.
- A default minimum Android window size of 220dp.
- An improved dialog for unsupported VPN configurations.
- A diagnostic-data view and save toggle in WSA Settings.
- Security updates and general reliability fixes.
The VPN and Advanced Networking issue
Microsoft warned that some VPNs might not work with WSA’s Advanced Networking feature. If Android apps lost network access while a VPN was active, Microsoft recommended disabling Advanced Networking in WSA Settings. This mattered particularly for games that needed online sign-in, matchmaking, cloud saves, or content downloads.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to WSA today?
WSA is no longer an officially available new-install option. Microsoft ended WSA and Amazon Appstore availability in the Microsoft Store after March 5, 2025, and existing installations and apps were no longer supported after that date. Microsoft’s support page reflects that discontinued status.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe Microsoft WSA GitHub repository remains useful for historical project information, but it does not restore Microsoft-supported consumer installation. Old guides that tell readers to join Windows Insider and install WSA through the Store are obsolete. Unofficial or modified packages, sideloaded app stores, and third-party installation scripts are outside Microsoft’s supported path and should not be treated as equivalent replacements.
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Practical troubleshooting for a legacy installation
If a still-existing WSA installation does not respond to a controller, use this order:
- Confirm that Windows detects the controller.
- Check whether the Android game explicitly supports gamepad input.
- Verify that the relevant WSA compatibility shim is enabled.
- Restart the Android app after changing the setting.
- Test a second title known to accept controller input.
- If network access also fails, disable Advanced Networking temporarily, especially when a VPN is connected.
Failure in one title is commonly an application-compatibility problem rather than proof that every WSA gamepad function is unavailable.
Bottom line
Microsoft’s August 2022 WSA update made Android gaming more usable for compatible titles by adding gamepad, joystick-to-WASD, and arrow-key input shims for U.S. Windows Insiders. It never promised universal controller support, and WSA’s official distribution ended on March 5, 2025. The announcement is therefore important as platform history, not as a current installation guide.
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