On Windows 11, you can install the Threads app from Meta to access the social media platform, but you will have to do some workarounds, and in this guide, you will learn how. Threads is the new social media from Meta (the parent company of Facebook) that aims to take on Twitter.
Although similar to Twitter, you can share text updates (including images and videos) and engage in public conversations, some of the differences with “Threads” is that updates can be up to 500 characters, videos can be up to 5 minutes long, you have greater control from privacy, and there are no limits on the message you can view per day, and Meta is even working to bring support for ActivityPub, which is the decentralized social networking protocol that makes it possible to transfer your information to another host and more.
The only caveat is that (at least initially) it is only available on mobile (Android and iPhone) since there’s no a web version of the platform. You can share and view specific threads on the web, but you cannot use the social network on the web browser, nor there’s a version of the app for Windows 11. However, if you must access the Threads from your computer without reaching your phone, you have at least a couple of options. You can install the Android version of Threads using BlueStacks or the Windows Subsystem for Android.
This guide will teach you the steps to install and access the Threads app without your phone on Windows 11.
Important: Although you can access the social network using these workarounds, these are not official support methods. Use these instructions at your own risk. You have been warned.
Install Threads app on Windows 11 using BlueStacks
To install the Threads app on Android through BlueStacks, use these steps:
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Click the Download BlueStacks 5 button and save the installer on your computer.
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Double-click the installer to launch the installation wizard.
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Click on Install now.
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Open Start.
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Search for BlueStacks 5, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
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Click on App player from the left navigation pane (if applicable).
Quick note: If some of the requirements to run the application are not met, the application may prompt you to allow the setup to make the necessary configurations that will require restarting the computer. After restarting the device, you can start BlueStacks again as an administrator.
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Click on System apps.
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Click the Play Store option.
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Click the Sign in button to access the Google Play Store on Windows 11.
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Sign in with your Google account.
Quick note: If you’re prompted to set up a backup, you can turn off this feature and click the “Accept” button.
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Click the I agree button to accept the Google Play Store terms of use
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Click the Install button.
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Click the Open button.
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Sign in with your Instagram account.
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Confirm your Threads username, bio, link, and profile info.
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Click the Continue button.
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Choose the privacy option, including “Public profile” to allow anyone to interface with you, like on Twitter, or “Private profile” to interact only with people that follow you.
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Click the Continue button.
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Choose some of the suggestions accounts to follow.
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Click the forward button in the top-right corner.
- Click the Join Threads button.
Once you complete the steps, you can start using Threads on Windows 11.
Install Threads app on Windows 11 using WSA
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Open Start on Windows 11.
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Search for Turn Windows features on or off, and click the top result to open the app.
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Check the “Virtual Machine Platform” option.
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Click the OK button.
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Restart the computer.
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Open the Windows Subsystem for Android with the Amazon Appstore app page.
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Click the Install button.
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Click the Open button or start the WSA from the Start menu.
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Click on Advanced options.
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Turn on Developer mode toggle switch.
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Click on System.
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Click the Files setting to start the Windows Subsystem for Android virtualization.
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Click the “Get in Store app” button.
Quick note: If you’re in another browser other than Microsoft Edge, you will be prompted to open the Microsoft Store app. -
Click the Install button.
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Click the Open button.
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Click the “Install an APK” button.
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Click the Install button to download the necessary components.
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Click the Select Folder button.
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Select a folder to install the required components.
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Click the “Install ADB here” button.
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Click the Load APK button.
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Click the Install button.
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Check the “Always allow from this computer” option.
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Click the Allow button.
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Open Start.
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Sign in with your Instagram account.
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Confirm your Threads username, bio, link, and profile info.
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Click the Continue button.
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Choose the privacy option, including “Public profile” to allow anyone to interface with you, like on Twitter, or “Private profile” to interact only with people that follow you.
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Click the Continue button.
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Choose some of the suggestions accounts to follow.
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Click the forward button in the top-right corner.
- Click the Join Threads button.
After you complete the steps, the Threads app for Android will install on Windows 11.
If you have an Android phone from Samsung, you may also be able to use the Phone Link app to link your phone to your computer and access the Threads app with the mirroring feature.
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