Virtual Android on Windows computer. The best Android OS emulator programs for your computer
On a personal computer/laptop with the Windows operating system, you can run Android OS for mobile devices in a variety of ways. However, some of them require complex initial settings, others differ in functionality, and still others - in performance. An Android emulator can run on the Windows operating system for various reasons. But usually ordinary users want to see how software for mobile devices works, and developers run emulators on personal computers to test their applications. There is a third category of users - avid gamers. These run emulators on computers to play interesting games designed for smartphones and tablets.
If you are a curious user or an experienced player, download the Android emulator for OS Windows. We will tell you and clearly demonstrate how to launch mobile applications in several ways in this article. Products for mobile devices are launched on computers not only using programs for emulating Android OS. For example, you can install the Android operating system on a PC, run it in the Chrome browser from Google or from a flash card.
Nox App Player
Our users have left positive reviews about Nox App Player, calling it the best program for Android emulation on Windows. After extensive testing, we came to the same conclusions and recommend everyone to use this emulator. We are even sure that you will stop at it and will not want to install or test other emulation programs, well, except for inquisitive users who always want to form their own opinion. The Nox App Player emulation program is compatible with all new versions of Windows, and we tested it on the “top ten”, installing it on a regular, not the most powerful laptop computer.
The emulator is easy to install and starts in about two minutes. After launch, you will see the loading screen of the Android operating system, which will have a pre-installed mobile browser and file manager. The emulation program itself does not support the Russian language, but you can enable it in the OS itself. This happens the same way as on your mobile device.
When you first start it, you may see an unusual screen resolution. But these are initial settings intended for tablets, and they can be changed to more convenient and familiar ones. In order to do this, click the gear, calling up settings, and set your screen parameters. On the same tab you can change performance parameters (by default they are set to low levels). Looking ahead: these settings do not need to be changed, since even with such low performance, the emulation program works perfectly.
The Nox App Player emulator is controlled in the same way as on any mobile device with Android OS. You type using an on-screen keyboard, sound and a camera, if present, works like on a smartphone, there is also an application store where you can find and install a variety of applications and toys.
The right side of the emulation program window can be opened to full size without loss of quality. Here are all the icons with which you can perform actions, for example:
- Install a variety of mobile applications stored in a special folder.
- Change your location manually.
- Upload and export files (in the usual way or by “dragging” onto the program window).
- Take a variety of screenshots (screenshots).
- Launch several emulation program windows at once.
- And we have listed only the main actions.
If your Nox App Player emulation program does not start, firstly, check that the processor supports hardware virtualization technology, and secondly, set the correct settings in the BIOS. And if this does not help to launch the emulator, rename your name and directory by entering the letters of the English alphabet.
2.Bluestacks
One of the most convenient options for running Android games on a computer. If you want Android just to play games on its platform, then this is your choice. A very convenient emulation, which is aimed only at running Android games and applications on a PC. But there is no Android OS environment itself, there is only its own GUI with shortcuts for the games that you have installed and Android only gives you the opportunity to play its games.
The Bluestacks emulator is easy to install and configure, so we won’t explain anything more. If you encounter any questions regarding the emulator, please visit its official website.
3.Android SDK
The Android SDK software is a game developer tool, which, of course, provides the ability to run any application for it on Android. But there is one big BUT in the operation of this system. The Android SDK is an extremely sluggish system that takes from 5 to 30 minutes to load, and the performance of the Android OS itself leaves much to be desired. It is for this reason that using the system is highly discouraged, but we have presented it here as a possible option.
If you still decide to use the Android SDK, then download it from the official page and start using it.
4.WindowsAndroid (Windroy)
The Android emulation environment WindowsAndroid is a pretty good job, combining the complete “inner world” of the Android OS, with all its settings and default programs. The emulator may be a little more unstable than BlueStacks, but it is a full emulation of the operating system. You can download the latest version of the emulator from the official website of the developer.
5. Android for PC + VirtualBox
And finally the turn has come to the last popular way to launch Android on your Windows OS. The whole point is to use a special Android for PC, which was discussed in the adjacent material, and VirtualBox, which will allow you to seamlessly install any operating system inside a running OS; in this case, you will need to install Android.
However, if you liked the option of using Android for PC more than its emulation, then just do everything as described in the material about it.
We will tell you how to choose an Android emulator for your computer. Bluestacks, droid4x, Genymotion, MEmu and Remix OS Player. Download the Android emulator on PC here!
Why install an Android emulator on your computer? Who needs emulation of a mobile OS on a desktop, who will benefit from this? We answer. First of all, mobile developers are interested in Android emulators. In addition, emulators are also used by gamers who from time to time need a keyboard or, at least, are interested in playing their favorite Android mobile games on the computer.
We must immediately make a reservation that the process of installing and mastering emulators is not so simple. This is due to the rather complex design of Android emulators. Therefore, it makes sense to install an emulator only if you have minimal technical skills.
Bluestacks is a great Android emulator on PC for gamers
Price: Free / $2 per month
Bluestacks is considered one of the most famous Android emulators on PC. True, until recently this emulator began to lose ground. Realizing this, the Bluestacks developers decided to significantly improve the functionality of the emulator, as a result of which the updated Bluestacks 4 was born. In general, this emulator began to work faster, more stable and went far ahead compared to its predecessor.
Let us note the main features of the Android emulator. Bluestacks supports multitasking, plus it has unique emulation features such as screen shaking and location detection (remember that these functions were previously not available in the earlier version of the emulator).
Be that as it may, the Bluestacks emulator will mainly be of interest to gamers, but now it will serve those who need high performance.
The updated version of the emulator, Bluestacks 4, is sold at the same price - a symbolic $2 for a subscription to the services. Of course, most of the functions of this Android emulator will be of little use to the majority of the audience, however, gamers will clearly like this emulator. We would advise them to install this Android emulator on their computer.
Genymotion is a universal Android emulator with excellent device support
Cost: free, with paid options
Genymotion is an Android emulator aimed at mobile developers who want to test their apps or games on various devices without physically having to interact with real devices. In general, you can configure the Genymotion emulator for various devices with most current versions of the Android OS, and this more than meets most requests not only from developers, but also from ordinary users.
Let's say, using Genymotion you can run Nexus One on Android 5 or Nexus 6 with Android 6.0 overboard. The ultimate choice is yours, and you can easily switch between “devices” on the fly at your discretion. In fact, working with applications is not so popular on emulators in itself, but Genymotion does offer its services for free for personal use, so it is a great option for a free Android emulator for PC.
System requirements for installing Genymotion:
- Windows 7 and above (Linux and Mac OS also supported)
- Video card supporting OpenGL 2.0
- 64-bit processor supporting VT-x or AMD-V technologies
- 2 GB RAM
- 100 MB hard disk space
MEmu is a fast Android emulator with a functional sidebar toolbar
Cost: free
MEMU is a pretty good Android emulator application for PC. It is fully compatible with Intel and AMD chipsets; this feature was implemented for Android Lollipop 5. This emulator comes with full root access, and there is also a mega-functional sidebar, hung with various useful features and tools to increase productivity.
The MEMU distribution is not as bloated as some others in its category. Thus, the MEMU emulator performs well in various tests. The package's home page shows a comparative graph of the performance of ANdroid emulators, according to which MEmu runs 2 times faster than Bluestacks.
The system requirements for installing MEMU are quite humane: there is support for Intel and AMD, OS - Windows 7 and higher.
This is a good alternative to many Android emulators for PC, especially if you intend to use emulation for both gaming and productivity. The MEMU community continues to actively grow, and you can get qualified help on thematic forums, check releases and find useful technical information on the official MEMU blog. Therefore, it can be argued that MEmu is, if not the best Android emulator, then at least a community-supported and developing project, and this is important.
Nox is a free Android emulator for PC with gesture support
Cost: free
Next on the list is Nox, an Android emulator for Windows. Similar to Bluestacks, Nox is designed to please gamers. The emulator includes utilities and add-ons that will help players control the gameplay using a keyboard and mouse. Nox's toolkit includes features such as the ability to assign a "swipe right" to an arrow button, simulating real-life gesture movements directly on a keyboard or joystick.
NOX - mobile phone emulator
The Nox emulator is available for free download from the link below.
Remix OS Player - android emulator with flexible settings
Cost: free
Remix OS Player from the developers of Jide is one of the relatively new Android emulators for PC. Positions itself as one of the most functional (the most advanced). It remains the only computer emulator running on Android Marshmallow instead of Android Android Lollipop or Kit Kat.
The second point is that the Remix emulator will be useful to developers, since it has absorbed the capabilities of the Android Studio development environment. This way, game developers can test their products on PC, measuring performance.
The installation process of Remix OS Player is quite simple and its use will also not cause difficulties for a beginner (installation and launch are done in one click). It is intended primarily for games, so you will have various options in the sidebar to customize the emulation to your taste and color. Since the emulator is undergoing some "break-in", they still work with some bugs. However, it is still one of the best than most Android emulators. It is important to note that it works for free indefinitely .
The only caveat is that Remix OS Player, unfortunately, does not support AMD processors, while other PC emulators do not.
Here are the system requirements to run Remix OS Player:
- Windows 7 (64-bit) and later
- Intel Core i3 processor (preferably Core i5 / Core i7
- 4GB RAM
- 8GB on disk (preferably 16GB)
- Virtualization Technology option enabled in BIOS
The best Android OS emulator – Genymotion
To install, you need to go to Genymotion.com and download the Android emulator to your computer. The ability to download the distribution will only appear after registering on the Genymotion application website. On the download page you can select the emulator version Genymotion for your operating system, then create an account on the site and activate using the link.
To download the Genymotion emulator for free, you need to register
A virtual machine is installed on a personal computer - this is Genymotion, that is, an Android emulator on a PC. After installing the Genymotion emulator for Android, you will need to restart your computer and install the VirtualBox virtual machine. When you launch it for the first time, a window will appear with a list of devices for which you can create emulation. The user also has the opportunity to choose the Android version to work with the emulator; Android versions are available from 2.3.7 to 4.4.2. Sorting occurs both by smartphone models and operating systems. This Android emulator on a PC allows you to run applications and games for testing and full operation.
Genymotion emulator start screen
Advantages of the emulator Genymotion :
- The Genymotion Android emulator has the advantage of being able to choose which device you want to display on your computer.
- Easy navigation; the control panel hides, freeing up space for work.
Minusesandroid emulator Genymotion :
- This emulator does not support Google Play services, that is, it cannot be downloaded from the Google store, paid or free. At the same time, there is a large list of applications on the Black Market that you can download and test.
- Fast operation of the emulator for Android requires free RAM on your mobile device, smartphone or tablet.
The Android emulator for PC, Genymotion, allows you to test applications that have already been downloaded to your computer; their extension must be “APK”. When launched, the application will create a folder for work on the virtual device, which does not need to be deleted while it is running. After launching the application, the screen is placed in a horizontal tablet orientation. Thanks to the choice of versions of mobile operating systems, Genymotion is the best Android emulator on the market.
Android emulator
Download emulator Android You can visit the developer's website andyroid.net. On a personal computer, it becomes possible to use a full-fledged Android, connect a webcam, microphone directly used on your smartphone or tablet.
Start screen of the Android emulator
When you start working with the Andyroid emulator, user parameters are set, and if the Andyroid settings indicate an old version of the system, Android can be updated to the most current version of the OS.
Disadvantages of the emulator Android:
- The program version is initially available only in English; Russian must be selected every time you start the Android emulator.
- There is no choice of operating systems; you can only change from outdated to the latest when updating, and only the emulator versions are updated.
Advantages of the application Android :
- In emulation mode, any applications and apk packages are launched.
- This emulator for Android works faster than its analogues, games launch reliably the first time in most cases.
Working with this Android emulator on a PC is easy, as is starting to work in emulation mode. When you first start, you will need to enter your Google account login and password and make the usual settings, similar to the settings of your existing Android phone.
droid4x - emulator with many interesting additions
Cost: free
The next emulator is called droid4x and it is an interesting choice for those who need an Android emulator on PC. It works in the same way as Andy or AMIDuOS, and it should be noted that performance is roughly comparable on both emulators.
It must be said that in one or two years there have been improvements in the functionality of the droid4x application. What makes the emulator interesting are the add-ons. One of them is an application installed on a smartphone. Through it you can control games on your computer. For example, you'll be able to use the accelerometer to turn your car into Asphalt 8. It's definitely better than Andy or AMIDuOS for gaming, although we think both could be a little better in terms of stability and speed.
Andy
The program runs on all current versions of Windows, but for it to work you will need at least 8 gigabytes of free space on your hard drive, since Android is fully installed on your PC. The distinctive features and capabilities of the application include the following:
the ability to install any convenient version of Android;
full control - you get the system in its pure form, without any additional programs or interface settings;
also, due to the “purity” of the system, such an Android will be able to literally do everything that the original OS can do;
Since Android x86 is already adapted for computers, you don’t have to worry that it will be inconvenient for you to operate the interface without a touchscreen.
MEmu is one of the best emulators of the Android operating system, which will allow you to enjoy all the applications and games of this mobile platform directly on your Windows computer. Now, if you want to test a program or just play one of the many exciting games on Google’s operating system, you don’t even have to have a real device.
This emulator is completely customizable to your preferences and needs. In addition to adjusting the options of the Android system itself, there are additional settings, such as selecting screen resolution (up to full screen), placement of the navigation bar (top, bottom, hide), using a virtual keyboard, quickly obtaining Root rights, etc. It’s convenient that they are implemented separately buttons for screenshot, shaking, changing screen orientation, clearing memory, adjusting volume.
System requirements:
1200 MHz processor or faster
RAM 256 MB or more
Free hard disk space from 915 MB
32-bit or 64-bit architecture (x86 or x64)
Operating system Windows Vista / Windows 7 SP1 / Windows 8.1 / Windows 10
Torrent Emulator Android - MEmu 3.0.8 details:
MEmu simulates a tablet or smartphone on the large screen of a computer or laptop with Windows. After installing and launching the emulator, the desktop of the Android operating system will be displayed on the screen in which you can fully work. The system immediately has a standard set of applications installed - Play Market (Google Play), Browser, File Manager, etc. In the settings you can change the language, add Google accounts so that you can use synchronization and game saves, in general everything is like in a real mobile device, and you can also easily take screenshots of any Android programs (there is a button in the panel).
You can install new applications either from Google Play (you need a Google account) or using an apk file. For the second option, there is a special button on the taskbar, or you can simply double-click on the file itself, and the program will appear on the screen of the virtual device.
If you have tested the application and want to have it on your real device, then MEmu has provided a quick transfer for this via a special button on the same taskbar: connect your smartphone or tablet to the PC via a USB cable and wait for installation.
It is also worth noting that the emulator allows you to link a “mechanical” PC keyboard to certain actions on a virtual device: using the AWDS cross-pad, a shooting cursor, a gravity sensor, etc. for control, which will greatly simplify the gameplay, especially in shooters.
In general, MEmu is a truly convenient Android emulator in all respects, which will allow you to fully use all the advantages and capabilities of this operating system on a regular PC.
Program features:
· The program allows you to run applications developed for Android phones and tablets on a computer or laptop, while the emulated device will perform faster in games than current models of flagship smartphones and tablets. Of course, this indicator directly depends on the performance of your PC or laptop.
·The user can set the parameters of the emulated device in the emulator settings, for example, you can set the number of cores of the emulated processor, screen resolution in pixels, amount of available RAM, brand, model phone number and IMEI of the mobile device, as well as root support.
·MEmu is in many ways similar to the popular Android emulator - BlueStacks, but surpasses the latter in performance and can use the webcam as an Android device camera.
· Otherwise, working with the emulator completely repeats working with an Android tablet, including the settings of Android itself.
·Switching between selected keyboard layouts is carried out by pressing the Ctrl+Space (Ctrl+space) keys. Please note that conflicts may arise with the Punto Switcher program, so it is better to disable it before starting the emulator.
· Disadvantages compared to BlueStacks include the inability to install apk files by simply dragging them onto the window of the running MEmy program (drag-and-drop technology). But this is not critical, since the program sets the apk file associations to be installed in MEmu by default.
·All the necessary applications and games can be downloaded through the Google Play store and the results can be synchronized with your mobile device. It is possible to install programs using installers (apk files). Now you don’t have to worry that there won’t be enough system resources or that games will slow down. It is recommended to update the video card drivers, and if the computer has two video cards, then configure it to switch to one of them when starting the MEmu emulator to avoid errors.
·MEmu allows you to use shared folders for Music, Videos, Photos and Downloads. You can simulate GPS data directly on the map - all this is available in the emulator settings, which are called up by the corresponding button in the sidebar. There, in the emulator settings, you can select the required screen resolution, select RAM and the number of processor cores, come up with any manufacturer name for your virtual tablet - it will be transferred to programs that require the brand name (Samsung, Sony, iPhone or any other)
·The virtual device is already rooted, the Superuser is installed if someone needs it. Control can be done with a mouse, keyboard or even a joystick. The default zoom is F2/F3 or with the mouse wheel while pressing the Ctrl key.
·In addition, with the help of the MEmu - Multiple Instance Manager, it is possible to create several independent virtual Android devices with their own settings and accounts, come up with their own manufacturer for each of them, and even generate different IMEIs.
·Simple and accessible multilingual interface, Russian language is present, Ukrainian and Russian localizations are presented, as in Android devices.
What's new in MEmu 3.0.8:
·Fix the issue of MEMU start occasionally no response
·Add support to adjust skillshot distance in MOBA game, like RealmofValor/PentaStorm/Fix the issue of MEMU start occasionally no response
·Fix the issue of incompatible device in Google Play
·Fix the issue of unable to connect Google server in Android 5.1
Fix the issue of unchangeable device model
Fix the issue of boss key setting
·Improve video play in wechat and whatsapp
Add support to adjust skillshot distance in MOBA game, like RealmofValor/PentaStorm/
WindowsAndroid is an emulator program that allows you to simulate the operation of the Android OS on Windows computers, which in turn allows you to work on a computer under the same conditions and principles as on a smartphone with an Android operating system installed.
The unique feature and advantage of this PC emulator over analogues is its simple and at the same time intuitive use. It would seem that this is an elementary condition for the popularity of an application, however, oddly enough, it does not occur and is fulfilled as often as we would like. The main requirement from you when working with an emulator program for Android WindowsAndroid is to install the file. At this point, your work stops; the application will independently make the necessary settings for the system to operate.
The difference in use between a smartphone and a personal computer will be only that, in the first case, you use your fingers on the touchpad, and in the second, you use the mouse. To unlock the device, you will need to drag a specific item to its designated location.
The interface is no different from the one you are used to seeing on the screen of your smartphone. All functions of the device become available, as well as manipulations that are available by default on any gadget with the Android system.
Another important detail is the opening possibility of using Google Play for your computer. You can download and install all the games and programs available and available there on your PC just as you do on a smartphone.
This application, an Android emulator for PC, can confidently be called one of the best among similar applications that are available on the software market. It allows you to set up interaction for working with the new system quickly and clearly, without creating absolutely any inconvenience. In addition, it independently performs basic configuration when installed on a PC.