Luckily, there are some ways and software that allow you to run Android apps on PC and MaC, and in this article, I will explain the 7 best ways to play Android games on PC whether by installing a virtual Android system on PC or by using one of the Android emulators available. Also Read: How to Play PS4 Games on Any Android Phone with Ease.
- Aug 12, 2014 An easy yet detailed tutorial showing you how to effectively install Android as a virtual machine on your Mac with the help of VirtualBox. This is an updated version of my previous tutorial on.
- Mar 24, 2020 The best Android emulator to play Android games on PC By Corbin Davenport 24 March 2020 Here's the emulator you should use for gaming, and how to.
Android is a great platform and everybody is looking forward to test or use it somehow. There is an online project that is porting Android to X86 based system. Right now, the recent news says that Android 4.0 IceCream Sandwich and Android KitKat 4.4 can also be downloaded to install and run on PC using the VirtualBox. In this tutorial, I will be telling you every step or do how required for installing Android in VirtualBox, a freely available virtualization software.
Tip: Install Android Market on Amazon Kindle Fire.
Though, we have discussed another method of installing Android at your PC while discussing about how to run WhatsApp on PC (the BlueStacks method), this method is more advanced and upgraded as it can give you the complete experience of an Android OS within from your PC or Laptop.
Google has open sourced Android Operating system and that’s why developers can change the source code to port the Android OS to X86 based PC. VirtualBox provides a safe platform to test the Android without disturbing the setup of your Windows PC. Let’s go ahead and install VirtualBox and run Android on it.
How to Run Android Live in VirtualBox
- You will need to download VirtualBox here. And Download the version of Android you want to test from here. You can download x86 version of Android from the provided link. The file will be a .iso disk image, ready to burn on CD or you can keep the .iso file to install on VirtualBox.
- Once you download the VirtualBox, create a Virtual Machine by clicking the New button on the top header area of the VirtualBox App. You can name it as Android and choose the OS type as other and version too as other.
- Now, you will need to setup different properties of Virtual machine. Set the RAM to atleast 1GB so that you can run games etc on the virtual machine. Create a Virtual disk space at least 2GB. Once created save the virtual machine.
- Now, right-Click the Virtual machine and click start. This will automatically pop up a First Run Wizard. You can choose the select installation Media and go ahead. Now Browser to the Android ISO file we have downloaded.
- You can choose to install the Android-X86 on Virtual hard disk. Also, there is a great option to run the Android Live without installing. Choose the best for you and go ahead.
- Once you finish installing, restart the virtual PC. You’ll get the Android running on your PC.
This makes you ready to use the Android as an operating system. Beside that you can use keyboard, music speakers, and your LAN/Wi-Fi internet connection.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install Android in VirtualBox
Instead of running the Android live in your VirtualBox, you might want to install the Android operating system in your virtualzation software. If so, here is a step-by-step guide on how to install Android in VirtualBox as well as other virtual interfaces like VMware Workstation.
If you’ve already installed the VirtualBox or VMware Workstation in your computer, download the latest version of Android-x86 from here.
Once downloaded, first create a virtual machine for Android in your VirtualBox.
Creating Android Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
Open VirtualBox and create a new virtual machine by following the onscreen wizards with the following configurations:
- Operating System type : Linux
- Operating System version: Linux 2.6
- Memory: 512 MB
- Hard Drive Size: 5 GB or more
Installing Android in VirtualBox
Once you created the Android Virtual machine in your VirtualBox, start the machine and select the downloaded ISO file as the virtual CD/DVD disk image from the “Devices” menu.
Restart the new machine again and you should see the screen similar to this.
Now, navigate (use ↑ or ↓ keys) to the last option where it says “Installation – Install Android-x86 to Harddisk” and hit the Enter key. The installation process would start immediately. You need to create a partition for the Android installation. Simply choose “Create/Modify partitions” option.
Now, a black screen appears. Select “New” using the arrow keys (← , →) from your keyboard and hit the Enter key to create a new partition at the free space.
Free Mac Os For Virtualbox
Highlight the “Primary” option and hit the Enter key.
This will ask you to enter the size of the partition. Hit the “Enter” key again to allocate the full space for the partition. Now choose “Bootable” and hit Enter again. Now, move to the “Write” option and hit Enter. This will ask you to confirm the formatting process. Simply, type “yes” and hit Enter. Once the writing job is done, highlight the “Quit” option and hit Enter to quit. This time you will see the partition that you’ve just created at the top of the screen. It will be selected by default. Hit the Enter key to start installing Android onto this partition.
Select the ext3 as the file system and hit the Enter and select “Yes” to confirm. Hit the Enter key again.
Now it will start formatting and after completion, it will ask for whether you want to install boot loader GRUB. Select “Yes” and hit the Enter key.
Again select “Yes” to install /system directory as read-write.
Once done, remove the ISO file and restart the Virtual machine for Android.
Now the Android OS will boot from your virtual machine as like as the other operating system. In the welcome screen, choose the Language and go forward. It will take some time to initiate. Wait for a while and you will be asked for turning the Wi-Fi on. Simply skip this step as it will automatically use the standard internet connection of your virtual machine.
Now put your Google id and password to get started with your Android machine and follow the onscreen wizards to complete the initialization process.
Once done you can use the Android OS just like you do in your smart phone. You can even play Temple Run 2 on your computer.
You would love to run Android on PC, if you like the interface or the usability, you can buy an Android phone. Android is getting popularity so rapidly and has captured a big chunk of smartphone market(43% according to recent Study). Also, you can install Android 4.0 on a Netbook and keep it as a permanent Netbook OS.
Are you still thinking about how to install and run Android on your PC? Check this tutorial out and let me know your experiences.
Recently, we had covered some of the best ways to run Windows apps on macOS. The point was to overcome the lack of multi-platform software. This time, however, we have something different. We are going to talk about the ways to run Android apps on Mac. Yes, about using Instagram, playing Asphalt 8, or listening to Audible on Mac.
This time too, we have found multiple ways to run Android apps on macOS. Since different people have their different purposes, we’ve different methods too. In this article, you will find the best methods to run Android apps on Mac for normal users, gaming enthusiasts and developers. Shall we now check out the options?
Run Android Apps on Mac
#1 BlueStacks — Best for Running Apps
BlueStacks (also called BlueStacks App Player) is the oldest and the most popular way of running Android apps for Mac. You will be able to run almost any Android app using this simple emulator. It’s the best choice if you want to run WhatsApp on your Mac or access your Instagram account. You will be able to run your Mac apps and Android apps side by side, which is great.
The BlueStacks interface is equally awesome as well. Apps are opened in individual tabs and you have access to Google Play Store. Depending on the specifications of your Mac, BlueStacks lets you handle multiple apps with ease. Despite the optimizations for running apps, BlueStacks offers a true Android feel as well. You can even make changes from the Settings section.
Installing and using BlueStacks is like a piece of cake! You have to download the free installer from the official site of BlueStacks and run it. If you have previously installed bluestack, do a clean uninstall, before you reinstall it. Once the installation is done, it may take a few seconds for starting up. Before you can install apps, however, you need to sign into a Google account. Altogether, we think it’s really easy to get started with BlueStacks.
As far as running apps is concerned, BlueStacks does the job very well. We were able to install and use apps like WhatsApp and Instagram without any hassle. We also tried playing some Alto’s Odyssey game.
Pros
- BlueStacks is really easy to set up
- It doesn’t involve long installation processes
- Performance is optimized for apps
Cons
- Not much suitable for games or development
Who Is It For
We think BlueStacks is the best option for those who need to use Android apps on Mac. It works fine when it comes to running apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. While the gaming performance is okay, we believe there are better options.
Check Out BlueStacks
#2 VirtualBox — Best for More Control
At the core, Android is also a Linux-based operating system. As it happens, you can install Android on Mac using a tool like VirtualBox. In order to do this, you have to create a virtual machine and install Android in it. Compared to the other options we’ve listed, this VirtualBox method offers better control over the Android device and the apps you install.
Once the installation is done, VirtualBox gives you a pure Android experience. This is because we’re installing the basic Android Operating System on the virtual machine. However, you should not expect an optimized environment for running apps or games. Chances are, there are some bugs too. On the bright side, you can deploy Android v8 Oreo in the virtual machine.
We would not say that Android on VirtualBox is easy to set up. There are some downsides that you will have to tolerate in the long run. In order to do this, you need to download Android x86, a project that ports the popular OS to PCs. Then, as we always do, you can create a virtual machine based on Linux, Android. Once the installation is done, you’ll have a full-screen Android experience.
While apps like WhatsApp and Instagram work fine, the performance isn’t the best. We would not suggest this method if you’re into gaming either.
Pros
- Offers more control over the virtual Android device
- You can run the latest version of Android
- It offers a fully-fledged Android OS experience
Play Android Games On Mac Using Virtualbox Free
Cons
- Installation is somewhat complex
- Lacks performance optimization or customization options
- Chances of bugs
Who Is It For
Running Android on Mac using VirtualBox is best when you need better control over the process. As a virtual machine, you can customize performance too. However, in the long run, you will have to compromise overall performance and gaming controls.
Check Out VirtualBox and Android x86
#3 Nox Player Mac — Best Optimized for Gaming
If you want to play some graphic-rich Android games on Mac, Nox Player Mac is the best option in town. It’s an Android emulator that prioritizes speed and performance. There are also some features such as screen capture, on-screen button mapping etc. Once set up, Nox Player Mac offers a standard Android experience as well.
Nox Player Mac manages to run apps as well. However, we found that things aren’t as smooth as BlueStacks when it comes to app downloads and installs. But, the reason you should install Nox Player Mac should be to play high-quality games like PUBG on Mac.
To install Android apps on your Nox Player, you can either login with your Google account and use the built-in Google Play Store or if you don’t want to go through that hassle, you can download the apk using the browser and install it directly.
Nox Player Mac is the easiest to install. It doesn’t even ask you any questions. Just run the installer and in a few seconds, you will find the fully-fledged Android virtual tablet. It runs Android v4 KitKat — which is a downside when compared to others.
Nox Player Mac is perfect when it comes to handling popular apps. So, if you want to bring some common apps and high-end Android games to Mac, choose this program.
Pros
- Easy to set up and get started
- Optimized performance for games and apps
- Advanced features like keyboard mapping and location manipulation
Cons
- Not suitable for development
- Runs on Android KitKat
- Ships with some bloatware
Install Mac Os On Virtualbox
Who Is It For
Nox Player Mac is the best option if you’re into high-end Android games. Even if you have a mid-end MacBook Air, it should offer the best performance. Also, thanks to the macro and mapping features. We’d also recommend the tool for running WhatsApp and all.
#4 Genymotion — Most Suitable for Developers
Play Android Games On Mac Using Virtualbox Download
Genymotion is an innovative way to run Android apps on Mac — and on Cloud, for that matter. However, it is offering a bunch of different options. If you’re a professional, you can create a virtual Android device on a Mac or in the cloud. Let’s come down to the Desktop version, which is great. You will be able to create a big variety of Android configurations for testing.
For instance, you can change the Android version, device hardware etc. Genymotion is the best option to make sure that your app runs perfectly on all Android devices out there. However, if you are getting started as a developer, you can find standard solutions as well. Genymotion also offers some additional features, for instance, embed your Android app on the website and let people try the app.
There is no necessity that you should install Genymotion on your Mac. As we said earlier, it can be used as a cloud service as well. However, Genymotion Desktop is really easy to install. We used the Personal version of Genymotion as well. It’s more convenient if you just want to try some apps. On the other hand, if you like the fully-fledged Android development experience, Genymotion Desktop is the way to go.
Running apps on Genymotion isn’t as smooth as the other platform. This is because the emulator has a major focus on features that help developers.
Pros
- Awesome features for developers
- Multiple Android configurations
- Better Control over Running Apps
Cons
- Performance Optimization could be better
Who Is It For
Games On Mac Free
Genymotion is the best solution for Android developers who want to run their Android apps on a number of virtual devices. It syncs so well with your coding process and customization needs. Thanks to the plug-in, you can integrate this program with Android Studio as well.
Virtualbox Install On Mac
Check Out Genymotion (free trial, $136/year)
Play Android Games On Mac Using Virtualbox Windows 10
#5 Andy — a Smoother Workflow
Last but not the least, Andy is another way to run Android apps on Mac. However, compared to all emulators we’ve listed above, Andy offers a smoother workflow. The best part is that you’re getting a 100% full Android experience when you start up. You get built-in apps like Gmail, ES File Explorer and a lot more. It’s running on Android v4.0 KitKat, though.
Because Andy comes with Play Store access, you can easily download and install apps. There are some other important features as well. For instance, you can run the Android emulator in vertical and landscape modes as well. Also, there’s Key Mapping and Location manipulation. These features are awesome when you want a more optimized way to run Android apps.
Andy has one of the easiest installers we’ve seen. It’s an online installer, which would download files over an Internet connection. It needs to be noted that Andy downloads around 500MB of files, the largest on the list. Once the installation is done, Andy will show you the standard Android interface. You can use the mouse and keyboard for managing the virtual Android tablet.
As we said, Andy is the best when it comes to running apps. However, it would not be our go-to choice when it comes to playing Android games.
Pros
- Easy to Install and Manage
- Best optimization for apps
- Offers a standard Android experience
Cons
- Runs on KitKat
- It’s lagging a bit when other apps are running
Who Is It For
Andy offers the perfect level of optimization and a standard Android experience. We’d recommend this tool if you need a real-like virtual Android device on your Mac. Of course, there are some performance lags but you can avoid it by avoiding multitasking.
Check Out Andy (Free)
The best way to Run Android Apps on Mac?
So, these are the five different ways to run Android apps on Mac. In a way, you’re creating an Android device within macOS environment as well. As we said earlier, not a single solution is suitable for everyone. We have recommended Nox Player for Mac if you want to play games. On the other hand, if you just want to use apps smoothly, BlueStacks and Andy are the best options. And, for those upcoming developers out there, we will recommend Genymotion, which has a ton of features packed inside.