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Android'southward awarding ecosystem has proven to be versatile and developer-friendly after a chip of a wearisome start. You are complimentary to develop an app for Android and publish it to the Play Store with Google's restrictions, or you tin distribute it yourself outside the Play Shop. This has led to a plethora of cool Android apps, some of which aren't available on iOS or other platforms. Fifty-fifty in this age of giant phones, y'all might occasionally want to utilise those apps on a bigger screen, like the ane continued to your Windows PC. Fortunately, with a little leg work, you can run Android apps on a PC. At that place are a few different ways to get near it, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Android Studio

One pop way to get Android apps running on a PC is to get through the Android emulator released by Google as role of the official Android Studio. The emulator tin can be used to create virtual devices running whatsoever version of Android yous want with different resolutions and hardware configurations. The first downside of this process is the somewhat complicated setup process.

Android Studio

Y'all'll demand to grab the installer from Google's site and run through the setup process to download the platforms you want — probably whatever the nearly recent version of Android happens to be at the fourth dimension (7.1 at the time of publishing). Google has some pre-configured emulation options available in the menu for Nexus/Pixel devices, but you tin can ready the parameters manually, as well. Once you've booted your virtual device, yous'll need to get apps installed, only the emulator is the bone stock open up source version of Android — no Google apps included.

Since there's no Play Shop, you demand to do some file management. Take the APK you want to install (be information technology Google's app package or something else) and driblet the file into thetools folder in your SDK directory. Then apply the control prompt while your AVD is running to enter (in that directory) adb install filename.apk. The app should be added to the app list of your virtual device.

The big upside here is that the emulator is unmodified Android right from the source. The mode apps return in the emulator will be the same as they render on devices, and almost everything should run. It's great for testing app builds earlier loading them onto test devices. The biggest trouble is that the emulator is sluggish enough that yous won't want to brand a habit of running apps in it. Games are out of the question as well.

BlueStacks

If yous're looking to get multiple apps and games up and running on your computer with the minimum of endeavour, BlueStacks is your friend. BlueStacks presents itself every bit just a style to go apps working, but it actually runs a total (heavily modified) version of Android behind the scenes. Not merely that, but it has the Play Store built-in, so you take instant access to all of your purchased content. It really adds an entry to your Google Play device list, masquerading equally an Android phone.

The BlueStacks client will load up in a desktop window with different app categories like games, social, and and so on. Clicking on an app or searching does something unexpected — it brings upward the full Play Shop customer every bit rendered on tablets. Yous can actually navigate around in this interface just every bit you would on a real Android device, which makes it articulate at that place'due south a lot more than to BlueStacks than the "App Player" front end finish. The chief screen in BlueStacks with the app categories is just a custom home screen, so replacing it makes BlueStacks feel almost similar a regular Android device.

Having total Play Store access means you won't exist messing effectually with sideloading apps, and BlueStacks manages to run apps pretty well (and improve if you accept a CPU that supports hardware virtualization). Well-nigh games are playable, simply keep in listen you'll have trouble operating many of them with a mouse. If your PC has a impact screen, you can still use apps and games that rely on more than one touch input. BlueStacks can substantially make a Windows tablet PC into a part-fourth dimension Android tablet.

The biggest effect with BlueStacks is that it's not running a standard Android build. All the alterations the company fabricated to get apps working on a PC can cause issues — some apps neglect to run or crash unexpectedly. This customized environment is besides of trivial value as a development tool considering in that location'southward no guarantee things volition render the same on BlueStacks as they might on a real Android device without all the dorsum-finish modifications. Information technology'due south as well a freemium service with a $2 pro subscription, or you lot can install a few sponsored apps.

Link to Windows

Some Android phones (mostly Samsung devices) accept enhanced support for Microsoft's Your Phone Windows client, offer access to your messages, notifications, photos, and yes, apps. The apps aren't technically running on the PC — they're mirrored from your phone. However, this system is very fleshed out and officially supported. Everything else we've talked nigh is a bit of a hack or non for regular users, just you can exist upwards and running with Link to Windows in a few minutes.

Y'all volition need a phone that works with the latest Your Phone features. That includes the Samsung Galaxy S9 and newer, also as the Microsoft Surface Duo. The feature will expand to more phones in the future, though.

First, make sure you've got the Your Phone app on your Windows PC. Next, launch the Link to Windows client on your Samsung phone — information technology should be accessible nether Advanced Features and from the quick settings. You'll have to scan a QR lawmaking on your computer with the phone and sign into your Microsoft business relationship. And that'due south it.

Your app list appears in the Your Phone app, and yous can launch any of them. Your telephone doesn't need to be plugged in, but Wi-Fi is recommended. Supported devices running Android eleven can run multiple apps side-by-side on Windows, but be aware that less powerful phones will be sluggish with more one simultaneous app.

And then What'south the All-time Way?

If y'all need to test something with the intention of putting it on other Android devices, the emulator is withal the best way. This is all-time suited to developers as the configuration and management of apps is complicated. It's slow, but you lot'll be able to come across how things will work on the real deal. If you lot're interested in getting more than a handful of apps running on your PC and then you tin can actually use and bask them, BlueStacks App Thespian is the best solution for most people. It's easy, has Play Store admission, and works on multitouch Windows devices.

If you happen to have a telephone uniform with Microsoft's latest Your Phone features, that'due south by far the easiest way to get Android apps on your PC. Many of these phones are expensive, and then it's not worth buying one just for this single employ example. Notwithstanding, if you lot're due for an upgrade and running Android apps on a PC is on your listing of priorities, this might influence your determination. I still don't think y'all should buy the Surface Duo, though.

At present read:

  • 25 best Android tips to make your telephone more useful
  • Android Antivirus Apps Are Useless — Here's What to Do Instead
  • Why Yous Should (Or Shouldn't) Root Your Android Device