A program for installing Android games on your computer. The best Android emulators for computer

An Android emulator on a PC is a program that is designed to create an Android device on your personal computer with any other operating system. The principle of its operation is to read the structural features of devices and translate game codes for smartphones into codes for computers. The code list includes both audio and graphic formats. The emulation process itself extends to memory, processor, and input and output devices. Please note that the same type of processor does not play any role in the operation of the emulator.

Top 10: Android Emulators on PC

Bluestacks

Bluestacks emulator

So, the first emulator in our rating will be the Bluestacks Android emulator. This program is absolutely free, and has high performance indicators. An emulator is a program that allows you to synchronize your smartphone with your computer, as a result of which you can play mobile games on your PC. In addition, you will be able to make calls and send messages from certain applications that have this function. That is, the computer reads data from your phone and will also use your mobile number.

The Bluestacks emulator has basic system requirements and works on all versions of Windows and MacOSX. In the program settings you can configure the language, including Russian. You can also download games and applications and run them in full screen mode. The latter is ideal for those who have always wanted to play Android games and applications on their personal computer with a different operating system. In general, if you decide to download an emulator and don’t know which one to choose, then Bluestacks is the best option for you, it’s free and quite easy to use.

Droid4X

Droid4X Emulator

This emulator will display for you a full-fledged Android device that will allow you to run games and applications on your personal computer. This idea is ideal for people who are running out of memory on their smartphones, or simply do not support the new desired game. Here you can download as many applications as you want, and you will be sure that the emulator can easily count them. If you have a PC or laptop with a touch screen, this will make your task much easier. Otherwise, in the settings of each game you have to select control buttons.

The Android emulator Droid4X is created based on Android version 4.2.2, thanks to which you will be able to download any games and applications to your PC, even the newest ones and those with high specifications. With this emulator you will get an Android device with 16GB of internal memory and 32GB of external memory (SD). This app is also great for app developers. There is an application testing system and an excellent base for ordinary users. The technical characteristics that the application will require for full operation and high performance are not high, which any standard computer can satisfy.

Andy

Emulator Andy

One of the newest emulators that is capable of emulating on your personal computer a full-fledged device with the Android operating system, version 4.2 Jelly Bean. Since the Andy emulator was released quite recently, it is designed for use on Windows 7 or Windows 8, this is its disadvantage. But the developers promise to soon launch a version on Mac OS. Among other things, the creators of the application are actively releasing regular updates and working to constantly improve their service.

For those who plan to use the emulator both on a computer and on a smartphone, the application has a useful function with which you can control all processes from your mobile device. Often, this function is needed in games and applications that require the use of a touch screen or accelerometer. You can download the emulator application to your smartphone for free. The characteristics of the Andy emulator allow you to install it on any standard computer and synchronize it with another device.

Genymotion


Genymotion emulator

An emulator that is considered one of the highest quality and fastest in its field. This application has been increasingly aimed at testing applications, and it is perfect for game and application developers. By and large, the Genymotion emulator is a continuation of the project - AndroidVM. Despite the fact that the main focus of the emulator is testing, it is also perfect for playing Android mobile applications on a personal computer with a different operating system. Genymotion download emulator will be installed without any problems on operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS. To prevent errors, the developers suggest installing VirtualBox before downloading the emulator itself.

Unlike other emulators, you can download Genymotion in both paid and free versions. Of course, the first will have more extensive functionality than the second. One of the attractive features of the paid version was Multi-touch, but it is increasingly aimed at use by large companies that are engaged in serious development. The free version has all the necessary features to fully use the emulator on your PC for basic needs. Please note that if you first create an Android image, the download will be much faster.

LeapDroid

Leapdroid emulator on PC

Android emulator, which has become one of the latest developments in its field. A new product, which, however, like other emulators, works on the basis of VirtualBox. That is, without installing the last mentioned program on your PC, you will not be able to use the emulator normally. After all the manipulations done, you will receive a full-fledged Android version 4.4.4. on your PC. One of the main features of the application is high performance, which has a good effect on the speed of work and downloads. Also, the LeapDroid emulator actively supports OpenGL and adb, you can use it at any time.

This emulator has a function for synchronizing folders with your computer. Run multiple instances simultaneously without worrying about losing speed. Copy and paste text using familiar combinations. Work with a microphone to record videos of your screen. Also, the LeapDroid emulator has a high level of compatibility, which allows you to download almost any Android games and applications. The minimum requirements that the program requests are available on every ordinary computer, so you can rest assured of the quality of its work.

Nox APP Player

A completely new product from Chinese programmers that deserves high marks. Today the program works with Android version 4.4.2, which allows you to download and use all new games and applications from Google Play. The Nox APP Player emulator can easily be called one of the most stable and high-performance of all that exist today. It is so powerful that it can support any processor, even AMD. Another undeniable advantage of this application is that it is completely free and available for download for all users.

Having visited the official website of the developer, we found a comparison table, which shows that the Nox APP Player emulator wins in many respects in relation to other emulators. Its only drawback is the lack of a version for Mac OS, but it is only a matter of time; the developers will soon correct this error. In terms of external design, you can find similarities with the Genymotion emulator, as evidenced by the right side panel with a number of tools, and the control keyboard setup is similar to the keyboard in the Droid4X emulator, but in addition to this, here you will also find gyroscope settings. All in all. The developers have collected all the best from other emulators, improved it a little, added new features and released Nox APP Player.

AMIDuOS


One of the few emulators developed by the American company American Megatrends. The hypervisor function is what distinguishes AMIDuOS from other emulators. With this emulator you will install an Android device on your computer that will work seamlessly with Windows OS. Unfortunately, for now the program is available for download only on Windows 7/8/8.1. Thanks to the full screen mode, you can run downloaded games and applications in full screen. This emulator reads all the codes so well that you will not see any differences in the gameplay between a PC and a smartphone.

The Android emulator AMIDuOS defines shared folders for various files (documents, videos, audio, etc.). In addition to the fact that the program copes well with its direct responsibilities, it will help you perform other additional settings. These include obtaining and setting up root rights (administrator rights), adjusting the screen resolution, dividing the RAM allocated for work, and installing Google applications on the computer.

YouWave


A simple emulator of Android 4.0 ICS version. The product is quite effective and works as standard in its field. What makes YouWave different is that it copies your Android device as accurately as possible, from the interface to the touch keyboard. In addition to its main task, it also performs other functions, for example, it emulates SD cards on which it saves games and applications or multiplayer modules. The menu is displayed here in a fairly classic way, in the form of standard icons.

But this emulator also has a feature that distinguishes it from other emulators: it supports active rotation of the device. This feature makes the gaming experience more convenient. You can download games and applications both from Google Play and from archived files. The latter option is more practical, easy to use and convenient to run. If you nevertheless chose the first download option, the application will ask for a personal Google ID. And only after that you will be able to use the YouWave emulator for its intended purpose.

Windroy


Not a bad achievement by Chinese developers. An emulator that performs all the basic tasks and is perfect for those who do not require a wide range of functions. This program will qualitatively and accurately simulate the Android OS, version 4.4.2. Technical characteristics will allow you to use your PC like a real smartphone. With it you can play all kinds of Google products. If you want to bypass the Play Market, you can always install programs from archived files, it will be both faster and of better quality.

The application has fairly high performance and speed, and also supports all versions of Windows without conflicts. If you are the owner of a touch screen computer, laptop or tablet, then this program is a real find for you. It will transfer all the codes so efficiently that you won’t even notice the difference.

MEmu App Player

Quite recently a new and very nice Android emulator MEmu has appeared. And its first advantage was free installation for all users. This product was created by Chinese developers who promise high performance and speed when downloading Android games and applications on PC. OS version 4.2.2 is used, and in the program you automatically gain administrator rights (root). In this emulator you will be provided with a stylish desktop and a number of settings that you can play with for several hours.

To make you feel more comfortable during the gameplay, the developers have provided keyboard and joystick mapping. Perform quick installation of archive files using APK drag and drop. Here you can create, delete or copy any Android system in a matter of seconds or run several at once. MEmu App Player is an excellent choice, by making which you will find a high-quality emulator that does its job perfectly.

We launched all ten emulators and this is what happened

The Android application technology platform has proven to be versatile and developer-friendly. You can develop an Android app and publish it on the Google Play Store with minimal restrictions. This concept has led to the rapid development of popular Android applications, some of which are not available on iOS and other platforms. To run an Android application, you usually need to use a smartphone or tablet with this OS - this is obvious. What to do if you want to try using Android without buying a device?

Fortunately, you have this opportunity; Android can be run even on an old desktop computer. There are several ways to accomplish this task, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Perhaps the easiest way to run Andoid apps on a Windows computer is to use the ARC Welder app for the Google Chrome browser. The application was developed by Google and can be used not only on Windows computers - this method also works on Chromebooks and Macs. The launch process is practically independent of the platform used. Simply go to the Chrome Web Store and install the ARC Welder app from the catalog.

The ARC Welder application is in beta and is intended primarily for developers. However, the process of downloading the app is quite simple. You need to upload the APK file to ARC Welder. The APK file can be obtained by backing up the app on a physical Android device or by downloading from various third-party sites on the Internet. We do not recommend downloading paid applications and games from dubious sites. There are resources that archive free apps, such as APK Mirror.

Once the required APK file is downloaded and ready for download, you can open ARC Welder from the list of extensions in Google Chrome and point to the file. Then you need to choose how to display applications - landscape/portrait mode, smartphone/tablet mode and clipboard access method. Not every Android application will launch this way, and some applications may lose some of their functionality. ARC Welder, unfortunately, currently does not have built-in support for Google Play services (unless you are an application developer and do not have access to the source code), so Google applications and some third-party applications will refuse to work.

Applications or games that run in ARC generally run smoothly. You can get full functionality from Evernote, Instagram and even Flappy Bird. You can only have one application installed in ARC Welder at a time; to launch another application you need to return to the installation dialog.

The application deployment process and the limitation of running only one application at a time create barriers to everyday use of the tool. However, the extension is suitable for the needs of developers and testers, or simply to get acquainted with the capabilities of the mobile platform.

The next easiest way to run Android apps on a PC is to use an Android emulator developed by Google as part of its software development kit (SDK). The emulator can be used to create virtual devices running any version of Android with different screen resolutions and hardware configurations. The first disadvantage of this method is the rather complicated installation and configuration process.

Neither product is perfect - you need devices supported by the tools, such as the Dell XPS 12 in the case of the Intel version or the Lenovo ThinkPad x61 for Android-x86. You can install these environments on top of Windows, but this is not a good idea. The smartest way is to create a separate hard drive partition and install Android on it.

If your PC configuration is not supported by these products, you can try installing them in VirtualBox or VMware virtualization environments, which are faster than the Android emulator. These products may still not be suitable for testing games, but most applications will install and work correctly. You will need to install applications yourself, because... There is no Google Play integration in these products. For help, you can use the instructions on our website - Installing Android in VMware Workstation.

If you're looking for a way to run multiple Android apps and games at once, and it's easy to install and configure, then BlueStacks is your choice. represents one of the easiest ways to launch applications. However, the product uses a highly modified version of Android to run applications. BlueStacks contains a built-in Google Play store, and you have access to all purchased paid applications. The program is added to the list of Google Play devices under the name Galaxy Note II.

A separate BlueStacks window contains a list of applications divided into categories: games, social networks, etc. When searching for an application or clicking on the icon of a specific application, the unexpected happens - the Google Play client in tablet mode is displayed. The user can navigate the interface as they would on a regular Android device, making BlueStacks more than just an “app player.” In fact, the user can install third-party launchers such as Nova or Apex from the app store and select them as the default launcher. The home screen in BlueStacks with app categories is a variant of the home screen. Thus, by replacing it, you can feel like the owner of a real Android device.

Full access to the Google Play store eliminates problems with application deployment, and BlueStacks itself works stably and quickly. You can play most games, but you may have problems using the mouse. If your computer has a touch screen, you will be able to use applications that support multi-touch. BlueStacks can turn a Windows 8 tablet into an Android tablet. The technology used in BlueStacks is called “LayerCake” because Android applications run in a separate layer on top of Windows.

The only drawback of BlueStacks is the use of a modified build of Android. All changes made by the product developer to run Android applications on PC may cause crashes and failures in the application. This modified environment is of little value to developers - there is no guarantee that applications that display and run correctly on BlueStacks will behave the same on a physical device. The service uses a freemium monetization model - you can either pay $2 for a subscription or install several sponsored applications.

Which way is better?

If you want to test an app before installing it on physical devices, Android emulator offers the best way to test the app on your computer first. The product is quite slow, but it is standardized, so the developer can see how the application will behave on a real smartphone or tablet. Porting Android to PC can achieve decent performance, but there may be issues and glitches and it requires compatible hardware.

If you need to get several Android applications on your computer at once, the best solution is BlueStacks App Player. The product provides full access to Google Play, works quickly and supports Windows devices with multi-touch. Don't forget about ARC Welder as a way to run one application at a time. The extension is free and easy to install.

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 there 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 various 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.
This is how the Nox App Player emulator works, which we recommend for running mobile applications and games on Windows, using the Instagram service and other tasks. At the same time, the emulation program works quickly, efficiently, and efficiently. You can complement our review by testing the emulator more fully, for example, running a demanding game with 3D graphics.

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.

The MEmu emulator of the Android operating system has become the most popular program in recent times. Using MEmu, you can open applications designed for gadgets on personal computers, phones, laptops, and tablets, and the performance of the emulating device in games will be many times higher than previous examples of flagship tablets and smartphones. Actually, then you can download the Android emulator in Russian for free on PC WIndows 7, 8, 10 and install the application.

MEmu software was created on the basis of Windows and is intended for various computers. At the moment, the number of users of this application is increasing, and therefore its popularity is growing, which is why engineers were faced with the task of translating the software into all the most commonly used languages ​​in the world, including Russian.

To install the utility, you need the smallest system requirements. The program runs on any version of the operating system, starting with XP3, but the speed of operation is directly proportional to the performance of your PC. It will work faster with a processor that supports virtualization. You also need at least 1 GB of RAM and at least 2 GB of free disk space.

The functional abilities of MEmu have a fairly wide range:

  • the desktop of this program is absolutely identical to that on your device;
  • simple accessible setup and the ability to bind keys to a keyboard or joystick;
  • The function of recording video from the MEMU screen is available;
  • free access to watch TV channels;
  • mode change function;
  • The application has built-in macros;
  • GPS modeling, and in the new update it is possible to use the keyboard to change the GPS speed and detect the coordinates of the IP address, for this you only need to download the GPS adapter;
  • possibility for simultaneous cloning of several Android OS.

It follows that the emulator will simulate the Android OS on a personal computer. Typically, this feature is useful when trying out different programs, but this app also allows you to play your favorite games and run programs that won't open in Windows.

An Android emulator on a Windows PC in Russian allows you to recreate the smartphone software environment directly on your computer.

With the increasing popularity of the Play Market application store, many users have a desire to transfer some of the software to their desktop PCs.

As a result of the emulator, you can use all the functions and programs that are only available on Android.

It is important to choose good software for creating a virtual OS.

Let's look at the top 5 best emulators, which are distinguished by stable operation, clear menus and Russian-language interface.

System requirements

Before you start installing a specific program, you should pay attention to all the features and system requirements that your PC must have.

To be able to create virtual machines, visualization must be enabled in the hardware settings of your device. This option is activated in the BIOS/UEFI menu.

As you already understand, the Android OS will be installed as a virtual machine.

This process takes up a lot of RAM, so you should pay special attention to its quantity. Normally, for stable operation of the emulator you will need at least 4 GB of RAM.

A smaller amount of memory will lead to spontaneous shutdowns or errors in the emulator.

You can view the parameter in the system data window (Window "Notification Center"-“System” -“About the system”):

Rice. 1 – checking the amount of RAM on the computer

Remember, in order for the emulator to be able to correctly display all the graphic settings of the adjacent operating system, you must update all video adapter drivers.

This can be done in the device manager by clicking on the appropriate section. Then perform the automatic upgrade procedure by clicking on "Update configuration".

Rice. 2 – updating video adapter drivers on PC

Now you can start installing the emulator. Choose one of the programs suggested below, based on the needs and characteristics of your work with the Android OS.

Windroy – fast system operation

In the process of its operation, the virtual machine uses all available computer resources (core functionality, RAM).

Windroy independently adjusts the performance mode and is capable of automatically optimizing operation. Thus, this emulator is one of the fastest. However, it will be inconvenient to play “heavy” games on it, because the quality of graphics and sound effects may deteriorate.

The program can be switched to window mode. This function is provided by the developers for more comfortable user interaction with the two systems.

As for the installation process, Windroy needs to be installed in the root folder of your main Windows hard drive.

Placing the emulator image on other disks will result in its inoperability.

Main features of Windroy:

  • Speed ​​of work;
  • Windowed mode support;
  • Intuitive installation interface;
  • Optimal consumption of computer resources.

Rice. 3 – Android emulation using Windroy

Bluestacks - for installing games

Bluestacks was developed as an environment for quickly installing games that are available on the official Play Market. If you want to install a virtual machine on your PC solely for gaming, we recommend choosing Bluestacks.

Thanks to the reduced functions, gaming performance shows better results than other emulators.

The main window of the program displays a list of the most popular gaming applications in the store. To work with integrated Android, you will need a Google+ account.

Bluestacks Features:

  • Excellent game graphics;
  • Convenient work desk;
  • Fast work;
  • Easy installation.

Rice. 4 – main window in the Bluestacks emulator

Andy

The developers of the Andy emulator regularly release new versions of the program, adapting its interface and functionality to different versions of Android firmware.

To install and operate the application correctly, you will need at least three gigabytes of RAM on your main computer.

Your hard drive must have 20 GB of free space.

Unlike the first two representatives of the rating described above, Andy almost 100% replicates the appearance of the popular mobile OS. Users can create multiple desktops, work with files and folders, and install games and applications inside a virtual machine.

Also, Andy allows you to use widgets and live wallpapers. For the most comfortable work, we recommend installing the emulator version 4.2 Jelly Bean.

According to user reviews, it is well adapted for Windows. In older Android firmware, frequent bugs and unexpected failures of saved data may occur.

Andy Emulator Features:

  • Ability to synchronize with your smart device;
  • Supports Multi-Touch option;
  • Pre-installed application store;
  • Access the Windows file system directly from the virtual machine.

Rice. 5 - example desktop in Andy