Top 5 Android Emulators Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Mobile Phones > Android

Top 5 Android Emulators

Run Android apps on your Windows PC or Mac with these emulators

By Nadeem Unuth Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor University of Mauritius Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Android Switching from iOS You can install and run Android apps on your computer with the help of an emulator. We tested all of the best Android emulators for Windows and Mac, including portable Android emulators like Bliss OS, in order to help you choose one that best fits your needs. There are multiple versions of Android. Make sure your emulator can run the appropriate version for the apps you want to use. 01 of 05

Play Android Games on Your Computer and TV BlueStacks

BlueStacks What We Like Easy to download and install. Versions of the app exist for both Windows and Mac. Has a sibling app for playing Android games on TV sets. What We Don't Like The interface is not the same Android UI you'd normally have on a mobile device. Doesn't allow you to access your computer’s file system. BlueStacks is one of the most popular Android emulators. It's free, easy to set up, and available for both major operating systems. It's most notable feature is the ability to cast to your TV so that you can play mobile games on a big screen. There are some interface and performance issues, but BlueStack is an overall stable program that allows you to run Android apps smoothly on your computer. Download BlueStacks 02 of 05

Official Android Emulator for Developers Android Studio

Google What We Like Part of a suite of Android development tools. Emulates the latest versions of Android. Extensive documentation and community support. What We Don't Like Barebones emulator. Aimed at power users. Only available for Windows (No Mac version). Android has an official emulator for Windows that is part of the Android development kit. It includes a few pre-installed apps such as the phone dialer and messaging app. Android Studio is designed for developers to test and debug Android apps, so casual users probably won't need all of the extra tools that come with it. Download Android Studio 03 of 05

Emulate Android in Google Chrome ARChon

What We Like Use Android apps in your web browser. Works on any operating system. What We Don't Like More difficult to set up than other emulators. Not all app features are supported. ARChon is a Google Chrome extension that runs Android apps and games in the Chrome browser. Setting it up requires you to enable developer mode on Chrome, and you may have to convert certain apps to get them working, so carefully read the instructions on GitHub before you begin. Download ARChon 04 of 05

Best Portable Android Emulator Bliss OS

Bliss ROMs What We Like Take your Android emulator with you to use on any PC. Works with Windows, Linux, and Chromebooks. What We Don't Like Set up process is a little tedious if you've never set up a virtual machine. Not compatible with Mac. Bliss is a portable Android emulator, which means that you can carry it around on a USB drive. That way, you can use it on different computers running different operating systems. It's especially useful for developers or anyone who works on multiple devices. Download Bliss OS 05 of 05

Best Multiplatform Emulator VirtualBox

What We Like Runs any version of Android. Emulates other operating systems like Linux. What We Don't Like Requires more set up than most emulators. Limited extra features. VirtualBox is capable of emulating almost any operating system. Since it can emulate any version of Android, you can run just about any app. It's especially ideal for developers who work on various platforms, but it might be overkill if all you want is a simple Android emulator. Download VirtualBox Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Windows 11 How to Use Snapchat on PC APK File (What It Is and How to Open One) How to Use Google Home App on Your Mac The 5 Best Android Emulators for Mac in 2022 How to Run Android Apps on Windows 10 How to Use BlueStacks to Run Android Apps on Windows How to Install Android on Your PC Without an Emulator 4 Best Free Memory Test Programs (October 2022) The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2022 How to Use Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons on PC How to Use BlueStacks on Mac How to Set up a Windows XP Emulator for Windows 10 15 Best Free Remote Access Software Tools (Oct. 2022) 14 Best Free Hard Drive Testing Tools (October 2022) How to Install the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies