Genymotion works well for exploring Android's settings and other built-in features, though I wouldn’t necessarily use it to run individual apps, as it just doesn’t integrate as well with your PC as something like BlueStacks. (Genymotion does support Android versions from 4.4 all the way up to 10.0, though.) It just determines the resolution and specs of the virtual machine. Also, no matter which template you choose, you won't get any custom versions of Android-picking the Samsung Galaxy S10 template, for example, won't get you Samsung's One UI. Note that you'll start with a very barebones version of Android that doesn't even come with many of Google’s apps or modern features, though you can add the Play Store by clicking the 'Open Gapps' icon in the sidebar to install it. You'll be able to navigate around the home screen, launch apps, and emulate certain events like GPS location. Install the template you want and double-click it to enter Android. When you start Genymotion, it'll present you with a list of device templates you can install-this determines the screen resolution, Android version, and resources allotted to the emulator. (And like BlueStacks, you'll want to enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V from your computer's BIOS if you have it.) Install it like you would any other Windows program, ensuring you select the version for 'Personal Use' during the wizard. Genymotion uses VirtualBox to emulate Android, so you'll either need to have VirtualBox installed on your PC or download the version with VirtualBox bundled. Its main product is designed for developers and costs money to use, but there is a free version of the software you can download for personal use you just need to create an account on the website first. If you're looking to explore the Android operating system itself-rather than individual apps-Genymotion is a decent emulator. Emulate Full Android Experience With Genymotion (This is particularly useful given that BlueStacks is fairly resource-intensive, as many virtual machines are.)īlueStacks does, unfortunately, come with some ads and clutter, but it's not as intrusive as it once was, and it's a small price to pay for the functionality you get-especially considering it uses Android 7.1 as its base, which is higher than most alternatives on the market. You can also adjust the resolution, DPI, FPS, and amount of CPU or RAM allocated to the emulator, ensuring you get the best balance between speed and graphical fidelity. BlueStacks comes with built-in mappings for your mouse and keyboard, which you can customize to the touch controls you find on different Android games.

Just double-click an icon to run the app in question.īlueStacks is great for apps that don't have corresponding desktop apps, but the emulator really shines when it comes to games. It doesn't mimic a traditional Android launcher, but you do get access to the Play Store to download any apps you want-they'll appear on BlueStacks' home screen and on your Windows desktop as their own shortcuts. It'll take up about 2GB of space on your computer (plus any apps you download), and when it launches, you'll be greeted with its customized home screen. Since it uses virtualization to emulate Android, you'll want to jump into your computer's BIOS and enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V, if your computer supports it, for best performance.ĭownload and install BlueStacks as you would any other Windows or Mac application. Over the years, it's become the best Android app emulator around, and it's packed with features that ensure your apps and games run smoothly. If you're just looking to run a couple apps and don't need the emulator to look like Android, you should try BlueStacks. But for quick access to Android apps you already have installed, it definitely works in a pinch. If you’re looking to play games, this may come with some delay and graphical blurriness, and you won’t be able to easily share files from your PC directly to an app in Android. At the time of writing, this feature is only available in Windows 10’s Insider Previews, but it should make its way to the mass-released version of Windows soon. Microsoft is working on expanding this feature even further, with the ability to pin Android apps on your taskbar and launch them individually, as long as your phone and computer are connected. Best Malware Removal and Protection Software.

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