An application for running Android applications on a PC. The best Android OS emulator programs for your computer. Bluestacks is a great Android emulator on PC for gamers

What is it needed for ? The first thing that comes to mind is that developers need such programs. But often ordinary users also use emulators. This is due to the fact that there are a number of ecosystems, games and applications that were developed only for the Android platform and are not available for Windows. In order to be able to run your favorite programs on your PC, you need to install a suitable emulator. Let’s talk about the latter in more detail, which ones exist and which one to choose depending on the user’s needs.

I would like to draw your attention to the situation with some games. For example, to play pubg mobile on a computer, it is recommended to use the official emulator, which is already fully configured for easy control and easy installation of the game on your PC. For using a third-party Android emulator, there is a possibility of sanctions being imposed on your account.

Gaming BlueStacks 3

The emulator that comes to mind first when talking about such programs. Some users sincerely believe that this is the only program capable of simulating Android on Windows. It is worth noting that the developers are constantly improving the application. Over time, the product began to be positioned as a program capable of high-quality support for mobile platform games.

The emulator has an extensive software library, and all applications and games in the catalog are specially optimized. Therefore, there are guarantees that they will function correctly on the computer. Some programs are built into the emulator interface. It is important to understand that installing applications from third-party resources cannot guarantee full functionality.

All necessary functions are implemented:

• change screen orientation;
• imitation shaking;
• screenshots;
• GPS;
• simplified work with files.

The disadvantages of this application include a cumbersome interface and low performance. In addition, this emulator requires appropriate characteristics from the PC itself, and on weaker devices it may not support most applications.

Download BlueStacks 3 from the official website

It has wide functionality, but an overloaded interface. An excellent program for creating a full-fledged Android device based on Windows. Perfectly compatible with almost all applications available on Google Play. The internal memory, which is emulated by the device, is quite capacious, which allows you not to worry about its shortage. It features high performance, Multi-Touch support and the ability to control from a smartphone.

The application is suitable for both ordinary users and mobile program developers. The former will appreciate the ability to run the most demanding games, while the latter will be able to qualitatively test their own development.

The internal interface also completely replicates the Android device. For correct operationAndroid emulator on PCrequires at least 2 GB of RAM and a processor that supports visualization.

You can download Droid4X on the developers' website.

Genymotion is a developer's dream

Fast and recognized as one of the bestAndroid emulators on PC. The best program for testing new mobile applications, which is why it is very popular among developers. But this does not mean that the program is not suitable for users who are not involved in creating and testing new applications.

The emulator is compatible not only with Windows, but also with Mac OS or Linux. For Genymotion to work as correctly as possible, you need pre-installed VirtualBox. The program is freely available, but has functionality available for a fee. The second version of the program has much more extensive capabilities and is suitable for large development companies.

The disadvantages include the lack of a Russified version and the inability to emulate a voice call. The program has a lot of advantages, it is important that this is the fastest emulator of all available, it emulates WiFi, GPRS, 3G, LTE, rear and front cameras, flashes, changes IMEI and much more.

In general, the application differs little from its analogues; it does not have a Russian-language interface, but has open ROOT rights. PossibilitiesAndroid emulator on PC, the following:

• setting up a mouse and keyboard to simulate a sensor;
• change screen orientation;
• imitation of geodata;
• recording video content in avi format;
• ability to take a screenshot;
• video screen capture;
• using a virtual camera;
• changing screen resolution;
• installing applications from the Market;
• installation of third-party programs.

A browser is installed by default in the emulator, which simplifies the search for programs and applications; in addition, there is a directory with free optimized applications. KoPlayer allows the user to independently set the necessary parameters of the Android device, for example, the amount of RAM. The application is worthy of praise for being able to work correctly even on low-power PCs.

A product of Chinese developers that appeared not so long ago, but has already gained popularity among active users of such programs. According to the manufacturer, the emulator is one of the most stable and powerful offerings among existing competitors. Supported by all processors, even AMD. At the same time, it is freely available and completely free.

The Nox APP Player interface resembles the functional Genymotion. Moreover, some points are borrowed from Droid4X, this is clearly seen in the keyboard customization options, but gyroscope adjustments are added. The application also allows you to set the desired parameters of the Android device that you want to imitate.

To install the emulator you need:

• XP/Vista/7/8/10;
• processor with visualization support;
• RAM from 512 MB;
• with OpenGL 2.0 and higher;
• gigabytes of free disk space.

Based on its characteristics, Nox APP Player can be an excellent alternative to emulators suitable for developing and testing applications. However, it has one huge advantage - it is free.

Download Nox APP Player from the official website.

Andy - simple and clear

A simple and convenient emulator designed to run simple programs. It is far from gaming applications, because it simply cannot handle the heavy games of modern gadgets. Otherwise, the emulator is quite good. There are no special bells and whistles in it, everything is extremely simple and no frills.

All simple applications can be launched without problems through this emulator. Available functions:

• GPS simulation;
• access to microphone and webcam;
• full screen mode.

The downside of the application is the presence of intrusive advertising. This is the only emulator with this feature.

MEMU - gaming

Development is focused on mobile games. A special feature of the emulator is gamepad support and a keyboard layout tailored to game features (you can bind keys to on-screen buttons). It is worth noting that such capabilities are clearly lacking in the leading gaming application that simulates an Android device.

It handles heavy games well, but the graphics quality in full-screen mode leaves much to be desired. There is root access and a good catalog of optimized games.

This is not a complete list and whatbetter depends on the situation and purpose of its use. In any case, all the developments presented above are worthy of the user’s attention and will find application depending on the need for installation.

Nowadays, technology has advanced so much that it no longer seems fantastic to run a full-fledged PC game on your pocket device. But each of you would like to play in or anywhere. Do you think it's unrealistic? But no! All this is possible now, for this you just need a stable and fast Internet...

Well, I think it’s worth starting with what we have 2 ways. First ask yourself: do you need all this? I warn you, you will have to tinker! Now you need to decide what you want to run in your pocket. Already a cult classic or modern heavy games?

For the first method, a special application called ExaGear , as well as the game distribution. This is all! Below you will see more details about the launch of the classic.

With the second method, everything is not so clear. Let me make a reservation right away, the essence of the alternative method is streaming from your PC. That is, you have full control of your computer, but with Android or iOS devices. To do this, we will need, again, a special application - KinoConsole , and also stable Internet both at the output and at the reception. Take this into account!

1) Launch of the good old classics:

It’s worth clarifying which classic we are talking about. We will launch step by step and, for example: Might & Magic Heroes III, Sid Meier's Civilization III, Disciples II, Fallout 1/2 and many others.

There are 2 versions of this application – ExaGear Strategies for launching strategies, as well as ExaGear RPG– to run RPG games. They differ only in the controls adapted to special games. In this case, IOS devices are no longer needed, because There is simply no application for the system! Check out the system requirements and proceed to the guide itself:

System requirements:

Android 4+

Processor ARM v7 (neon)
P.S. Processors Intel, that is x86 are not supported!

Guide to launching games via ExaGear:
1. Download ExaGear Strategies or ExaGear RPG, depending on the selected game, from the application store Google.
2. After installing the application, connect your smartphone to your PC and move the unpacked game distribution to the folder ExaGear(it is at the root).
3. Disconnect your phone and launch the application. You should automatically see the executable .exe file. Click on it, select controls and go!

1602 Anno: Creation of a New World
Age of Empires 1
Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings & The Conquerors
Age of Japan
Age Of Wonders
Agharta: The Hollow Earth
Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy
Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal
Blood Omen: Legacy Of Kain
Caesar III
Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now!
Civilization II: Test Of Time
Clans
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun & Firestorm
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Counter-Strike 1.6
Cultures: The Discovery of Vinland
Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard
Cultures 3: Northland
Cultures 4: 8th Wonder of the World
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Deus Ex
Diablo Alpha
Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction
Disciples I: Sacred Lands
Divine Divinity: Birth of a Legend
Dragonfire: The Well of Souls
East Front II:Fall of the Reich
Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
Enemy Infestation
Extreme Tactics
F-16 Multirole Fighter
Fallout 1.2
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
Fallout Tactics
Fallout: Nevada
Fallout 2
Fallout 2 Restoration Project
Full Throttle
Jagged Alliance 2: Gold Pack
Half Life Day One
Half-Life
Half-Life by GFOXSH
Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic 2
Heroes of Might and Magic 4
Hexplore
High Orbit Ion Cannon
Home world
Kingdom Under Fire
Imperialism II
Lamentation Sword
Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader
Lords of the Realm II
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and eXploration Gold
Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim
Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares
Midtown Madness
Might and Magic VI,VII,VIII
NOX
Pajama Sam
Panzer General 2
Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain
Postal
Quake I, Quake II
Railroad Tycoon 2
Rising Lands
Risk 2
Planescape: Torment
Sam & Max: Hit The Road
Sanitarium
Savage Wheels
Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator
Shadow Flare
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Space Clash: The Last Frontier
Squad Battles: Advance of the Reich
Star Wars: Rebellion
StarCraft
Stronghold
Stronghold: Crusader Extreme
Submarine Titans
Sudden Strike 3
Sudden Strike 4
The Neverhood
The Settlers IV
Throne of darkness
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms & The Iron Plague
Traffic Giant / Transport giant
Tropico
Unreal Gold
Unreal Tournament
WarCraft 2: Battle.net Edition
Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War
Zeus: Master of Olympus
Allods: Seal of Mystery
Allods 2: Lord of Souls
Pilot Brothers - All in One
Pilot Brothers 3D: The Case of Garden Pests
Pilot Brothers: The Case of a Serial Maniac
Pilot Brothers: Olympics
Zlatogorye
How to get a neighbor 1, 2 (Neighbors from Hell 1, 2)
Prince: Legends of the Forest Country
Morhuhn Jones and the Last Chicken March

The advantage of this method is that everything is processed right in your hands. That is, there will be no delays, offline play is also possible. The only thing worth saying about the controls: they are not very convenient, you will have to get used to them, but I think if you are a fan of turn-based strategies, then you are a fairly diligent and patient person, so you will be able to do it. There is also support for online games, multiplayer totally works!

Details about control options, errors and the emulator itself can be found on the website 4pda.ru. Thanks to the site for the information provided, where you can ask questions to the developers. The authors of the applications are Russian guys, so support them by purchasing the full version of the application!

2) Launch absolutely any game:

Here the application will help us KinoConsole , with the help of it we will stream from a PC to our pocket “bucket”. This time the method is suitable for all platforms, even WindoFon owners are not left out!

You must understand that for a good game you need a very stable and fast Internet connection, about 10 MB/sec at least. If the PC and phone are on the same WiFi network, then everything will just fly. And to play over long distances you will need LTE! This time, system requirements are not needed, but only a computer is needed on which the games will run.

Guide to launching games via KinoConsole:
1. Download the application for your device: Android, iOS, WindowsPhone.
2. Download and install a special server for PC: KinoConsole_1_44.exe
3. Launch the PC server and set it up: enter a password to access from your phone, log into your Google account, turn off VR (so you can control it with your fingers).
4. Open the application on your smartphone; if you are on the same WiFi network, the computer will find it automatically. If you are far away, then log into your Google account and open the additional menu in the settings. Click on it "Connect to..." and enter your external IP address.
5. After connecting, you will see a list of games installed on your computer. Let's launch any of them.

The advantage of this method is that you can launch and play anything you want. There is direct control of your PC, there is a separate application from the same developers to control your desktop directly. By combining them you can get a powerful tool.

P.S. For control, the program emulates gamepad connections, so control on the smartphone is configured as a gamepad. To do this, open the additional menu and look at the corresponding item for setting up the controls. You can also open a menu of hot keys and some settings by pressing anywhere on the screen with three fingers at the same time.

There are other analogues of this program - Kainy is one of them. Management in this program is more convenient, because... The keyboard layout on the screen is configured, not the gamepad. The principle of operation is exactly the same, but it is more difficult to operate: preparation for connection takes longer. With a WiFI connection everything works very well, but when working via LTE everything is much worse than with KinoConsole, that’s why I took this software as a basis.

I would like to summarize by saying that cloud services are now actively developing, which also use the streaming function, but no longer from your PC. There will definitely be no restrictions here, and especially on the cusp of the fifth generation network (5G). They have already been announced, we just have to wait until they reach Russia.

You must understand that both methods are imperfect. Errors and bugs are possible, I warned you that you will have to tinker. The mobile market has made a huge leap forward over the past 5 years, and processors that can compete with full-fledged PC processors are already appearing.

It’s also not yet clear what they’re preparing for us Rockstar this year - for several years in a row they have been steadily releasing new parts of mobile phones. However, all sorts of ports have already been made, the only ones that remain are , and not every processor can handle such games. So we are waiting for a smartphone more powerful than your calculator in the near future!

These are the ways we moved our PC into our pocket.

Try both methods and write your impressions in the comments!

2.Bluestacks

One of the most convenient options for running Android games on a computer. If you want Android just to play games on its platform, then this is your choice. A very convenient emulation, which is aimed only at running Android games and applications on a PC. But there is no Android OS environment itself, there is only its own GUI with shortcuts for the games that you have installed and Android only gives you the opportunity to play its games.

The Bluestacks emulator is easy to install and configure, so we won’t explain anything more. If you encounter any questions regarding the emulator, please visit its official website.

3.Android SDK

The Android SDK software is a game developer tool, which, of course, provides the ability to run any application for it on Android. But there is one big BUT in the operation of this system. The Android SDK is an extremely sluggish system that takes from 5 to 30 minutes to load, and the performance of the Android OS itself leaves much to be desired. It is for this reason that using the system is highly discouraged, but we present it here as a possible option.

If you still decide to use the Android SDK, then download it from the official page and start using it.

4.WindowsAndroid (Windroy)

The Android emulation environment WindowsAndroid is a pretty good job, combining the complete “inner world” of the Android OS, with all its settings and default programs. The emulator may be a little more unstable than BlueStacks, but it is a full emulation of the operating system. You can download the latest version of the emulator from the official website of the developer.

5. Android for PC + VirtualBox

And finally the turn has come to the last popular way to launch Android on your Windows OS. The whole point is to use a special Android for PC, which was discussed in the adjacent material, and VirtualBox, which will allow you to seamlessly install any operating system inside a running OS; in this case, you will need to install Android.

However, if you liked the option of using Android for PC more than its emulation, then just do everything as described in the material about it.

It would seem, why emulate the Android mobile operating system on a computer if you are not a developer? There are plenty of reasons for this, and one of them is the huge ecosystem of applications and games that are created specifically for Android, but are not present on Windows, Linux or OS X. What to do if you want to continue playing Clash of Clans on your computer or upload a high-quality photo to Instagram from PC? Of course, you should resort to the help of emulators. The best of them are presented in this article.

Bluestacks - all in one

One of the most popular and fast-growing Android emulators for Windows and OS X. With update 2.0, the emulator has literally changed - a fresh, but sometimes overloaded interface has appeared, the developers have begun to position Bluestacks more as an opportunity to play Android games and have added several useful functions for this.

Most programs and games are compatible with Bluestacks - as the developers themselves say, and in general the software library for the emulator is quite extensive. It is worth noting that all games and applications in the Bluestacks internal catalog are specially optimized, that is, they will definitely work on the computer. If you install a third-party APK file, then its correct operation, of course, is not guaranteed. Some programs are completely built into the emulator and work almost out of the box, for example Instagram. All the functions characteristic of an emulator are present: changing the screen orientation, simulating shaking, creating screenshots, GPS emulation, convenient work with files - dragging and dropping from Windows Explorer or Finder OS X into the program, copying / pasting, as well as sound control.

You can easily switch between open applications and games using tabs, just like in a browser. Among other things, games now support gamepads. If Bluestacks has any shortcomings, then they probably include only low performance and sometimes an overly cumbersome interface. You can download Bluestacks for Windows and OS X on Trashbox or on the official website of the emulator.

Nox App Player - convenient and functional

It is a more minimalistic, convenient and functional solution. Compared to the same Bluestacks, Nox does not have any cumbersome menus with recommendations, various synchronizations with your own account, and other functionality that will be superfluous for most users. When you launch Nox App Player, the user will see the familiar Android desktop with a sidebar where there are quick function buttons, as well as the familiar “Home”, “Back” and “Recents”. The developers decided to remove the bottom bar with control buttons to save space.

One distinctive feature is immediately noticeable - when running applications that only work in portrait orientation, the emulator screen and window are adjusted. That is, there will be no situations like in Bluestacks, where portrait programs take up ¼ of the screen and the rest is empty space. By the way, in the settings you can adjust the window size and orientation, as well as performance, allocating processor cores and memory.

Geeks in Nox App Player will be pleased with the function of receiving by switching one toggle switch in the settings. You can also set custom keyboard shortcuts here. Even without rooting, Nox App Player can record screen videos. This might not even be mentioned if the emulator used a fresh version of Android (video recording is available from 5.0), but, unfortunately, the Nox developers are stuck with 4.4.2 KitKat for now.

Nox App Player is not the best for games - many display graphics incorrectly. The emulator is more tailored for applications and working with them. For example, to create videos and beautiful screenshots without upper and lower bars. The emulator is also integrated with the Windows 10 notification system. You can download the Nox App Player emulator for Windows on Trashbox and the official website of the project.

Genymotion - for developers

Genymotion is an emulator designed specifically for Android game and application developers, but it can also be used by ordinary people. Unlike the two previous emulators, Genymotion is present on all three popular desktop platforms - Windows, OS X and Linux.

Since Genymotion is an alternative to the emulator built into the Android SDK, templates for a wide variety of Android devices are available in it - from smartphones and tablets of the Nexus line to some little-known budget devices. The emulator of each device has a set of relevant characteristics: screen size and resolution, processor and video chip, battery, GPS and support for cellular networks, as well as some others. When you launch an application or game in the emulator, you can call up a special panel to control all these device parameters. For example, you can find out how the program behaves when GPS or the Internet is turned off. Also, device parameters can be freely edited.

For ordinary users who would like to play and use mobile applications on a computer, Genymotion is not very suitable, but for geeks it is quite suitable. You can download the Genymotion emulator for Windows, Linux and OS X on the official website of the project.

MEMU - for games

It is another emulator focused mainly on mobile games. There is a special keyboard layout for them and even gamepad emulation. For example, you can bind keyboard keys to on-screen buttons. Such features are often missing from Bluestacks, which is also positioned as a mobile gaming platform for PC. Otherwise, MEmu is a standard emulator with a good set of features.

At the time of writing this article, MEmu does not use the latest version of Android - 4.4.2 KitKat, but Lollipop or even Marshmallow are not particularly needed in emulators, because most software is optimized specifically for KitKat. Among the interesting additional features of MEmu are: sending applications from a computer to a smartphone or tablet for quick installation, convenient change of screen orientation, as well as a full-screen mode for games. The picture quality in the latter often leaves much to be desired, but still. Surprisingly, most of the “heavy” games in MEmu are emulated well - there are no problems with graphics.

Among the popular Android OS emulators, Koplayer stands out significantly. It takes up little space and surprises with its speed even on a weak computer. With this program you can create many virtual copies and use several accounts at once in your favorite games.

In general, this program is similar to other representatives of android simulators. In Koplayer, you can customize your keyboard and mouse to fully simulate touch controls, which is its main advantage. It is also good because it is optimized for old and new PCs.

The main disadvantage is its closed source code and the lack of a portable version. For ordinary users, these disadvantages are not critical.

Koplayer is a great solution for those who need an uncluttered android emulator without any add-ons or skins. In terms of functionality, it is not inferior, and in some cases even surpasses its analogues. There is a function for installing applications both from the official Play Market and simply from an Apk file. In both cases, you need to link your Google account. Standard features include:

• Setting window sizes;
• Interaction with sensors such as accelerometer and GPS;
• Control by pressing keyboard and mouse keys;
• Saving settings for different games.

The built-in screen capture feature eliminates the need to use third-party programs to capture the gameplay. The resulting video will be saved in AVI format.

Emulator interface

All the necessary options are located in a row on the left side of the screen. To the right of them are the control buttons. The volume switch, as well as full-screen mode, are located at the very bottom of the panel.

There are 7 main functions in total:

1. Assigning actions to hot keys;
2. Changing position from horizontal to vertical;
3. Screenshot;
4. Shared folder for the computer and the emulator;
5. Turn on the webcam;
6. Location settings;
7. Record video from the monitor screen;
8. Installation of Apk file.

If desired, the panel can be configured so that it is only visible when you hover over it.

Koplayer system requirements

To run the program, you will need components in the mid-price category or higher.

• Processor with a clock frequency of 2000 Mh, for example AMD Opteron-175 Denmark or Intel Pentium E2200;
• More than 2 GB of free hard disk space;
• RAM (RAM) of at least 2048 MB for Win 7,8.1,10. For Win XP SP3 at least 1024 MB;
• A video card with at least 512 MB of video memory;
• OS Windows XP SP3,7,8.1,10
• Video accelerator support for OpenGL 2.0 is required;

If your processor supports virtualization technology, then koplayer will work much faster.

Performance

The developers claim that the koplayer emulator is more productive than other emulators due to low system load, as well as maximum use of computer resources. Its startup time takes an average of 15 seconds, while other emulators take at least 30 seconds to load. Most demanding games run at a stable 60 frames per second.

In what ways is it inferior to competitors?

Unfortunately, all versions of koplayer have several significant disadvantages:

1. There is no option to switch to Russian;
2. Lack of multi-window mode;
3. Open applications are not grouped in tabs at the top;
4. Also, the emulator is not able to work with some games (Despicable Me, Pot Farm - Grass Roots).

Instructions: How to install the Koplayer emulator on your PC?

Installing the program will not cause difficulties even for an inexperienced PC user, and will take very little time.

Download and run the KoPlayer installation file. Run the installer and allocate a few GB of hard drive space to store the emulator files, and wait for the download to complete. You will then be asked to select a video rendering method. The developers recommend the very first one on the list, as it shows better performance.

You will learn more about Koplayer and its functions from the video below.

It shows step-by-step installation instructions and an overview of all the emulator's functions. The author demonstrates the program's capabilities using the example of the DC Legends game.

Important! If you increase the processor power in the settings, most applications will run faster.

Features of the program

For all the existing shortcomings, there are several useful functions that you will not find in all Android emulators.

• Creating additional copies of the program to use several accounts simultaneously;
• Convenient desktop and folders for sorting downloaded programs;
• Built-in application store;
• Extensive performance settings;
• Built-in superuser rights (Root).

Thanks to its impressive functionality and high speed, koplayer can seriously compete with emulators such as or. If the presence of the Russian language and multi-window mode is not particularly important to you, then this program will be the best solution.