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Android's awarding ecosystem has proven to be versatile and developer-friendly after a bit of a slow kickoff. Y'all are free to develop an app for Android and publish it to the Play Store with Google'south restrictions, or yous can distribute information technology yourself outside the Play Store. This has led to a plethora of cool Android apps, some of which aren't available on iOS or other platforms. Even in this age of giant phones, you might occasionally want to use those apps on a bigger screen, similar the ane connected to your Windows PC. Fortunately, with a little leg piece of work, you can run Android apps on a PC. There are a few different ways to go most it, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Android Studio

I popular way to go Android apps running on a PC is to go through the Android emulator released by Google as office of the official Android Studio. The emulator can exist used to create virtual devices running any version of Android you want with different resolutions and hardware configurations. The first downside of this process is the somewhat complicated setup process.

Android Studio

You'll need to grab the installer from Google's site and run through the setup process to download the platforms yous want — probably whatsoever the most 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 can fix the parameters manually, as well. One time you've booted your virtual device, you'll need to get apps installed, but the emulator is the bone stock open source version of Android — no Google apps included.

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

The large upside here is that the emulator is unmodified Android right from the source. The way apps render in the emulator will exist the aforementioned as they render on devices, and almost everything should run. It'due south great for testing app builds before loading them onto exam devices. The biggest problem is that the emulator is sluggish enough that you won't want to make a addiction of running apps in it. Games are out of the question as well.

BlueStacks

If you're looking to get multiple apps and games up and running on your calculator with the minimum of try, BlueStacks is your friend. BlueStacks presents itself every bit just a style to go apps working, just it actually runs a full (heavily modified) version of Android backside the scenes. Not only that, just it has the Play Store built-in, so you lot have instant access to all of your purchased content. It actually adds an entry to your Google Play device list, masquerading as an Android phone.

The BlueStacks client will load upward in a desktop window with different app categories like games, social, and so on. Clicking on an app or searching does something unexpected — it brings up the total Play Store customer equally rendered on tablets. You can actually navigate effectually in this interface but as yous would on a existent Android device, which makes it clear there's a lot more to BlueStacks than the "App Player" forepart end. The primary screen in BlueStacks with the app categories is just a custom home screen, so replacing it makes BlueStacks feel almost like a regular Android device.

Having full Play Store access means yous won't be messing effectually with sideloading apps, and BlueStacks manages to run apps pretty well (and better if yous have a CPU that supports hardware virtualization). Most games are playable, but keep in mind you'll take trouble operating many of them with a mouse. If your PC has a touch screen, you can nonetheless use apps and games that rely on more than one touch input. BlueStacks can substantially make a Windows tablet PC into a part-time Android tablet.

The biggest issue with BlueStacks is that it's not running a standard Android build. All the alterations the company made to get apps working on a PC tin can cause problems — some apps fail to run or crash unexpectedly. This customized environment is also of little value as a development tool because at that place'south no guarantee things will render the aforementioned on BlueStacks as they might on a real Android device without all the back-cease modifications. It'south also a freemium service with a $2 pro subscription, or yous tin install a few sponsored apps.

Link to Windows

Some Android phones (mostly Samsung devices) have enhanced support for Microsoft's Your Phone Windows client, offer access to your letters, 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 nosotros've talked well-nigh is a bit of a hack or not for regular users, merely you tin be upwards and running with Link to Windows in a few minutes.

You volition demand a phone that works with the latest Your Telephone features. That includes the Samsung Milky way S9 and newer, as well as the Microsoft Surface Duo. The feature will expand to more phones in the future, though.

First, make certain you lot've got the Your Phone app on your Windows PC. Adjacent, launch the Link to Windows customer on your Samsung phone — it should be accessible under Advanced Features and from the quick settings. Yous'll accept to scan a QR lawmaking on your estimator with the phone and sign into your Microsoft account. And that's it.

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

Then What's the Best Way?

If you need to exam something with the intention of putting it on other Android devices, the emulator is withal the all-time style. This is all-time suited to developers as the configuration and direction of apps is complicated. It's slow, only yous'll be able to see how things will work on the real bargain. If you're interested in getting more a handful of apps running on your PC then you tin can actually use and bask them, BlueStacks App Player is the best solution for nigh people. It's like shooting fish in a barrel, has Play Shop admission, and works on multitouch Windows devices.

If yous happen to accept a phone compatible with Microsoft'due south latest Your Phone features, that's by far the easiest fashion to get Android apps on your PC. Many of these phones are expensive, so it's not worth buying one just for this single employ case. However, if you're due for an upgrade and running Android apps on a PC is on your listing of priorities, this might influence your decision. I still don't think you should buy the Surface Duo, though.

At present read:

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