Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
! scope="col"|USB Link
|style="text-align:center;"|[[andyroid]]|style!colspan="text-align:center;7"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|[http:Abandoned//andyroid.net/ Official Site]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|Mid|style="text-align:center;"|✓Discontinued
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Windroy]]ARC Welder (Google Chrome)|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwdeveloper.windroyechrome.com/index_engapps/getstarted_arc 50.html 15021.2602.0] (Official Site)|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|LowMid|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}
! scope="col"|NameXamarin Android Player! scope="col"|OSWindows, Mac! scope="col"|Version[https://developer.xamarin.com/releases/android/android-player/ 0.6.5]! scope="col"|Free{{✗}}! scope="col"|USB LinkVirtualBox! scope="col"|VM?! scope="col"|[[Accuracy]]! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]{{✗}}
|style="text-align:center;"|Project Astoria|style="text-align:center;"|Windows 10 Mobile|style="text-align:center;"|Discontinued|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|Low|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}
* '''Genymotion''' is an ;MEmu:A free Android emulator with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and USB host support, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. In its latest versions, it has pretty very good compatibility with commercial games. It's a commercial product thoughaccuracy, aimed at software developers and QA teams. You'll need to create an account and download the free non-commercial use license available. Except for pay-to-remove "free for personal use" watermark on the screen, paid builds add features only useful for Android app developers.**Setting up the emulator itself is not too hard, but a bit of tinkering is required to add the Google Play store and [http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2528952 ARM processor emulation] (what you need essentially here to play the commercial releases) as well as [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/genymotion-users/JpO8HR39PR0/NpSkrnsB8d8J Xbox 360 controller support]. Not noob-friendly, but if you're experienced enough with Android to know your way around a rooted filesystem it shouldn't be too hardsometimes outperforming Bluestacks.
* ''';Droid4xA free Android emulator with very good accuracy, sometimes outperforming Bluestacks''' is also commercial .Has good accuracy but forcefully uninstalls VirtualBox, so it cannot co-exist with a free option (no account required)Genymotion and Xamarin. It's less good than Genymotionnot recommended because it will install hidden background services (xunlei.exe, and doesn't handle USB cable emulationThunder. Previous versions used to come with an installer with adwareexe, comes with junk apps within both by the Chinese company which developed Droid4x) in the emulator, background seeding Chinese torrents constantly and has they are a non-intuitive uninstaller, but that's no longer the pain to uninstall or deactivate (in case today. It includes Google Apps by default, though you'll need to "root" ve already fallen for it to load apk files to your liking, use Revo Uninstaller).
* ;andyroid:It works too, though the company behind it did adware before previously. Just like Genymotion, Andyroid also use VirtualBox, but with a twist: if it detects an installed virtualbox during installation, '''Droid4xit will delete it''' has good accuracy but forcefully uninstalls VirtualBox, so it cannot co-exist with Genymotion and Xamarinwill refuse to work.Beware!
* '''andyroid''' works too;DuOS:Not to be confused with a [http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ similarly-named Nintendo DS emulator] by Roor, though is a relative newcomer to the company Android emulation market, made by American Megatrends i.e. the very same people behind it did adware before previouslythe BIOS/UEFI firmware your PC may be using.**Just like GenymotionEmulation is modest at best, Andyroid also use VirtualBox, but with a twist: if games and apps such as [[DraStic]] struggling on lower-end hardware. And to top it detects an installed virtualbox during installationall off, '''it will delete itain''' and will refuse to workt free either. Beware!
* ;Google Chrome:Can open apk files using the ARC Welder extension, though their emulation on PC is average at best. Here'''DuOS''', not to be confused with s a [http://ds-duosdocs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iIbxaftAu_ho5rv9fUlXSLTzwU6MbKOldsWXyrYiyo8/edit#gid=0 compatibility list] and a [https://www.blogspotreddit.com/ similarlyr/chromeapks dedicated subreddit]. Google has announced [http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/05/the-play-store-comes-to-chrome-os-but-not-the-way-we-were-named Nintendo DS emulatorexpecting/ Play Store for Chrome OS] by Roor, but it works on a different "container" technology that is a relative newcomer embed to the Android emulation marketChrome OS. In addition, made by American Megatrends iGoogle will [http://blog.echromium. the very same people behind the BIOSorg/2016/08/UEFI firmware your PC may be usingfrom-chrome-apps-to-web. Emulation is modest at best, with games and html discontinue Google Chrome apps such as [[DraSticon PC]] struggling on lower-end hardware. And , so any major updates to top it all off, it ain't free eitherARC Welder for PC is unlikely.
* Recently, ;Windroy:(Without the 'e'suffix) is a fast Android emulator that does not rely on VirtualBox or any similar technology. It isn't accurate though. While Google Chrome''' Play store can open apk files toobe installed with some tinkering, though their emulation on PC is average at best. Here's a [http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iIbxaftAu_ho5rv9fUlXSLTzwU6MbKOldsWXyrYiyo8/edit#gid=0 compatibility list] not many games can be installed (due to not faking device names) and a [https://wwwwill spawn multiple harmless-yet-annoying app_process.redditexe crashes.com/r/chromeapks dedicated subreddit]Official site is down since July 2016, so any updates are unlikely.
* '''Xamarin Android Player';Windroye:(With the 'e' suffix) rely on VirtualBox, but still offers better performance than Bluestacks. The Play Store is also a newcomer to the Android emulation marketinstalled by default and has no stability issues found from classic Windroy. [https://www.reddit. Not much is known about this as $25com/r/ClashOfClans/comments/31lklr/misc_windroye_for_pcfaster_than_bluestacks_262_mb/month subscription is required for useA related Reddit topic can be found here.]
* '''Windroy''' (without the 'e' suffix) is a fast ;Android emulator x86:A open-source project that does not rely on VirtualBox or any similar technology. It isn't accurate thoughaims to port Android operating system to x86-based netbooks. While Google Play store it can be installed with some tinkeringrun on virtual machines like VirtualBox, it does not many have 3D graphics emulation and cannot run most games can be installed . Genymotion is (due or at least used to not faking device namesbe) and will spawn multiple harmlessa closed-yet-annoying app_process.exe crashessource fork of Android x86, designed exclusively to be run on VirtualBox.
* '''Windroye''' (with the 'e' suffix) rely ;Anbox:A project that aims to run Android applications on VirtualBox, but still offers better performance than BluestacksUbuntu distributions. The Play Store Currently it is installed by default on alpha state and has no stability issues found from classic Windroyonly known to work on Ubuntu 16. [https://www04.reddit.com/r/ClashOfClans/comments/31lklr/misc_windroye_for_pcfaster_than_bluestacks_262_mb/ A related Reddit topic can be found hereAnbox requires custom kernel modules to run because unlike other emulators which emulates the whole Linux kernel, this one uses the host system's Linux kernel directly.]
* '''Android x86''' is a open-source ;Shashlik:A project by KDE that aims to port run Android operating system applications on Linux using KDE5 and Qt5 technology. The project is infancy state and only known to x86-based netbooks. While it can be run on virtual machines like VirtualBoxlatest Kubuntu versions. It currently lacks ARM processor emulation, it does so not have 3D graphics emulation and cannot many games will run most games. Genymotion It is (or at least used however known to be) a closed-source fork of play [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SC6c_ih_Ac Flappy Bird] and can show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_R8ftiIp4 Spotify's login screen]. It uses modified [[Qemu]] to emulate the Android x86, designed exclusively to be run on VirtualBoxoperating system. Last major update was March 2016 and seems abandoned.
* '''Project Astoria''' was a Microsoft-developed ;Xamarin Android emulator for Windows 10 Mobile included in several insider previews. It could run [httpsPlayer://wwwA newcomer to the Android emulation market.reddit.comNot much is known about this because it required a minimum of $25/r/windowsphone/comments/3gaoct/android_apps_that_work_on_win10_right_now/ a few applicaions], though apps required Google Play Services did not run or had issuesmonth subscription of main Xamarin products. This project was reportedly The main Xamarin products were [httphttps://wwwblog.windowscentralxamarin.com/microsoftsxamarin-projectfor-astoria-delayed discontinuedall made available for free] in November 2015after the purchase by Microsoft, and so the emulator is not included in more recent versions of Windows 10 Mobilebut Xamarin Android Player was discontinued.
<!;Project Astoria:A Microsoft--* '''Shashlik''' is a project by KDE that aims to run developed Android applications on Linux using KDE and Qt5 technology. The project is infancy state, though it can play Flappy Bird and can show the login screen of Spotifyemulator for Windows 10 Mobile included in several insider previews. It requires experimental Wayland display server instead of more stable Xorg server.could run [https://githubwww.reddit.com/shashlikr/windowsphone/shashlikcomments/issues3gaoct/android_apps_that_work_on_win10_right_now/36a few applicaions], though apps required Google Play Services did not run or had issues. This project was reportedly [httpshttp://githubwww.windowscentral.com/shashlikmicrosofts-project-astoria-delayed discontinued] in November 2015 and [http://shashlikwww.winbeta.org/issuesnews/34microsoft-confirms-the-death-of-project-astoria-focusing-on-other-bridges-instead its cancellation was confirmed] To editors of this pageon February 2016, please uncomment and rewrite this if this so the emulator gets a major beta or official releaseis not included in more recent versions of Windows 10 Mobile.-->
→Emulators: AmiDuOS was canceled
'''This page is about emulating Android apps and games on PC as it is slowly building off an important library of exclusives, and emulation coupled with CheatEngine is certainly interesting. If you're interested in emulators for your Android phone, check [[Emulators on Android|this page:Category:Consoles]] instead and see individual console page.'''
'''Android''' is a mobile operating system (OS) based on the Linux kernel and currently developed by Google. Unlike iPhone, as well as older cell-phone models and older Japanese Galapagos mobile phones, emulating Android software on PC is more developed, though no open source emulator with a high degree of game compatibility exists yet.
==Emulators==
'''Important Note:''' These emulators are usually closed source and while they're distributed for free, their devs look for roundabout ways to monetize them. One such high profile case was BlueStacks. Make sure to check if there are pre-installed apps on your emulator (and disable them), monitor your Internet connection download caps and processor activity to detect any abnormal activity (and block domains accordingly if the need arises) and avoid as much as possible giving sensitive account data (just in case it's key-logged). Besides basic safety, these precautions often make impacted emulators run much faster when the adware services and apps are turned off. {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+PC
|-
! scope="col"|Version
! scope="col"|Free
! scope="col"|VM
! scope="col"|[[Accuracy]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Genymotion]]|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac, Linux|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.genymotion.com /fun-zone/ 2.4.011] |{{✓}} (Official SiteNon-Dev Versions)|style="textVirtualBox|High|{{✓}}|-align|BlueStacks|Windows, Mac|[http:center;"//www.bluestacks.com/ 3.56.74.1828]|{{✓ }}|QEmu (Non-Dev Versionsbefore v2.5) / VirtualBox (after v2.5)|style="textHigh|{{✓}}|-align|MEmu|Windows|[http:center;"//www.memuplay.com/ 5.0.5]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|High|{{✓}}|style="text-align|Droid4X|Windows, Mac|[http:center;"//droid4x.haimawan.com 0.10.6]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|style="textHigh|{{✗}}|-align|YouWave|Windows|[http:center;"//youwave.com/ 5.7]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|Mid|{{✗}}|-|Andy|Windows, Mac|[http://andyroid.net/ 0.46.16.66]|{{✓}}|VmWare|High|style="text{{✓}}|-align|Android x86|Multi-platform|[http:center;"//www.android-x86.org 7.1-r1]|{{✓}}|N/A|Low|{{✗}}|-|Android Emulator (AVD)|Windows, linux|[https://developer.android.com/studio/run/emulator.html 26.1.3]|{{✓}}|QEmu|Low|{{✗}}|-|Anbox|Linux|[http://anbox.io/ Git]|{{✓}}|Original|?|{{✗}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[BlueStacks]]Nox App Player|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.bluestacksbignox.com/ Official Site6.0.5.3]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|MidHigh|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Droid4x]]XePlayer|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.droid4xxeplayer.com/ Official Site3.8.1.0]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|High|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[DuOS]]KoPlayer|style="text-align:center;"|Windows|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.amiduoskoplayer.com/ Official Site1.4.1055]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|?VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|MidHigh|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[ARC Welder]] (Google Chrome)LeapDroid|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS|style="text-align:center;"|[httpshttp://developerwww.chromeleapdroid.com/apps/getstarted_arc Official Site1.8.0]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalHigh|style="text-align:center;"|Mid|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Xamarin Android Player]]AMI DuOS|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|[https://developer.xamarinami.com/guidesen/androidtech-blog/getting_started/installation/androidfarewell-playeramiduos/ Official Site2.0.8.8511]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|?Mid|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Windroye]]Windroy|style="text-align:center;"|Windows|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.windroye.com/index_eng1.html 2.8.2a] (Official Site)|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗Original|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBoxLow|style="text-align:center;"|Mid|style="text-align:center;"|?{{✗}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Android x86]]Windroye|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platformWindows|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www2.android-x869.org Official Site]0|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|N/AMid|style="text-align:center;"|Low|style="text-align:center;"|✗<!--?
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Shashlik]]|style="text-align:center;"|Linux|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.shashlik.io Official Site0.9.3]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|Too early to be listedLow|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗-->|} {| class="wikitable"|+Mobile}
|-
|-
|}
The VM column describes what backend technology the emulator uses. Emulators labeled with "VirtualBox" requires sometimes needs the user to install [https://www.virtualbox.org/ Oracle VM VirtualBox]. Usually it is installed automatically. ===Comparison===;Genymotion:An Android emulator with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and USB host support, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. In its latest versions, it has pretty good compatibility with commercial games. It's a commercial product though, aimed at software developers and QA teams. You'll need to create an account and download the free non-commercial use license available. Except for pay-to-remove "free for personal use" watermark on the screen, paid builds add features only useful for Android app developers. Setting up the emulator itself is not too hard, but a bit of tinkering is required to add the Google Play store and [http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2528952 ARM processor emulation] (what you need essentially here to play the commercial releases) as well as [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/genymotion-users/JpO8HR39PR0/NpSkrnsB8d8J Xbox 360 controller support]. Not noob-friendly, but if you're experienced enough with Android to know your way around a rooted filesystem it shouldn't be too hard. ;Bluestacks:Also commercial with a free option (requires a google account). It's less good than Genymotion, and doesn't handle USB cable emulation. Previous versions used to come with an installer with adware, comes with junk apps within the emulator, and has a non-intuitive uninstaller, but that's no longer the case today. It includes Google Apps by default, though you'll need to install a file manager to copy game cache when loading your own apks.
==General Emulation issues==
===Lack of Release Notes and Update History information===
While some emulators such as Genymotion do have version history on their website, most other emulators do not have such history pages, making it difficult to track updates as well as regressions.
===Google-related Libraries===
Likely due to licensing issues, most Android emulators do not come with Google-related applications and related libraries preinstalled (Google Play Store, Play Services, Play Games client, etc) and requires the user to manually install them. Many games verify the existence of Google-related components at the start and refuse to work if some or any of them are missing.
===ARM Applications===
Most commercial games are developed and published only for devices with ARM CPUs such as most smartphones and tablets. However, the PCs we regularly use contain x86 CPUs, so these games cannot directly run. Some emulators like Bluestacks have ARM emulation by default, and in some others like Genymotion it is possible to install ARM emulator manually. The ARM emulator requires Intel CPUs to work correctly and not guaranteed to work with all games.
===Games with root/Custom ROMs/Emulator Detection===
Many commercial games refuse to run if the device is "rooted" (hacked to allow access to deep portion of Android OS) in order to reduce cheating and pirating. If the emulator is rooted by default, it must be unrooted manually before the game can be played.
Some games are very aggressive that they detect Custom ROMs (unofficial firmware) or Android emulators (like the ones listed in this page) by variety of ways like checking the existence and absence of system files in order to prevent the game from running in any unauthorized environments. These games are very difficult or plain impossible to play on emulators without resorting to cracked versions of the games. Solutions exist, like using MagiskSU (bundled with the Magisk flashable zip) and hiding root on anything Google Play related or installed apps that check for it.
==Emulator Specific Issues==
===BlueStacks===
* '''Can't root the device:'''
The latest Kingroot's apk will do the job when loaded inside Bluestacks. It's that simple.
Alternatively, you could use Universal Bluestacks Rooting Software on an existing Bluestacks installation. Before opening it, go to the folder where Bluestacks is installed under Program Files, and run "HD-Quit.exe" once.
Then, from the extracted "Bluestacks RootEZ 32_64", open as administrator "Bluestacks RootEZ.exe". Click "Automatic Detect from Installed Bluestacks", enable "Enlarge System (Root.fs) Size to 400MB", and click "I'm ready for Step 1". A command-line window should appear. Now just wait until "Preparing Complete" appears. Then, click "Go for Step 2" and wait until "Rooting is Complete" appears.
Close the application, and open the "output" folder in the same directory as the extracted application. You should find a newly generated "Root.fs" file. You can use it to replace the existing one under "%programdata%\BlueStacks\Android" (Press Windows+R and go there), but it's recommended to keep a backup of the original in case the new one causes Bluestacks to hang in the loading screen for more than a few minutes.
The package also includes Nova Explorer and Root Launcher. You may verify the rooting status with the "Root Checker" app from Google Play. Considering some apps check for Google Play services for online checks, you can also install "Modded Google Play Store", "Lucky Patcher" and "Magisk".
===Andyroid===
* '''Unable To Launch VM Process:'''
On the taskbar, right-click Andyroid's notification icon, and choose Settings, Advanced, Set Andy Protocol. Type "tcp" and confirm, then launch Andyroid.
==See also==
