Changes

Android is like a Linux distribution in that it uses the Linux kernel to facilitate communication with the hardware and manage processes on the system. Unfortunately, the similarities end there, as Android uses an entirely different toolset from standard Linux distributions and no support is given for running it on PCs. (Software development on Android is also nothing like Linux development as apps are compiled into architecture-specific <code>APK</code>s via Java which, like IPA files on [[iOS emulators|iOS]], are specially designed Zip files. They may be occasionally coupled with <code>OBB</code> files, see [[Copy_protection#Bypassing_Copy_Protection]] section for information about APK+DATA and copy protection situation on Android). While Android can technically run Linux binaries, doing so requires superuser privileges that Android does not provide by default. For many devices, you can expect to see a custom ROM that has an integrated su binary (or a means to install it easily, such as a custom recovery), but not all devices have one.

! scope|Andy OS|align="col"left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|[https://andyroid.net/ 0.47.226.1096.26]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Bloatware></ref>|-|NameDroid4X! scope|align="col"left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|[https://droid4x.cc/ 0.10.7]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|PlatformARC Welder<br /><small>(sGoogle Chrome)</small>! scope|align="col"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|VersionWeb}}! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_featureshttps://developer.chrome.com/apps/getstarted_arc ARC 50.5021.602.0]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Hardware features]]ARChon<br /><small>(Google Chrome)</small>! scope|align="col"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|[[#Enhancementshttps://archon-runtime.github.io/ ARC 41.4410.238.0]|?|Enhancements]]?! scope="col"|Compatibility?! scope="col"|<abbr span title="Free/Libre and OpenSource-Source Softwareavailable">FLOSS^{{~}}</abbrspan>||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|KoPlayer|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://koplayerpc.com/ 2.0.0]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|LeapDroid|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.leapdroid.com/ 1.8.0]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Peak App Player|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://web.archive.org/web/20191120002207/http://www.peakplayer.net/index.php/en/peakplayeren/ 1.2.5 Beta 2]|?! scope|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Shashlik|align="col"left|{{Icon|Linux}}|[http://www.shashlik.io/ 0.9.3]|?|?|?|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|ActiveSmartGaGa! scope|align="col"left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://web.archive.org/web/20190820044528/https://www.smartgaga.com/ 1.1.646]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Windroy|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[Recommended Emulatorshttps://sourceforge.net/projects/windroy/ 4.0.3]|Recommended?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Windroye|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|2.9.1|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|Xamarin Android Player|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|[https://github.com/xamarin/release-notes-archive/blob/master/release-notes/android/android-player/index.md 0.6.5]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|XePlayer|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://xeplayer.com/ 6.0.10]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|YouWave|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://youwave.com/ 5.11]|?|?|?|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

! colspan="10"|x86ARM

|[https://waydro.id/index.html WayDroidWaydroid]

|{{✗✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗~}}

===Comparisons===;Emulators:;Genymotion::A closed-source Android emulator with lots of [[#Hardware_features|hardware features]], available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's not designed for gaming, but [https://support.genymotion.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003059737-Can-I-play-games-with-Genymotion it has decent software compatibility]. It's a commercial product though, aimed at software developers and QA teams and you'll need to create an account and download the free non-commercial use license. Except for the pay-to-remove "free for personal use" watermark on the screen, paid builds add features only useful for Android app developers. Unlike other closed-source emulators, Genymotion avoids pre-installing unnecessary apps.

:;Google Play Games::Not to be confused with the [[Preservation_projects#Private_Platform_Servers|service of the same name]], Google Play Games is a PC application that lets you browse, download, and play '''select mobile games''' on a Windows desktop or laptop. Use developer build if you want more [[#Hardware_features|hardware feature]] support. Google Play Games is not yet available for Mac. Currently, only bunch of games are available for beta version but Google adding games on a regular basis.<ref>[https://play.google.com/googleplaygames#section-faqs Google Play Games FAQ]</ref>

:;Trinity

:;Android Studio::Android Studio is an IDE software based on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA. It has built-in Android emulator with [https://developer.android.com/studio/run/managing-avds AVD (Android Virtual Device) configuration manager]. While its built-in emulator (which is literally called as [https://developer.android.com/studio/run/emulator "Android Emulator"]) may not be the fastest or software compatible (supports lots of OS image though), Android Studio shines as a developer's toolkit, offering seamless integration with coding, debugging, and testing tools for Android smartphones, [[Smart_TV_emulators#Android_TV.2FGoogle_TV|Android TVs]], [https://developer.android.com/wear Wear OS] and other Android ecosystem hardware. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1TTzkToDyE Recent updates brings new UI] aims to reduce complexity, provide easier access to essential features etc. It has built-in plugin manager which you can get Genymotion plugin for further enhance its emulation capabilities. Also you can use [https://developer.android.com/games/playgames/pg-emulator#debug adb to debugging with developer version of "Google Play Games" emulator]. Supports lots of [[#Hardware features]] and [[#Enhancements]]. See release notes for [https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/emulator built-in "Android Emulator"] and [https://androidstudio.googleblog.com/ Android Studio] for more information. :;Waydroid and Anbox::These are hypervisor-based containers. They run an Android OS image inside a container. It is a similar approach to WSA and Google Play Games. They work completely differently from Wine/Proton [[compatibility layers]], which translate API calls, without a hypervisor.::Anbox is a project that aims to run Android applications on Ubuntu distributions. It is in alpha state and only known to work on Ubuntu 16.04. Anbox requires custom kernel modules to run because, unlike other emulators which emulate the whole Linux kernel, this one uses the host system's Linux kernel directly. :;BlueStacks::A commercial software with a decent compatibility and performance. It has lots of [[#Enhancements|enhancement]] and [[#Hardware_features|hardware feature]] support. Newer versions bundled with "BlueStacks X" software and "BlueStacks services" which you can uninstall it afterwards, and you need to uninstall these during each update session unfortunately (BlueStacks Player do not need these apps). It includes Google Apps by default. :;MuMu Player::Another closed-source Android emulator. There are three versions of MuMu available::;MuMu Player 6:::This version of MuMu uses Android 6.0 Marshmallow::;MuMu Player X:::This one is based on Android 12 Snow Cone and may have more compatibility with games::;MuMu Nebula:::This version runs Android 7.0 Nougat and is more suitable for low-end computers :;MEmu::Another closed-source Android emulator and also with good compatibility. :;LDPlayer::Another closed-source Android emulator and also with good compatibility. When testing games alongside Nox, LDPlayer shows better performance/compatibility with games. :;Droid4x::Has good compatibility but forcefully uninstalls VirtualBox, so it cannot co-exist with Genymotion and Xamarin. It's not recommended because it will install hidden background services (xunlei.exe, and Thunder.exe, both by the Chinese company which developed Droid4x) that seed Chinese torrents constantly and are a pain to uninstall or deactivate (in case you've already fallen for it, use Revo Uninstaller).

:;BlueStacksWindroy:A commercial software with :(Without the 'e' suffix) is a decent compatibility and performancefast Android emulator that does not rely on VirtualBox or any similar technology. It has lots of [[#Enhancements|enhancement]] and [[#Hardware_features|hardware feature]] supportCompatibility isn't good, though. Newer versions bundled While the Google Play store can be installed with "BlueStacks X" software and "BlueStacks services" which you some tinkering, not many games can uninstall it afterwards, and you need be installed (due to uninstall these during each update session unfortunately (BlueStacks Player do not need these appsfaking device names)and will spawn multiple harmless-yet-annoying app_process. It includes Google Apps by defaultexe crashes. The official site is down since July 2016.

;MuMu Player:Another closed-source Android emulator. There are three versions of MuMu available:;MuMu Player 6Windroye::This version of MuMu (With the 'e' suffix) uses Android 6VirtualBox, but still offers better performance than BlueStacks.0 Marshmallow:;MuMu Player X::This one The Play Store is based on Android 12 Snow Cone installed by default and may have more compatibility with games:;MuMu Nebula::This version runs Android 7has no stability issues found in Windroy.0 Nougat and is more suitable for low-end computers

:;MEmuShashlik:Another closed-source :A project by KDE that aims to run Android applications on Linux using KDE5 and Qt5 technology. The project is in infancy state and only known to run on latest Kubuntu versions. It lacks ARM processor emulation, so not many games will run. It is, however, known to 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 a modified version of [[QEMU]] to emulate the Android emulator operating system. The last major update was in March 2016 and also with good compatibilityseems to be abandoned.

:;LDPlayerXamarin Android Player:Another closed:A newcomer to the Android emulation market. Not much is known about this because it required a minimum $25/month subscription to main Xamarin products. The main Xamarin products were [https://blog.xamarin.com/xamarin-source for-all made available for free] after the purchase by Microsoft, but Xamarin Android Player was discontinued. :;Project Astoria::A Microsoft-developed Android emulator for Windows 10 Mobile included in several insider previews. It could run [https://www.reddit.com/r/windowsphone/comments/3gaoct/android_apps_that_work_on_win10_right_now/ a few applications], though apps that required Google Play Services did not run or had issues. This project was reportedly [http://www.windowscentral.com/microsofts-project-astoria-delayed discontinued] in November 2015, and also [http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-confirms-the-death-of-project-astoria-focusing-on-other-bridges-instead its cancellation was confirmed] on February 2016, so the emulator is not included in more recent versions of Windows 10 Mobile. ;Android Linux distros:;Andy OS::Not recommended because it will install a [https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/8rq4fm/reminder_that_andyroid_mines_cryptocurrency/ cryptocurrency miner] on your system without asking or informing the user. Just like Genymotion, Andy OS uses VirtualBox, but with good a twist: if it detects an installed VirtualBox during installation, '''it will delete it''' and will refuse to work. ;Compatibility layers :;KMRE::KMRE is a compatibilitylayer and The official solution to run Android applications on computers with Chinese homegrown Phytium/KunPeng ARM processors and NeoKylin Linux operating system, though later also available on x86-64 on [https://www.ubuntukylin. When testing games alongside Noxcom/index-en.html Ubuntu Kylin]. KMRE is not designed with third-party applications outside its app store and in fact, LDPlayer shows better performance/compatibility force installing third-party apps breaks older versions of KMRE. It's an somewhat reasonable solution if you are restricted to working with gamesthese kinds of computers due to national security reasons. ::See [[#KMRE|KMRE section]] for more information.

| colspan=2 | [https://developer.android.com/develop/sensors-and-location/sensors/sensors_motion [List_of_games_that_support_tracked_motion_controllers#Android_Emulation|Motion sensors]]

| rowspan=2 4 | Misc

[[Category:Mobiles|*]]