Changes

'''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.'''

Like with DS emulators, the computer mouse is used to emulate touch screen touchscreen presses (which can be less than ideal in many cases), and the keyboard emulates the button controller add-ons. Some emulators support X360 controllers as well with some more tweaks.

'''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;"

|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;"|[[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;"|[[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;"|[[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;"|{{✗}}

|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;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|N/AVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|LowMid|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;"|Low|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗|} {| class="wikitable"|+Mobile}

! 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;"|{{✗}}

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.

* '''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.

* '''Bluestacks''' is also commercial ;Droid4xHas 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 emulator, Chinese company which developed Droid4x) that seed 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: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 about this to the user. Just like Genymotion, Andyroid uses 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 itisn''' and will refuse to workt free either. Beware!

* '''DuOS'';Google Chrome:Can open apk files using the ARC Welder extension, though their emulation on PC is average at best. Here', 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-named Nintendo DS emulatorplay-store-comes-to-chrome-os-but-not-the-way-we-were-expecting/ Play Store for Chrome OS] by Roor, but it works on a different "container" technology that is a relative newcomer to embedded in 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]The official site is down since July 2016, so any updates are unlikely.

* '''Xamarin Android Player';Windroye:(With the 'e' suffix) uses 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 in 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 ;Android x86:An open-source project that aims to port the 'e' suffix) is a fast Android emulator that does not rely on VirtualBox or any similar technology. It isn't accurate thoughoperating 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 VirtualBoxUbuntu distributions. Currently, but still offers better performance than Bluestacks. The Play Store 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 emulate 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.

* '''Shashlik''' is a project by KDE that aims ;Xamarin Android Player:A newcomer to run the Android applications on Linux using KDE5 and Qt5 technology. The project is infancy state and only known to run on latest Kubuntu versions. It currently lacks ARM processor emulation, so not many games will runmarket. It Not much is however known to play [https:about this because it required a minimum of $25//wwwmonth subscription of main Xamarin products.youtube.com/watch?v=9SC6c_ih_Ac Flappy Bird] and can show The main Xamarin products were [https://wwwblog.youtubexamarin.com/watch?v=ju_R8ftiIp4 Spotify's login screenxamarin-for-all made available for free]after the purchase by Microsoft, but Xamarin Android Player was discontinued.

* ''';Project Astoria''' was a :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 applicaions], though apps 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 2015and [http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-confirms-the-death-of-project-astoria-focusing-on-other-bridges-instead its cancellation was confirmed] on February 2016, and so the emulator is not included in more recent versions of Windows 10 Mobile.

==General Emulation issues==

Many emulators, such as Droid4x, andyroidAndyroid, Genymotion and Xamarin cannot co-exist on the same machine because they will uninstall each other. This can be a problem if one game runs only on one of these emulators but the other games do not work on it.