Changes

Like with [[Nintendo 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.

Android apps come in the .apk file format (occasionally coupled with .obb files). Just like its [[IOS emulators|iOS ]] equivalent (ipa IPA files), their innards can be opened as a regular zip 7z file.

'''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;"

! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Genymotion]]|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, MacLinux, LinuxmacOS|[https://www.genymotion.com/download/ {{GenymotionVer}}]|{{✓}} (Non-Dev Versions)|VirtualBox|High|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|[[BlueStacks]]|Windows, macOS|[http://www.genymotionbluestacks.com 2/ {{BlueStacksVer}}]|{{✓}}|QEMU (before v2.75) / VirtualBox (after v2.2] (Official Site5)|style="textHigh|{{✓}}|-align|MEmu|Windows|[https:center;"//www.memuplay.com/ 5.6.2]|{{✓ (Non}}|VirtualBox|High|{{✓}}|-Dev Versions)|style="text-alignLDPlayer|Windows|[http:center;"//en.ldplayer.net/ 3.41]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|style="textHigh|{{✓}}|-align|Nox App Player|Windows|[https:center;"//www.bignox.com/ 6.2.5.3]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|High|style="text{{✓}}|-align|XePlayer|Windows|[http:center;"//xeplayer.com/ 6.0.10]|{{✓}}|VirtualBox|High|{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[BlueStacks]]KoPlayer|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.bluestackskoplayer.com/ Official Site1.4.1056]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|MidHigh|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[MEmu]]Droid4X|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, macOS|style="text-align:center;"|[http://wwwdroid4x.memuplayhaimawan.com/ Official Site0.10.6]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|High|style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Droid4x]]Andy|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, MacmacOS|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwandyroid.droid4xnet/ 0.com/ Official Site47.226.1076.7]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVmWare|style="text-align:center;"|High|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[DuOS]]YouWave|style="text-align:center;"|Windows|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.amiduosyouwave.com/ Official Site5.11]|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|?VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|Mid|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[andyroid]]Android x86|style="textMulti-align:center;"|Windows, Macplatform|style="text-align:center;"|[http://andyroidwww.android-x86.org 8.net/ Official Site1-rc2]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBoxN/A|style="text-align:center;"|MidLow|style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[ARC Welder]] (Google Chrome)Android Studio|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS|style="text-align:center;"|[https://developer.chromeandroid.com/appsstudio/getstarted_arc 503.50212.602.01] (Official Site)|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalQEMU|style="text-align:center;"|MidLow|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Windroy]]Anbox|style="text-align:center;"|WindowsLinux|style="text-align[https:center;"|1//anbox.2 (Discontinued)io/ Git]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|Low?|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Windroye]]|style="text-align:center;"|Windows|style!colspan="text-align:center;7"|2.9.0 (Abandoned/Discontinued)|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|Mid|style="text-align:center;"|?

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Android x86]]LeapDroid|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platformWindows|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.android-x86leapdroid.com/ 1.org 48.4-r50] (Official Site)|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|N/AVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|LowHigh|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Shashlik]]AMI DuOS|style="text-align:center;"|LinuxWindows|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwami.shashlikcom/en/tech-blog/farewell-amiduos/ 2.io 0.98.38511] (Official Site)|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"|LowMid|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Anbox]]ARC Welder<br /><small>(Google Chrome)</small>|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux, macOS<br/>Chrome OS|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://anboxdeveloper.chrome.iocom/apps/ Official Sitegetstarted_arc 50.5021.602.0]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|Original|style="text-align:center;"|?Mid|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Xamarin Android Player]]Windroye|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Mac|style="text-align:center;"|Discontinued2.9.0|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}|style="text-align:center;"|VirtualBox|style="text-align:center;"Mid|?|style="text-align:center;"|✗

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Nox App Player]]Windroy|style="text-align:center;"|Windows|style="text-align:center;"|31.7.5.12|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}}|✓Original|style="text-align:center;"Low|?{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|Shashlik|HighLinux|style="text-align[http:center;"//www.shashlik.io 0.9.3]|{{✓}}|}Original{| class="wikitable"Low|+Mobile{{✗}}

! scope="col"|NameProject Astoria! scope="col"|OSWindows 10 Mobile! scope="col"|VersionDiscontinued! scope="col"|Free{{✗}}! scope="col"|VMOriginal! scope="col"|[[Accuracy]]Low! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|Project AstoriaXamarin Android Player|style="text-align:center;"|Windows 10 Mobile, macOS|style="text[https://developer.xamarin.com/releases/android/android-align:center;"|Discontinuedplayer/ 0.6.5]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|OriginalVirtualBox|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. ===Comparisons===;[[Genymotion]]:A closed-source Android emulator with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and USB host support, available for Windows, macOS, 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 to add features only useful for Android app developers.

* '''Genymotion''' is 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''' is also ;[[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.apk files.

* ''';MEmu''' is a :A free Android emulator with very good accuracy, sometimes outperforming BluestacksBlueStacks.

* '''Droid4x''' has ;LDPlayer:An Android emulator also with good accuracy 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.exeWhen testing games along side Nox, both by the Chinese company which developed Droid4x) in the background seeding Chinese torrents constantly and they are a pain LDPlayer shows to uninstall or deactivate (in case you've already fallen for it, use Revo Uninstaller)have better performance/compatibility with games.

* '''andyroid''' works too, though the company behind it did adware before previously.;Droid4x**Just like Genymotion, Andyroid also use Has good accuracy but forcefully uninstalls VirtualBox, but so it cannot co-exist with a twist: if it detects an installed virtualbox during installation, ''Genymotion and Xamarin. It's not recommended because it will delete it''' install hidden background services (xunlei.exe, and Thunder.exe, both by the Chinese company which developed Droid4x) that seed Chinese torrents constantly and will refuse they are a pain to workuninstall or deactivate (in case you've already fallen for it, use Revo Uninstaller). Beware!

* '''DuOS''', not to be confused with ;Andyroid:Not recommended because it will install a [httphttps://ds-duoswww.blogspotreddit.com/ similarly-named Nintendo DS emulatorr/emulation/comments/8rq4fm/reminder_that_andyroid_mines_cryptocurrency/ cryptocurrency miner] by Roor, is a relative newcomer on your system without asking or informing about this to the Android emulation marketuser. Just like Genymotion, made by American Megatrends i.e. the very same people behind the BIOS/UEFI firmware your PC may be using. Emulation is modest at bestAndyroid uses VirtualBox, but with games and apps such as [[DraStic]] struggling on lower-end hardware. And to top a twist: if it all offdetects an installed VirtualBox during installation, '''it ainwill delete it'''t free eitherand will refuse to work.Beware!

* '''Google Chrome''' can open apk files using the ARC Welder extension, though their emulation on PC is average at best. Here's ;DuOS:Not to be confused with a [http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iIbxaftAu_ho5rv9fUlXSLTzwU6MbKOldsWXyrYiyo8/edit#gid=0 compatibility list] and a [https://wwwds-duos.redditblogspot.com/r/chromeapks dedicated subreddit]. Google has announced [http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/05/the-play-store-comessimilarly-to-chrome-os-but-not-the-way-we-were-expecting/ Play Store for Chrome OSnamed Nintendo DS emulator]by Roor, but it works on is a different "container" technology that is embed relative newcomer to the Chrome OS. In additionAndroid emulation market, Google will [http://blogmade by American Megatrends i.chromiume.orgthe very same people behind the BIOS/2016/08/from-chrome-UEFI firmware your PC may be using. Emulation is modest at best, with games and appssuch as [[DraStic]] struggling on lower-end hardware. And to-web.html discontinue Google Chrome apps on PC]top it all off, so any major updates to ARC Welder for PC is unlikelyit isn't free either.

* '''Windroy''' (without ;Google Chrome:Can open .apk files using the ARC Welder extension, though their emulation on PC is average at best. Here'e' suffix) is s a [http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iIbxaftAu_ho5rv9fUlXSLTzwU6MbKOldsWXyrYiyo8/edit#gid=0 compatibility list] and a fast Android emulator that does not rely on VirtualBox or any similar technology[https://www.reddit. It isn't accurate thoughcom/r/chromeapks dedicated subreddit]. While Google Play has announced [http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/05/the-play-store can be installed with some tinkering, not many games can be installed (due -comes-to -chrome-os-but-not faking device names) and will spawn multiple harmless-yetthe-way-we-were-annoying app_processexpecting/ Play Store for Chrome OS], but it works on a different "container" technology that is embedded in the Chrome OS.exe crashesIn addition, Google will [http://blog. Official site is down since July chromium.org/2016/08/from-chrome-apps-to-web.html discontinue Google Chrome apps on PC], so any major updates are to ARC Welder for PC is unlikely.

* '''Windroye''' ;Windroy:(with Without the 'e' suffix) is a fast Android emulator that does not rely on VirtualBox, but still offers better performance than Bluestacksor any similar technology. It isn't accurate though. The While Google Play Store is store can be installed with some tinkering, not many games can be installed by default (due to not faking device names) and has no stability issues found from classic Windroywill spawn multiple harmless-yet-annoying app_process. [https://wwwexe crashes.reddit.com/r/ClashOfClans/comments/31lklr/misc_windroye_for_pcfaster_than_bluestacks_262_mb/ A related Reddit topic can be found hereThe official site is down since July 2016, so any updates are unlikely.]

* ;Windroye:(With the 'e''Android x86''' is a open-source project that aims to port Android operating system to x86-based netbooks. While it can be run on virtual machines like suffix) uses VirtualBox, it does not have 3D graphics emulation but still offers better performance than BlueStacks. The Play Store is installed by default and cannot run most gameshas no stability issues found in Windroy. Genymotion is (or at least used to [https://www.reddit.com/r/ClashOfClans/comments/31lklr/misc_windroye_for_pcfaster_than_bluestacks_262_mb/ A related Reddit topic can be) a closed-source fork of Android x86, designed exclusively to be run on VirtualBoxfound here.]

* '''Anbox''' is a ;Android x86:An open-source project that aims to run port the Android applications on Ubuntu distributionsoperating system to x86-based netbooks. Currently While it is can be run on alpha state virtual machines like VirtualBox, it does not have 3D graphics emulation and only known cannot run most games. Genymotion is (or at least used to work on Ubuntu 16.04. Anbox requires custom kernel modules be) a closed-source fork of Android x86, designed exclusively to be run because unlike other emulators which emulates the whole Linux kernel, this one uses the host system's Linux kernel directlyon VirtualBox.

* '''Shashlik''' is a ;Anbox:A project by KDE that aims to run Android applications on Linux using KDE5 and Qt5 technologyUbuntu distributions. The project Currently, it is infancy on alpha state and only known to run work on latest Kubuntu versionsUbuntu 16. It currently lacks ARM processor emulation, so not many games will run04. It is however known Anbox requires custom kernel modules 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 run because unlike other emulators which emulate the whole Linux kernel, this one uses modified [[Qemu]] to emulate the Android operating host system. Last major update was March 2016 and seems abandoned's Linux kernel directly.

* '''Xamarin ;Shashlik:A project by KDE that aims to run Android Player''' was a newcomer applications on Linux using KDE5 and Qt5 technology. The project is infancy state and only known to the Android run on latest Kubuntu versions. It currently lacks ARM processor emulation market, so not many games will run. Not much It is however known about this because it required a minimum of $25to play [https:/month subscription of main Xamarin products/www.youtube. The main Xamarin products were com/watch?v=9SC6c_ih_Ac Flappy Bird] and can show [https://blogwww.xamarinyoutube.com/xamarin-for-all made available for freewatch?v=ju_R8ftiIp4 Spotify's login screen] after . It uses modified [[QEMU]] to emulate the purchase by Microsoft, but Xamarin Android Player operating system. Last major update was discontinuedMarch 2016 and seems abandoned.

* ''';Xamarin Android Player:A newcomer to the Android emulation market. Not much is known about this because it required a minimum of $25/month subscription of main Xamarin products. The main Xamarin products were [https://blog.xamarin.com/xamarin-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 2015 and [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.

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.

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 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.

Many commercial games refuse to run if the device is "rooted" (hacked to allow access to the 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 the 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.

The latest Kingroot's .apk will do the job when loaded inside BluestacksBlueStacks. It's that simple.

Alternatively, you could use Universal Bluestacks [[BlueStacks]] Rooting Software on an existing Bluestacks BlueStacks installation. Before opening it, go to the folder where Bluestacks BlueStacks is installed under Program Files, and run "HD-Quit.exe" once.

Then, from the extracted "Bluestacks BlueStacks RootEZ 32_64", open as administrator "Bluestacks 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.