If you want to use Android on your PC, the easiest way is to use an emulator. There are a lot of them, like the famous BlueStacks or others more focused on games like KO Player or MEmu, although if you are looking for something closer to what you have on your mobile the best option is probably Android Studio emulator.
The good thing is that Google has improved it a lot in the latest versions and it is also easy to download and test recent versions of Androidincluding for example Android 11. The “bad” news is that you need to install Android Studio first.
What do you need?
As we mentioned earlier, you need Android Studio, which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Required configuration for using the emulator are the same as for using Android Studio, only a little more bloated. They vary little from one operating system to another, and are as follows:
|
the Windows |
Mac |
Linux |
Chrome OS |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Version |
64-bit Windows 8/10 |
Mac OS 10.14 higher |
Any 64-bit distribution that supports Gnome, KDE, or Unity DE |
A model with Intel i5 or higher is recommended |
|
RAM |
8 GB or more |
8 GB or more |
8 GB or more |
8 GB or more |
|
Disk space |
8 GB |
8 GB |
8 GB |
4GB |
|
Screen resolution |
1280 x 800 minimum |
1280 x 800 minimum |
1280 x 800 minimum |
1280 x 800 minimum |
The main problem with the emulator is the hardware acceleration Intel VT-X or AMD-V. In some cases, it is disabled in BIOS, so you need to enable it before you can start the emulator. The process varies by brand (as does the name of the option), but in general, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to figure out how to enable virtualization for you, as long as your processor supports it. charging and your motherboard includes the option.
1. Create the virtual device
It all starts from Android Studio, where you have to press the little button on the AVD Manager. AVD stands for Android Virtual Device or Android Virtual Device. If you can’t find it, it’s also in the Tools menu.
The first splash screen doesn’t say much when no device is created. It literally has a button, which is just the one you need to press to get started. hurry Create a virtual device, or create a virtual device.
Now for the interesting part: choose the device you emulate. This makes it possible to use specific characteristics of said device, in particular the resolution and the size of its screen. Some of them include their own “skin” which makes the emulator look like them.
You can choose any one, however those that include the Play Store icon they will allow you to use the google store, if you download the appropriate system image. When you have it, press following.
2. Download the system image
The previous step was quick, but now it’s time to get the router and PC to work. You need choose system image that you are going to install on the virtual device. Normally you won’t have downloaded one, so this is the first thing you need to do, download it.
You can choose any one, although it’s best to stick with the first tab, the advised. These are based on the same architecture as your processor, so they run much faster than the ones that don’t. Only those that specify it include Google Play, others include Google services but not Google Play, and some do not include any of them.
Before downloading anything, you must accept the license agreements to use the system image and Android SDK that you are about to download. The download does not start until you do.
It will take some time, as the system images take up several hundred megabytes, but as soon as the download and installation is complete you will be returned to the previous screen. The difference is that now the system image you downloaded can be selected. Do it, then press following.
3. Load the emulator
Now you have done all the work and all you need is to enjoy the result. The same window that didn’t display anything before now includes your new virtual device. do click the play button and, if all went well, the emulator will be launched.
Android can take a long time to appear, depending on the raw horsepower of your computer, but sooner or later you should see Android tucked away in a virtual phone on your desktop. With a powerful PC, the latest versions of the emulator work as well as a real device.
You can use it with the mouse, helping you with the virtual buttons on the screen and the buttons that appear on the toolbar, to your right. If you want to access the advanced options, click on the last button, the options button.
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