how to download and install an android How to Install Android on Your PC Without an . Run Android apps on your desktop with Phoenix OS and other options. Tweet Share Email. It's possible to install Android on a PC without using an emulator. Learn how to run Android apps and access a full version of the mobile operating system on Windows. Instructions in this article apply to desktops and laptops running Windows 10, 8, and 7. Why Install Android on PC? If you don't have an Android device, you're missing out on millions of apps in the Store. Even if you already have a or tablet that you play Android games on, you might prefer to play them on your PC. There are several ways to run Android apps on your computer. For example, the Android SDK comes with an Android emulator for debugging apps, and BlueStacks is a cloud-based that optimizes Android apps for desktops. However, if you want to access the full version of Android without an emulator, then your best bet is Phoenix OS. What Is Phoenix OS? Phoenix OS is an operating system based on Android 7 (Nougat) that is designed to run on desktop and laptop computers. If you install it on your hard drive, you're given the option to boot into Phoenix OS each time you start up your computer. Alternatively, you can save it to a USB flash drive for use on any computer. Before you can install Phoenix OS, you must first download the installer for your operating system. Windows users can download an EXE file, but Mac users must download an ISO file and burn it to a flash drive before they can launch the installer. You must also make changes to your system's BIOS settings. To run Phoenix OS, your computer needs an Intel series CPU. How to Install Android Phoenix OS on PC. To get started installing Android on your PC using the Phoenix OS, these are the steps you'll need to follow: Open the installer and select Install . To install Phoenix OS on a USB drive, select Make U-Disk . Select the hard drive where you want to install the OS, then select Next . Select the amount of space you want to reserve on your hard drive for Phoenix OS, then select Install . This option determines the size of the apps you can run, so you should set it as high as possible. Phoenix OS is now installed, but you'll likely receive a notification saying you must disable secure boot. How to Disable Secure Boot for Phoenix OS. Windows has a built-in security feature that will prevent Phoenix OS from running at startup. How you disable the secure boot feature depends on your motherboard and your version of Windows. The Microsoft support website has detailed instructions for disabling secure boot for different systems. Using Phoenix OS to Run Android Apps on PC. Whenever you start your computer, you can choose to load Windows or Phoenix OS. You can also select the shortcut on your desktop to launch Phoenix OS. The first time you start Phoenix, you'll need to select the language (the default is Chinese) and set it up just like you would a new Android device. Phoenix OS isn't always stable, so if it doesn't load successfully the first time, it might work if you try again. The Phoenix OS interface looks similar to Windows, but it behaves like Android. If using a laptop, then you may need an external mouse as Phoenix OS is not compatible with all trackpads. If your computer has a touch screen, then you can navigate the interface just like you would on a smartphone or tablet. Phoenix OS comes preloaded with Google Play, so you can download apps directly from Google. You can also sideload apps using APK files. Select the Menu icon in the bottom-left corner of the desktop to see your apps. How to Run Android Apps on PC? (Proved Tips) are quite the intuition in technology that has raided the community worldwide, integrating themselves with the lives of every citizen throughout the globe. However, when it comes to using smartphones throughout the day, there are times when you feel to avoid looking over the screen of your mobile. Such situations are usually encountered while sitting in an office or a scaffold. It is believed that looking over your smartphone's screen is considered highly unethical and promotes indiscipline. For saving yourselves from such humiliation, different remedies are presented for controlling Android applications over a PC. For this, the community has presented the use of and mirroring applications. Though these platforms had been reported as quite stingy to use, you are not provided an ample window to select from. This article intends to target every solution available in the market along with a detailed guide on operating the platforms that provide an answer to how to run Android apps on PC. Part 1. How can I run Android apps on a PC without a BlueStacks emulator? Emulators have been considered as an immediate solution to run Android apps on PC. With many reported issues, many users prefer casting out emulators from the list. If you are not fond of using emulators such as the BlueStacks emulator, you can follow through with a variety of different solutions, which are presented as follows. 1.1 MirrorGo (3 steps will be done) Wondershare MirrorGo is a powerful program to mirror your phone screen to a big-screen Windows computer. It can also control the phone from PC, record mobile and save the video on PC, take screenshots, share the clipboard, manage mobile notifications on PC, etc. Wondershare MirrorGo. Mirror your android device to your computer! Play mobile games on the big screen of the PC with MirrorGo. Store screenshots taken from the phone to the PC. View multiple notifications simultaneously without picking up your phone. Use android apps on your PC for a full-screen experience. Step 1: Connect the Android device to a PC. Choose 'Transfer files' under 'Use USB to' choices. Step 2: Enable USB debugging on your Android. Step 3: Tap 'OK' to allow the computer access the phone data. Then you can use mouse to control and use the Android apps on the computer . 1.2 Chrome Extensions. This mechanism has a single requirement i.e., a smooth functional Internet connection. For users who are not in the mood of downloading any platform on their desktop, they can simply opt for chrome extensions. For adding the appropriate chrome extension on your Chrome browser, you need to follow the steps as follows. Step 1: Open your browser and navigate to the “Apps” section. Step 2: You need to search for an “Android Emulator” in the “Web Store” of the browser. Step 3: Add any extension in the list and conclude the setup. 1.3 Multi Boot OS. Using a dual boot OS over the PC provides you the ability to control your Android applications on PC. This feature, though quite extensive, configures and provides you a very solid platform to run Android applications on a PC. The article considers a couple of multi-boot OS for this purpose and seeks to provide a detailed guide on how to configure the complete setup and run Android apps on PC alongside Windows OS. Part 2. Android Studio's Official Android Emulator. Regardless of the discrepancies emulators come with, some users still prefer using emulators for their easy-going setup and interface. There is an expansive list of emulators available in the market, which can be effectively used to run Android apps on PC with efficiency. However, to make your selection easier and convenient, this article will target the best emulators that you can across the market. Android Studio's Official Android Emulator is accounted among the best emulators in the market. To understand its operation for effectively running apps on your PC, you need to look over the steps stated as follows. Step 1: Download and install the Android Studio platform on your PC and launch it. Step 2: Tap on “Configure” in the options and select “AVD Manager” from the drop-down menu. Step 3: Select the option of “Create Virtual Device” across the new window. Step 4: You need to select the phone from the list and proceed. Following this, confine across the appropriate Android version. Step 5: An AVD creates which can be controlled from the “Play button” on its side. Step 6: Sign in with your Google credentials and operate easily. Part 3. MEmu Player. MEmu Player is another emulator that can be considered while considering running Android apps on a PC. You need to follow the steps provided below to understand the procedure on how to run Android apps on Windows using MEmu Player. Step 1: You need to download and install the MEmu Player from the internet. After installing, open the platform and proceed. Step 2: Click on “Custom” to configure a few settings before tapping on "Install." Step 3: Change the directory of the installation location of all the Android apps. This will allow you to install more applications that you require. Step 4: Tap “Install” and launch the emulator once concluded. Step 5: The MEmu emulator is successfully installed that can be used to install Android apps on a PC. Part 4. Nox App Player. You can consider using Nox App Player to understand the method of how to run Android apps on Windows 10 PC. Follow these steps to get knowledge of this emulator. Step 1: Download Nox Player from its official website and install it successfully on your PC. Step 2: With the installation elapsed, you need to tap into start using NOX player simply. Step 3: Using the built-in Google Play Store, log in with your Google credentials and downloads Android applications of your choice. Part 5. Remix. This article discussed the consumption of Multi-Boot OS to create another OS within an OS for running Android apps on PC. Building another OS within the system allows you to have a robust use of the Android apps on a PC, even without a smartphone. The remix is one impressive platform that follows a series of detailed steps that would help you configure Remix OS within your PC, followed by consuming it successfully. Step 1: Initially, it is important to create a boot stick to install Remix OS on your PC. For this, the Remix OS provides you an Installation Tool for creating a bootable device. To create a bootable disk, extract the Remix OS’s archive and open ‘Remix OS for PC Installation”. Step 2: Tap “Browse” on the next screen and locate the .iso file from the extracted folder. Select the ‘Type’ and ‘Drive’ of the portable drive you are designing and proceed. Step 3: Select the appropriate system size for saving data and proceed. The tool will copy all files and add a bootloader within the disk. Now, you would require installing Remix OS on the portable flash disk. Step 4: You need to boot your system with the disk and select the “Resident” mode from the startup screen. Step 5: A window will appear demanding the creation of a data partition. Proceed to the ‘writing speed test’ of the disk. Step 6: A data partition will be created and formatted over successful execution. The system booting shall continue with the elapsing of the function. Step 7: With the PC booted up, you need to set up the Remix OS on your PC. After following through all the important declarations and agreements, you need to activate Google services on the OS and conclude setting up the OS. Part 6. Genymotion. If you are in search of another OS or an application that provides you effective services to run Android apps on a PC, you can consider Genymotion for this case. However, it requires a similar setup as any other application. To understand the process of setting up Genymotion on your PC, you need to follow the guide provided. Step 1: Download and install the Genymotion Desktop for your Windows OS. You need to have a good system for performing such tasks. Install the Genymotion Setup on your OS by following the on-screen instructions. After concluding the setup, you need to start installing VirtualBox on your Windows 10. It is to be kept in mind that the package of the Genymotion Desktop should be downloaded from its original website to avoid any major file missing in the package. Step 2: Start installing VirtualBox on your PC. Proceed to the next options and select the appropriate options if required. Over a warning of disconnection of all the network interfaces while installing, proceed while ignoring this prompt message. VirtualBox will successfully install in a while. Step 3: The Genymotion app is installed successfully. Launch it to use with ease. You need to create a new account on the application to run the Android apps within the platform. You need to ensure that you select the option of "Genymotion for personal use/Gaming." Conclusion. This article has introduced you to a variety of remedies that can be undertaken for running an Android app over a PC. The article has built a perspective over a variety of options to run Android applications on a PC for allowing users to select the appropriate choice according to their needs. You need to look over the article to develop an understanding of how to run Android apps on a PC. 5+ Ways to Install Android Apps on Your Phone or Tablet. Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He's written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami's NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times---and that's just here at How-To Geek. Read more. Google provides a primary for Android, known as Google Play. However, Android isn’t like iOS. Google Play isn’t the only game in town, and there are other ways to install apps on Android. Some Android devices — particularly dirt-cheap ones coming direct from manufacturers in China — aren’t certified by Google and don’t include Google Play. This makes the device much less useful, but you can still install apps on it. Google Play App. The primary way you’ll install apps on Android is by firing up the Play Store app on your phone or tablet. You’ll find the Play Store in your app drawer and likely on your default home screen. You can also open it by tapping the shopping bag-like icon at the top-right corner of the app drawer. Once in the store, browse or search for an app and tap the Install button to install it. Google Play on the Web. Hunting for apps using a touchscreen keyboard isn’t the most convenient way to install apps. To install apps from your computer, visit the Google Play website at play.google.com. You can search and browse for apps on the website. As long as you’re logged in with the same Google account you use for your Android phone or tablet, you can click the install button on the website to remotely install the app on your phone or tablet. If you have multiple Android devices, you can select the one you want the app installed on. Once you’ve told Google Play to install the app, your phone or tablet will start downloading the app and install it for you. Sideloading Apps. Android supports sideloading, which allows you to install apps from outside of Google Play. However, this is disabled by default for security reasons. To enable sideloading, open the Settings app on your Android, tap the Security category, and enable the Unknown sources check box. Note that this can be a security risk, as it allows installation of apps from outside the Play Store, which could potentially contain malware. If you enable this setting, it’s your job to install applications responsibly — stay away from pirated games and other apps that may contain Android malware. After enabling this setting, you can download an Android app in .APK format and install it on your device. For example, you could download the .APK file in your Android’s browser and open it from the Downloads app. You could also download the APK file to your computer, copy it over to your Android’s file system with a USB cable, use a file manager app to browse to it, and tap the APK file to start installing it. Sideloading allows you to install a variety of apps that aren’t available in the Play Store, such as the XBMC Media Center for Android, various emulators that have been removed from Google Play, and third-party app store apps like the Appstore for Android and Humble Bundle app. This option may not be available on some devices if the device’s manufacturer or carrier has disabled it. AT&T once did this, but it’s become much less common. Most devices should have the Unknown sources checkbox. Third-Party App Stores. Android allows for third-party app stores. The most well-known and popular one is Amazon’s Appstore for Android (currently only available in the US), which gives away a free paid app every day. Amazon’s Appstore for Android is also used natively on Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices. The ever-popular Humble Bundle, which sells bundles of indie , Mac, and , has also sold bundles of Android games. If you purchased any of the Humble Bundles containing Android games, you could install the Humble Bundle app and use it to manage the installation and updating of your Humble Bundle games. To use either the , Humble Bundle, or other third-party app stores, you’ll need to sideload the app store’s app. Some devices may come with their own, integrated third-party app stores. For example, Samsung devices come with the Samsung Apps app, which may contain free versions of some paid apps, but is otherwise fairly uninteresting. Carriers have distributed their own app stores with their Android devices in the past, but this is becoming less common. Just as you should be extra careful when sideloading apps, you should be extra careful when using third-party app stores. For example, you can probably trust Amazon and the Humble Bundle, but you should beware of many other app stores. For example, an untrustworthy app store distributing pirated apps may be a source of malware. We recommend staying away from those. Sideloading From Your PC. You can also sideload apps onto your Android device in other ways. For example, if you have an APK file on your computer, you can use the excellent AirDroid app to upload it to your Android device and install it without even connecting your Android device to your computer. If you’re a developer, you can use the adb (Android debug bridge) command to “push” an app to a connected device, installing it from your computer. The appropriate command is as follows, where :\package.apk is the path to the APK file on your computer: You can also install Android apps on your Windows PC, which opens up a whole new world of touchscreen games and apps on touch-enabled devices. What is an APK file and how to install APKs on Android? If you own an Android device you will likely have heard of an APK file at some point, and possibly wondered what it even is. Understanding this is essential if you want to start downloading leaked apps or customizing your Android experience further than would be possible using the Play Store alone. In our guide, you'll learn what APK files are, how to download them, and finally, how to install them. Jump to: What is an APK File? An Android Package Kit (APK for short) is the package file format used by the Android operating system for distribution and installation of mobile apps. Just like Windows (PC) systems use an .exe file for installing , the APK does the same for Android. When you download an APK online, you're essentially getting an app. Most users get apps from the Google Play Store, without ever seeing the word APK. But there are occasions when you would want to do otherwise. Why would I want to install an APK File? APK files of new Android builds are often leaked ahead of time, giving you to all the exciting new features that otherwise wouldn't be available to you. Also, some apps are restricted to regions outside of your own. App updates can take a frustrating amount of time to arrive automatically over the air. Getting the latest APK for your favorite apps will let you jump the queue. Or you might even not like a particular app after an update, and want to install an older version instead. And if your Android device lacks access to the Google Play Store, APK files may be your only option for installing apps on your device. Be careful though, you don't want to download stolen apps. Some APK services let you download pirated apps. This is illegal and should be avoided. Worse still, sketchy APK files may contain malware, as many who thought they were getting early versions of Fortnite for Android discovered to their dismay. Do some research before you download so you don't do anything against the law or contaminate your device. How to install an APK on your Android device. You can install APK files on your Android smartphone or tablet directly from your browser. Just open your browser, find the APK file you want to download, and tap it – you should then be able to see it downloading on the top bar of your device. Once it's downloaded, open Downloads , tap on the APK file, and tap Yes when prompted. The app will begin installing on your device. Simple. How to install APK Files from your computer. You don't need a smartphone to download and install APK files. You can also do this on desktop. Here's how it works. First, you must find an APK file you want. Search online for an APK file and download it to an easy-to-find location on your computer (like your desktop). Before you can install it on your phone you will need to make sure that third-party apps are allowed on your device. Go to Menu > Settings > Security > and check Unknown Sources to allow your phone to install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store. Newer versions of Android do things a little differently . Rather than check a global setting to allow installation from unknown sources, you'll be prompted to allow your browser or file manager to install APKs the first time you attempt to do so. If you like, you can also download a file manager app so you can easily find files on your Android device. We recommend our favorite file managers in our list of the best file explorers for Android. Once you've downloaded the APK file on your computer, connect your Android device to it. At this point, you may be asked if you want to charge your phone or connect it as a 'media device.' Choose Media device . Then, find your phone's folder on your computer. It will be in 'My Computer' or 'Computer' on Windows (PC). Copy the APK file into a folder of your choice in your Android smartphone. You will now be able to search for the file location in the My files folder of your device. Find the APK file, tap it, then hit Install. And now you're done, congratulations, you have your app. Just open it up from your smartphone and make sure it works properly. If it doesn't, repeat the process with a different APK file. You may have to try a different APK site. Do you download APK files? Which do you recommend? Let us know in the comments! The best APK download sites. There are many sources of APK files across the web, but be sure to choose a site you trust. Some APK files may contain malicious software (malware) which could compromise your phone's security. It is best to be cautious before downloading or installing any app from outside of the Play Store. Generally speaking, APK files found on reputable sites like the ones listed here should be safer to download than from elsewhere, but read some reviews and user comments before downloading or installing an APK. With APKs you can get app versions not yet available on Google Play. / © NextPit (screenshot) APKMirror is generally regarded as the safest option out there. It is now owned and operated by the Android Police, and those guys know what they are talking about. APKPure is another good option. Security is a priority on this site and you can download APKs without having to worry about spyware and viruses. Finally, is a good resource for APKs. It has more than 200 million users, apparently. Reinstall & re-enable apps. You can use apps you bought on Google Play on any Android device without paying again. However, each device must have the same Google Account on it. You can: Install an app on more than one Android device Install an app on a new Android device Reinstall an app you bought but deleted. Reinstall apps or turn apps back on. On your Android phone or tablet, open Google Play Store . On the right, tap the profile icon. Tap Manage apps & device Manage . Select the apps you want to install or turn on. Tap Install or Enable . Find previously purchased or downloaded apps. If you can’t find an app or are asked to buy it again, make sure you're using the same Google account you bought it with.