Emulators are so powerful that you can do almost all the things on your Windows machine, just as you would on an Android device. You can install all Android apps/games and enjoy them on the big screen. There are multiple Android emulators that you can try on your Windows PC/laptop. Most of them are free and provide you with a full-fledged Android experience on your Windows machine. In this post, we will share with you 7 of the best Android emulators for Windows. Let us check them out.
1. Windows 11 Android Emulator
Android apps can be obtained from the Microsoft Store found in the Start Menu. Also, you can directly sideload APK files onto Windows, making Android apps more like EXEs applications. The only drawback with the new Windows 11 Android app support is it does not have Google Mobile Services (GMS) support. The GMS acts as a bridge that syncs data, stores, and collects data that help Google Apps (YouTube, Gmail, Google Assistant, and Google Dependent apps to work smoothly).
2. BlueStacks
Well, the list has to start with one of the most popular and smooth Android emulators available for Windows, the BlueStacks. Not only on Windows, but if you are curious, then yes! You can install and enjoy Android apps/games on a Mac OS machine as well using BlueStacks. This emulator is feature-loaded, provides you with customized control schemes, runs multiple instances of the emulator to play multiple games, and more. BlueStacks latest version is very lightweight and the fastest Android emulator. It can run on any kind of Windows hardware, i.e., Intel or AMD. Samsung device owners can now enjoy Samsung Store on BlueStacks, as a part of a partnership between both companies. BlueStacks emulator supports Windows 7, and 8.1 also. However, do note that providing all these wonderful and feature-packed performances, will hog onto your PC’s resources. Download
3. Gameloop
The main idea behind installing an Android emulator on a Windows OS machine is to play games on the big screen of your PC/laptop. And one of the popular games that we all love to play is PUBG. What if I tell you, there is an official Android emulator developed by “Tencent,” the developers of PUBG, which allows you to play popular titles like PUBG, Free Fire, Genshin Impact, COD, etc? Yes! The emulator is called Gameloop. It was previously called Tencent Gaming Buddy, which was developed as a part of a desktop-mobile gaming experiment. Earlier it was only meant to play PUBG on Windows, but now, Gameloop has extended its support for a huge number of games. Additionally, you can also install Google Play Store using a separate module available inside the setup. It comes with mouse and keymapping support and is optimized for various graphics standards. Download
4. MEmu Play
MEmu Play is another powerful Android emulator that you can install to enjoy Android apps/games on your Windows PC. Just like BlueStacks, it also supports both Intel and AMD processors. It is based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, and can also run on Android KitKat 4.4, and Lollipop 5.0. You can run three different instances of MEmu Play for all three Android versions. Overall performance of MEmu Play is brilliant, and you won’t feel lag or any kind of stutter while playing games or even using apps for that matter. It offers built-in keyboard and mouse mapping, allowing you easily map your controls and play your favorite games. Graphic-wise, thanks to enhanced OpenGL and DirectX 3D rendering, you get stunning visuals. Download
5. LDPlayer
Another Android emulator based on Android 7.1 Nougat, which is lightweight and runs pretty flawlessly, is LDPlayer. Though you can make use of LDPlayer for running apps, it is more focused on games. You can several popular titles such as PUBG, Epic Seven, Clash of Clans, Free Fire, and more. There is also a dedicated app store. Besides, there is an in-built Virtualization Technology option under the Settings page. This setting helps you enhance the performance of this Android emulator. It also supports both Intel and AMD processors. One good thing, which I personally liked, is the less bloatware this emulator comes with. Features like running multiple instances of LDPlayer with different games, customizing your controls, play games in high FPS, make it a worthy competitor of BlueStacks. Download
6. Mumu Player
Mumu Player is an emulator created by the Chinese gaming company NetEase. It is a free emulator that provides users with a smooth gaming experience. The installation process is straightforward. It runs on Windows 7, 8, and 10. It requires a minimum of 4GB RAM and 2GB of space on the installation disk. It runs Android 6.0, which is a bit old, but it works seamlessly. Keymapping, 120FPS frame, support for importing APKs, and gamepad function are some of its features. Download
7. Nox Player
Nox Player is another good option if you are looking for an Android emulator for your Windows machine. The user interface is friendly, just like all the other emulators mentioned in this post, and provides a host of features, other than just gaming. Talking about some of the features, you get controller mapping and compatibility features, gameplay optimization, and change the Android device’s build. prop, access nearly everything with a keyboard shortcut, root Android devices with one click, and more. All these features, plus the in-built Google Play Store, make it a worthy competitor to the likes of BlueStacks, and MEmu Play emulators. Furthermore, you can record the screen, take screenshots, and adjust the FPS settings appropriate for your gameplay, among other features. So, if you are looking for a feature-loaded Android emulator for Windows, then Nox Player should be your choice. Do note that it is based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. So, this could be a downside as the interface is not updated. Download
8. Remix OS Player
Remix OS Player is an Android emulator, which is a toned-down version of the Remix OS, which is a system based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It allows you to play multiple games at the same time, and the performance of the Remix OS Player is flawless. It supports all Windows OS right, from Windows 7, 8.1, and Windows 10. However, do note that Remix OS Player does not support AMD hardware configurations. Users can play all their favorite gaming titles and even apps such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp on Remix OS Player since it comes with Google Play Store. It is regarded as one of the fastest and best Android emulators for Android developers as it optimizes the apps for Android OS and Chrome OS environments with an add-on mouse and multi-window support. Download
9. Droid4X
At just 8.3 MB, it is a petite emulator, but don’t let its size fool you. Droid4x requires a minimum of 1GB of RAM and 20GB of hard disk space, which is reasonable. It is used as an android emulator for Windows PC. Using this emulator, you can play many popular android games and run applications on your PC. Droid4X is compatible with all existing versions of Windows, including Win 7, 8, and 10. Using the inbuilt screen recorder of the emulator, you can record anything you want. You can directly download any app or a game file using the downloader embedded within the app. If you’re a developer, you can test your apps too on this emulator. Download Driod4X
10. Genymotion Cloud
An easy-to-use Android emulator that has been designed to help developers test Apps. With Genymotion, you can run Android Apps over the cloud as a virtual machine. You just need to sign in and on the main screen, click Add to select and download an Android machine to emulate. Select a device from the range of tablets and phones available with various Android versions. Start the machine, and done. The Emulator runs over the cloud on SaaS, PaaS, AWS, CGS, and more. So, you just need a modern, updated browser and good internet speeds. You can use the emulator as a virtual Android device and perform all functions as on a conventional mobile. Though the service is paid, you get 1000 minutes for free. You can test your apps and games for various device conditions that include, performance over different battery levels, Wi-Fi Strength, Data, GPS, Pixel, Gyroscope, Different Storage Levels, RAM, Multitouch, and more. The VM offers a number of tools and plugins for deep testing of the App. Download Genymotion
Use Android Studio to Test Apps
The Android Studio is specifically catered towards developers who want to develop Android Apps. You get a number of custom-tailored features to test out your product. The Studio’s emulator is very complex and is best suited for developers who want to test out their Apps for various conditions like signal strength, battery, storage, RAM, CPU, GPU, and more. This emulator is an official tool from Android which is too complicated for the consumer due to very minute programs. But if you are the developer and want to experiment with the App for performance and usage, Studio is the best emulator for your PC. It comes with features like APK Analyzer, Layout tester, real-time error detection, code editing, and more. Download Studio If you’ve any thoughts on 10 Best Windows 11 Android Emulators, then feel free to drop in below comment box. Also, please subscribe to our DigitBin YouTube channel for videos tutorials. Cheers!
