Jan 23, 2020. Oct 06, 2013. Jan 19, 2020.
Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, but just because it’s meant for mobile doesn’t mean it can’t be installed on the desktop. There are many ways to get Android running on a PC, including virtual device emulators, bootable USB versions, and even full standalone applications like BlueStacks. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs. Here is the full breakdown of each.
If you’re looking to install Android on PC, we have your back!
Using Android Studio and the virtual device
For the most part, Android development requires a tool called Android Studio. This is the software developers use to enter their code, test their apps, and manage their projects. It also happens to include a powerful “Android virtual device manager” (AVD Manager) for setting up and installing emulators that can run full-fat Android extremely well.
Using this Android virtual device has many advantages. If you select x86_64 as the architecture, there is the option to run the Android virtual device in using Intel’s Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager (HAXM) to speed up the performance. In many cases this will offer a seamless experience; especially on more powerful hardware.
Another big advantage of the AVD is that it comes with the latest version of Android. In fact, this is how most developers will first try out new updates to Android, to see how they affect their apps. That means you can even try beta versions of Android before they’re released! Another way that the virtual device has evolved since the early days is by including the Google Play Store on some devices. This means you can access all the apps you’ve already purchased!
See also: Android SDK tutorial for beginners
The AVD does require a little more set-up than some options on this list. You’ll need to download Android Studio first (alongside the SDK) and then you’ll need to create your new virtual device. This process does give you the option to choose the display size, memory, and even Android version. Unfortunately, the combination of Android Studio, the Android SDK (which houses the Android Virtual Device), and the Android platform all take up a lot of harddrive space.
This method will work on OS X, Windows and Linux without issue. Android Studio, including the AVD Manager, can be found here.
Pure Android emulation with Genymotion
Genymotion is a legacy Android on PC project, offering pure Android emulation with thousands of configuration options available to tailor your experience. The software runs an Android Virtual Device from within VirtualBox, which you’ll also need to install.
One of Genymotion’s biggest draws is the simulation of GPS, camera, SMS & calls, multi-touch, and basically all the other familiar Android hardware features. Other features include ADB access, support for a variety of app testing frameworks, even cloud access through services like Amazon and Alibaba.
Remember though, Genymotion is primarily targeted at developers looking for an environment in which to test their applications. As such, it’s a professional environment with a selection of price plans to match. However, you can download and use the Personal Edition for free.
Open source Android x86.org Android on PC
Next on our list is a free open-source option – Android x86.org.
Based on the Android Open Source Project, Android-x86.org set out to make Android available to anyone with a PC. This makes Android x86 one of the best options if you’re looking to install the latest version of Android on PC and use it as your primary operating system or run it in a VM. The software offers near complete stock Android with no additions whatsoever, which is a mixed bag. The good news is that Google Play Services is installed by default, but using something made for touch on a desktop is not that intuitive.
Unfortunately, installation is a little more involved than some of the applications listed below. The standard method is to burn an Android-x86 version to a bootable CD or USB stick and install the Android OS directly to your hard drive. Alternatively, you can install Android-x86 to a Virtual Machine, such as VirtualBox, giving you access from within your regular operating system.
From inside your Virtual Machine, you can install the ISO file and then boot into the operating system. An official guide to the installation options for Android-x86 can be found here.
Old but gold – BlueStacks
BlueStacks is one of the longest-enduring methods to install Android on PC, founded in 2011 and still going strong. BlueStacks has impressive performance, though it’s not a patch on the Android Virtual Device. Additional features include: a simplified UI, optimizations dedicated to gaming, key-mapping, and multi-instance support to run multiple apps and even Google Accounts at once.
The user interface on Windows is more akin to what you would see in a web browser and offers quick app switching in a tab format on the top of the window. Those hoping to install their own launchers will be disappointed, however, as the option is no longer available since BlueStacks 4. On the plus side, BlueStacks also integrates with Windows to transfer files like APKs and there is even universal copy and paste.
BlueStacks remains a virtual machine at its core. So you don’t quite get native system performance, but this keeps the application simple to install and run. BlueStacks 4 runs on a 32-bit version of Android 7.1.2 Nougat, so it’s not the most up-to-date out of all the options out there. It is also heavily monetized, which some find distasteful: it will repeatedly request that you download apps from its partners, and you’ll need to pay a fee if you choose not to.
Even so, BlueStacks remains one of the best methods of running Android on PC out there. Check out what BlueStacks has to offer by clicking on the link below. You can download the platform at the bottom of the page.
Android Tv Os For Pc
One for the gamers – MEmu
If you’re after a simple way to run Android games on a Windows PC, MEmu might be the way to go. The Chinese software is ad-supported, which might be a put-off compared to alternatives. However, MEmu’s gaming-focused features might be worth it for some.
MEmu supports multiple-instances, allowing you to run several apps at once to level up multiple accounts. There’s also support for keyboard and mouse input as well as gamepads so you can play your way. Other functionalities include the ability to sideload apps and window resizing with a minimum sizing that prevents apps from becoming unusable.
In terms of performance, MEmu gained popularity as a faster emulator compared to BlueStacks 3. However, the race is much closer these days given BlueStack 4’s performance improvements. The latest MEmu version supports up to Android 7.1, with Android 5.1 and 4.4 compatibility included too.
There are a number of other game-focused clients that let you install Android on PC, including Gameloop (formerly Tencent Gaming Buddy), NoX, and others. Check out our list of the best Android emulators for more niche options.
Comparing the best options to install Android on PC
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, but it really depends on what you want out of having Android on your desktop.
Bluestacks and other emulators like it have some baggage. Genymotion uses VirtualBox’s virtualization. Android-x86 works great as a proof of concept, but it isn’t that practical to use when comparing it to the other options discussed in this article.
On balance, this author finds installing the AVD Manager to be the optimal solution. While it comes packaged with Android Studio, the performance and flexibility are unmatched. Plus it is genuinely free, officially supported by Google, and constantly up-to-date. Hey Google! Why not release the virtual device separately?
OpenThos is the Android-based operating system that can provide a full-fledged Android X86 experience on PC with additional apps and functions. It is based on free and open-source (Foss) Android OS called Android-X86, although the base of both PC Android operating systems is the same, look and feel is quite different. The OpenThos looks very professional with Windows 10 like interfaces such as Taskbar, My computer icon, and right side notification panel.
The OpenthOS is developed by Chinese developers and it is also an open-source project. If you are a developer, the source code of OpenthOS is available on GitHub.
Personally, I have tried a couple of Andriod PC operating systems but this one is easy to use and quite stable than others. If you want to know about other available Android OS 32bit or 64-bit then here is the article:4 Best Foss Android OS for PC 64 bit or 32 bit
Well, coming to OpenThos, the latest version of this operating system while writing this article was 2.0. Officially this Android PC OS is present in both Chinese and English language which one can choose while installing it.
Foss OpenThos Features
- Secure and easy to use
- Application security sandbox
- Data partition file with access verification
- Pre-installed applications such as Microsoft Office, Command Terminal, WPS office, VLC player, Note, and more…
- Free, open-source OS based on Android-x86
- Linux/Windows 10 like Taskbar, Notification panel, File Explorer and icons.
- Great performance
- 60FPS drawing frame rate
- Intuitive Graphical user interface (GUI)
- Full disk encryption available
- UEFI Boot Manager (support for Windows, Linux and OS X)
- Apps optimization
- Sync with mobile devices login with the same Google account
- It supports Android apps and Linux apps in multi-Windows
OpenThos requirements of a system
- Need x86-based CPU
- 64-bit support
- At least 2Gb RAM recommended 4GB
- 8GB Storage at least if you are planning just for testing it. For personal or commercial use you need more to save files and apps installation; at least 50G-100G free space.
Download OpenThos OS for PC
The latest image of the OpenThos which is available to download is in Disc image file format i.e IMG not in ISO which might be a problem for someone. However, the older version 1.o is available in both ISO and IMG, I hope soon the 2.0 will also be available in ISO. Here is the link for OpenThos Download.
Create OpenThos bootable USB Drive
Step 1:
Once the download is completed, its time to put the OpenThos on a USB drive, so that we can install or use it live where ever we want.
Step 2:
Take at least 8GB of Pen Drive and insert it into the Windows 10 or Mac system.
Step 3:
Balena Etcher software to flash the OpenThos.IMG to Flash USB drive. It is available for both Windows and Mac. Here is the Download link for Etcher
Step 4:
Install the Etcher and run it. From its screen, click on the Select Image option and select the above-downloaded image of OpenThos and then select the USB drive which you want to make bootable. After these two things finally, click on the Flash button.
Step 5:
Once the flashing of Openthos OS is done. Eject the Pen drive and insert it to the System where you want to install it.
How to install Openthos
Insert the Openthos bootable USB drive to laptop or PC and boot it.
Note: You need to set the first boot priority to Removable drive.
When the OpenThos booted the first which appears with some Chinese text but don’t worry it will install in the English language.
Press F11 to get different booting options for OpenThos such as OpenThos Live boot, Live (DEBUG), and OpenThos Installation.
To experience this Android OS without installing select the Live option and to install on the Hard Drive using the Installation. After that just follow the guided instruction and it will install on the system.
OpenthOS review: Free Android PC OS
Install Android Os On Laptop
Design
The OpenthOS is one of the best Android PC OS, I have ever used. Even the Android x86 which is the based of this operating is not useful and optimized, like it. After the installation, the first screen which comes at the front is really awesome. The friendly Desktop environment as you can see in the below screenshot. Same familiar taskbar, Mu Computer icon, and start button which are very much like the Windows OS. So, those are used to Windows or Linux operating systems will not going to get any kind of problem in the OpenthOS free Android operating system.
Apps
The next thing is the access to apps. This is a cake of Pie, well designed, and easy to use. Just like Windows, when you click on the Start button given on the left bottom side you will all install apps including Settings, File Manager, and Power option like Windows 10. The best part is the apps. Out of the box, the system contains or should I say pre-installed all the basic apps which one needs in daily tasks such as a browser, command Terminal, WPS Office, Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint; VLC player, Sound recorder, calculator, and more.
If you need any special Android app then you have two stores there: One is our regular Google play store, and another one is the Chinese AppStore; however, the Appstore would not be feasible in usage for English language users because most of the available apps in it are in the Chinese language.
Performance
We have installed and tested the latest Verison of the OpenThos which was available while creating this article: Version 2.0. It based on Android 5.1.1(Lolipop). The Gigabyte motherboard and Intel Pentium R process 3.2GHz and RAM 4GB was the test system of ours.
At this configuration, the OpenThOS Android PC operating system was quite smooth without any lags. Yes, while heavy multitasking some time the UI gets crashed and all running apps closed; which sometimes could be a problem for heavy multitasking users. However, if you are a moderate user then no problem at all. Another issue which we faced, it could not recognize my sound card by default. And to enable it, we need to run a couple of commands from the Terminal available in it. Also, few things such as Display Brightness control and other hardcore settings feature didn’t work obviously because they natively meant for smartphones.
As I said you can install any app from the available Google Play store but the big question rises which so many users are looking for? Can OpenthOS run the PUBG? So, the answer is NO.
I said this because it perfectly had downloaded the PUBG in my case but after the installing, it was unable to run. When I tried to run it, the Game opened and automatically stopped. I tried 8- 9 times but the same thing had happened…
So, you can’t run the PUBG but other normal games including Asphalt can be run on it. However, this problem will not be with apps, almost all apps run normally and fluently.
Linux Apps
Apart from Android apps, one can also install and use Linux apps. As it supports Debian or Ubuntu-based software. I tried to install the VIM and Nano text editor on it and didn’t find any issue.
Even you can download and run the Apache server on it using the command Terminal.
To install and update packages, the command is:
It supports Ubuntu’s Advanced Packaging Tool (APT)
So, overall being a free and open-source system, we don’t have any complaints because it is better than Phoenix and the original Android X86 OS. If you compare the Openthos and Phoenix os both are popular Andoird operating systems and based on the original Android X86 project. The OpenthOS is better because of functionality and ease of use including performance. The thing which might be put newbies in a bit chaos is its Disk image file i.e is available in IMG format not in ISO; I am saying this because most of the Virtual Machines support this format. So, even for testing this Android operating system; we have to make OpenthOS bootable Pendrive first. But I am sure, in the upcoming months, the ISO image of its latest version will be available too.
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