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The fastest Android emulator for Windows 7. The best free Android OS emulators for your computer. Nox App Player is perhaps the best emulator

Well then. We have come to the most important part of the review, but can we choose an emulator that we can call the best without any twinges of conscience? Let's think about it.

  • Firstly, it is worth noting that most of the presented software are solutions from Chinese developers who quickly “cool” towards the project and stop “supporting” it. This is actually why not everyone supports Android versions higher than 4.4, and the same software testing should be carried out on several versions of the OS.
  • Secondly, it is impossible to name the best of the best for one simple reason - different software is designed for different categories of users. Let's try to distribute it wisely.

BlueStacks, Andy, Nox, MEmu– popular emulators, free, approximately equal in capabilities, functions, with similar implementation. All of them are designed for ordinary users, which need to install, run, press a button and get the result. Here you won’t have to set up anything for a long time - virtual reality will load immediately, and the user interface will delight you with its intuitiveness.

Looks good compared to its peers Nox App Player. The application player installs quickly, works stably, and supports all modern games. Provides the most convenient control and is not demanding on PC resources. It’s nice that the computer program is equally convenient for both gamers and ordinary users, and also does not bother you with advertising, unlike some popular alternatives. Another plus is that you don’t need a Google account to install “computer games” from a company store!

And a few more words about BlueStacks. The developers offer a fairly high-quality product with a package of essential services. For example, video streaming on Twitch.tv, as well as access to adapted versions of games with controls modified for PC. Among other things, BlueStacks performs very well in games. The emulation is of quite high quality, and there are minimal brakes, since the creators of the program removed unnecessary processes in the OS, reducing the load on the computer’s RAM and central processor.

Windroy is our winner in the “simple emulator” category. Its undemanding nature deserves special honor and praise. But if Windroy allows a maximum of “throwing birds”, then Droid4X you will pass demanding games that once migrated to Android from PC without discomfort. With this emulator you will want to conquer all the tracks in Asphalt, destroy all the enemies in Gangstar, and, of course, be nostalgic for Infinity Blade, but on a personal computer. Root access for using cheats is included.

There are as many as three emulator options on our list that are suitable for professional testing: BlueStacks, Genymotion And LeapDroid. The first contender got here for the quality of his workmanship. The second is for the variety of images - almost any top-segment cell phone is emulated, and the third is for the number of settings.

notice, that Genymotion And LeapDroid do not contain the virtual machine engine, but simply create images for VirtualBox. But Genymotion clearly does it better. The program database contains profiles of several dozen smartphones and tablets on different OS, up to Nexus on Android 7 Nougat. Moreover, the set is constantly updated - this is suitable for developers and testers.

As for LeapDroid– this is software for geeks and advanced users. If you want to spend a lot of time, but use trial and error to configure the emulator to work perfectly, we recommend downloading it for free. Support for opengl (hardware virtualization technology) will undoubtedly be an advantage when choosing among analogues. However, the development environment is not disabled. The product is more household than specialized. It’s too early to include it in the best Android emulators.

P.S. advanced users will probably ask, where is the youwave emulator, which is so praised on other sites? The answer is that we have not tested products based on ICS or older versions of the operating system. We will say the same thing if you came to download the Android emulator on your Computer Amiduos or Koplayer - the applications are clearly outdated and have not been updated for a long time.

By default, the Android operating system is designed for use on devices with a processor that has ARM architecture. An x86 computer processor from AMD or Intel simply will not understand the commands coming from the mobile operating system. Therefore, a special version of Android is installed on the PC. Or an emulator is used, as is the case when running games for very old consoles. But which one should you choose? Our top Android emulators will help answer this question.

It should be noted that many of the developers’ creations are designed for use on Windows 10. Older versions may experience freezes and other problems. Although there are exceptions.

Without any doubt, this is the best emulator among those that have been developed relatively recently. It has not yet turned into a monster overloaded with functionality, but it contains all the capabilities that an ordinary user needs. The program should also suit the application developer who needs to test their products.

An important feature is the fact that there is a built-in Play Store here. Also, this Android emulator on Windows impresses with its performance. Even when running heavy games, FPS drops are almost not felt. Another great thing about the program is that it can be controlled remotely using a smartphone. It also recognizes the connected one.

To use the emulator, you need to enable AMD-V or Intel VT-x virtualization technology. Without it, the program will function noticeably slower. It should also be noted that the emulator is not yet fully optimized and tested, and therefore random stuttering may occur from time to time.

Advantages:

  • Able to work even without enabling virtualization technology;
  • Excellent performance;
  • Clear interface;
  • Remote control support;
  • Ability to use a gamepad;
  • 99% of existing applications and games work.

Flaws:

  • Sometimes there is unstable operation.

We described in more detail about the installation of this program in the article entitled. This utility is primarily intended for application developers who need to test their creations on devices with different screen resolutions. offers a huge number of virtual gadgets equipped not only with different displays, but also with different versions of the Android operating system.

You can download this emulator completely free of charge. But if you are going to use it for non-trial purposes, you will have to use one or another subscription, which costs some money. What is important is that the program is intended for weak PCs, as long as the computer supports virtualization technology. At the same time, Genymotion consistently copes with its tasks, emulating not only the operating system, but also the operation of front cameras, as well as interaction with wireless modules. Commercial builds additionally include a screencast and remote control function.

Advantages:

  • A huge zoo of virtual devices;
  • Almost nothing needs to be configured;
  • There are versions for Mac OS X and Linux;
  • The operation of the front and main cameras is emulated;
  • Shared clipboard for virtual machine and PC;
  • You have access to the computer command line;
  • After subscribing, screencast and remote control are provided;
  • Even wireless modules are emulated.

Flaws:

  • The need to register an account on the developers’ website;
  • Full use is possible only by subscription.

This Android emulator for a computer in Russian has one unpleasant feature. Its free version brings viruses to PCs from time to time. If you have a good antivirus, then you should not be afraid of this. And there is no need to worry at all if you are an application developer who wants to sign up for a paid subscription, which costs about two dollars a month - it instantly eliminates this drawback.

In theory can be used on Windows 7. But it shows maximum performance on “ten”, like many other programs reviewed today. As for the functionality of the emulator, it is very wide. The user can launch 3D games, work in full screen mode, install an unlimited number of applications and perform other actions. You can even synchronize with your existing Android device. BlueStacks comes with pre-installed applications, the number of which exceeds a dozen.

Advantages:

  • Ability to run heavy games;
  • There are pre-installed applications;
  • Stable work;
  • Synchronization with a real smartphone or tablet;
  • Easy to learn interface;
  • Inexpensive subscription.

Flaws:

  • The free version is prone to downloading viruses.

Nox


If you are considering Android emulators on PC just for the sake of games, then you should stop at Nox. This program supports the largest number of input organs. You can work with this emulator using a keyboard, mouse, gamepad and other game controllers.

A unique feature of Nox is its support for multitasking. Right in the window of this emulator you can run two games at once, thereby creating multiplayer. Ideal for multiplayer game developers!

The emulator has a clear interface. Users note that the program functions equally stably on all modern versions of the Windows operating system.

Advantages:

  • Stable operation on most computers;
  • The best option for games;
  • Ability to run two identical games simultaneously;
  • The interface and setup are straightforward.

Flaws:

  • Old version of Android.

Xamarin Android Player

This is the simplest emulator of the Android operating system, distributed free of charge. In theory, app developers could try it. But such people will note the lack of any serious functionality, after which they will switch to more advanced analogues. Well, for ordinary users of the opportunities Xamarin Android Player will be quite enough.

This program works on all versions of Windows, starting from Windows 7. But to install it you will need VirtualBox from Oracle (also distributed free of charge). Also, do not forget to enable the appropriate technology in the BIOS settings.

Advantages:

  • Very simple interface;
  • All basic functions are in place;
  • There are no installation problems;
  • Compatible with different versions of Windows;
  • Can be downloaded for free.

Flaws:

  • There are no serious functions;
  • No good multitasking;
  • Hard games are played with great difficulty.

Another fairly simple Android emulator for PC. It was created by Chinese developers, so you shouldn’t expect any serious capabilities from it. Moreover, the program regularly exhibits slowdowns, which some people will find annoying. But can be installed even on Windows XP, which cannot be said about most of its competitors! Perhaps this is its main and only advantage. In addition, you can only remember the high speed of operation - in those moments when sudden braking does not occur.

Advantages:

  • Competent emulation of Android and most applications;
  • Simplified installation;
  • Completely free;
  • Works even on older versions of Windows;
  • Good performance.

Flaws:

  • No gamepad support;
  • Sudden brakes during operation;
  • No normal multitasking.

Summarizing

There are actually other Android emulators out there. But they often work even less stably, and therefore their installation is not recommended. Well, the developers of the programs we reviewed deserve praise. Their creations function perfectly on most computers, while offering quite a wide range of functionality.

For operating systems running Mac OS 10.X, Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, a huge number of tablet emulators on PCs running on Android OS have been created. And among all the variety of programs, a couple of unique ones should be highlighted: Genymotion and Bluestacks.

This representative of emulators is now the most advanced and sophisticated. It uses the section with settings and navigation from Android, but the interface has significant differences.

Thanks to the built-in Google Play Store, you can easily download and install many programs and games that this emulator supports. In addition to standard functions, you can use Google Drive and freely check email, as well as unlimited use of the Internet, just like on a regular tablet.

A huge advantage of this emulator is its simple and convenient downloading. Just go to the official website of the program and click the download button (Download App), and after downloading, launch it and easily install it on your PC. During installation, select the required OS (supported from Windows XP to Windows 8, as well as Mac OS X).

After installing the emulator, you should make settings. By going to the “Settings” of the program, connect your Google account; to do this, go to the “Accounts” tab and enter your data or register if you don’t have a profile. After logging into Google services, you can download various applications and games from the Play Store, as well as save statistics and achievements in online games. Read more about installing and setting up an Android tablet emulator later in this article.

But the Bluestacks emulator has a couple of disadvantages, and the main one is the high consumption of RAM. So, according to the minimum specifications, 2 GB of RAM is required. Consequently, an old and low-power PC will not cope with the task. Also, many games simply cannot be played. Among these: action games, namely “Fruit Ninja,” where you need to perform game actions in five touches, which is impossible to do on a PC. But in strategies and MMORPGs there will be no problems with controls.

This emulator is shareware, which means you either need to pay money to use it ($2/month or $24/year) or install the games offered.

Go to the software developer’s website and download the application. To do this, click on the big green button.

Launch the downloaded file and click the “Continue” button.

Select the location of the data and click “Next”.

In the next window, you can enable or disable “Store Access” and “Notifications”.

After clicking the “Install” button, installation of the application will begin.

After the installation is complete, we will see the start window. The view is a little different from the tablet's home desktop. To fix this you need to install a launcher. But before that you need to register an account with Google. To do this, click on any application from the list.

We will be taken to the Add Google Account page. If you already have an account, then simply click “Existing” and enter your details. I will create a new one.

Enter your first and last name.

We come up with a login, which will also be our Gmail mailbox.

Create a strong password.

Next, you will be asked to create an opportunity to recover your password using SMS or an additional email address. You can skip this step. Additional Google services, such as mailing and backup, can be left if you need it.

We accept the terms of use of Google services.

Important! It is better to register an account on your computer and then simply log in, since doing this using an emulator will be quite problematic.

Now you need to go to the Play Store. To do this, click on any application in the emulator. In the search, enter “launcher” and install a Russian-language launcher, for example GO launcher EX.

Now we all have the familiar desktop of an Android tablet.

Genymotion

Genymotion - this tablet emulator for a computer is even more demanding on system performance. For it to work you need: hardware virtualization function VT-x or AMD-V, support for OpenGL 2.0, free hard disk memory 400MB, RAM 2GB.

Its main difference from other applications is a complete copy of the Android interface.

To download the program, the PC owner will have to register on the manufacturer’s official website, after which he will have the opportunity to download the emulator and install it on his computer. When you first launch the program, a list of available operating systems is offered, as well as shells that will be copied to the PC. In addition, you can choose the version of Android from the oldest to the most recently released - Android Lollipop.

Despite all the simplicity and perfection of Genymotion, it has a drawback. Namely, the lack of pre-installed Google programs, as well as Google Play. So you will have to search for additional services through the browser of the installed emulator on the Internet.

In the free version there will be an inscription at the bottom left of the program window “Free for personal use” (for personal use). The paid version is quite expensive at €299 per year.

Go to the website genymotion.com and register.

Now you need to select the version of your operating system and click on the link to download the application.

Run the downloaded file and perform the installation. There is nothing complicated about this, just click the “next” and “install” buttons.

When you first start the program, you need to select the device that will be emulated on the computer by clicking the “Yes” button and entering your username and password.

From the proposed list, you can tear out your device (if present) or any other. You can also select the version of the Android operating system.

In this way, you can select and download emulators of different devices; they will be displayed in the list of the program window. To start, you need to press the “Start” button.

This is how easy it is to install a tablet emulator on your PC.

Bottom line

I have tested both programs. I want to say right away that I was not able to install any of the programs on my old laptop from 5 years ago. This once again confirms the significant requirements of these applications.

When choosing which Android emulator to install, Genymotion or Bluestacks, you need to be guided by the characteristics of the computer. If the PC is powerful then the choice falls on Genymotion, otherwise Bluestacks will be the best choice.

From my experience of using it, I liked Bluestacks more, everything works quickly and is easy to configure. Genymotion constantly slowed down and froze for some reason unknown to me.

Using the keyboard and mouse. In any case, Android on personal computers exists and below we will look at them. It should be noted that to use them you must have certain technical skills. Many of these emulators are similar to each other.

AMIDuOS

AMIDuOS comes first on our list because it is a relatively new Android emulator for PC. There are two versions of the application available: for Android Lollipop and for Android Jelly Bean. The first costs $15, the second $10. No subscription is needed, you only have to pay to purchase the emulator once. The program copes well with numerous tasks. Most of its functions are aimed at increasing productivity. For this reason, this emulator is well suited for use in the office, work from home, etc. There are no special gaming features here, but the games run well despite this. Developers can use this emulator for basic testing tasks, but it is not suitable for more advanced purposes. Overall, this is a good emulator and worth giving it a chance.

Emulator from Android Studio

Android Studio is an integrated development environment for Android developed by Google. There are a number of tools here to help developers create apps and games directly for Android. This is not the best option for consumers, but application developers get a powerful and free tool for testing their programs. Setting up the emulator is not easy, but then it’s easy to work with.

Andy

When this emulator appeared, reviews said that it had some problems, but despite them, it is a good replacement for applications like BlueStacks. This emulator handles a wide range of Android tasks, including work apps, downloaders, games, and you can even install Root access. The program works well and is also available for free. Some users complain about problems during installation, you need to keep this in mind.

BlueStacks

BlueStacks has long been the most famous Android emulator on the computer. It could no longer be called the best option, but last year the developers devoted a lot of time to updating their program. The result is BlueStacks 2, which is faster and more stable. Multitasking applications and built-in functionality such as location setting are supported. The main target audience of this emulator remains gamers. This is not the best program for productivity work, but the price remains the same. There are quite a few bloatware applications here, but overall the emulator is not bad.

Droid4X

Droid4X has its advantages and disadvantages. This is one of the classic Android emulators on personal computers. It has a simple design that makes it easy for most users to use. It is unknown if development of this program is still ongoing, but the download page is still in place, so it is recommended to use it with caution.

Genymotion

This Android emulator is aimed at developers who want to test games and applications on different devices without having to purchase them. You can configure the emulator for different devices with different versions of Android. For example, you can emulate a Nexus One running Android 4.2 or a Nexus 6 running Android 6.0. You can quickly switch between different virtual devices. It's not the best option for consumer purposes, but Genymotion is available free for personal use.

KoPlayer

KoPlayer is a new Android emulator on PC that until recently remained in the shadows. The main audience of the program will be gamers. You can assign functions to keys and use the keyboard instead of the joystick. You can record gameplay on video and upload it to various services. The installation is quite simple and does not bring any unpleasant surprises. Like most emulators, this one sometimes encounters problems during operation. It can be used for a variety of tasks. The downside is that there are a certain number of bugs, but it is still a good free option.

Manymo

Manymo is also an interesting choice, mainly because it works online. This makes it a cross-platform program for any desktop operating system; it can run on any processor. There is support for different sizes and tools for developers. It is for them that the emulator is primarily intended, and not for consumers. The price depends on how many emulators buyers are going to use using the site.

MEmu

Another of the modern Android emulators, which is also doing well. One of the advantages is support for AMD and Intel processors, which is rare. Android versions Jelly Bean, Kit Kat and Lollipop are supported, and you can run multiple instances at the same time. This is one of the few emulators that supports such a modern version as Lollipop. It can be used for a variety of purposes and can run most applications and games. Recommended mainly for work.

Nox

Like BlueStacks, Nox will be useful mainly for gamers. There are utilities specifically for their needs. You will be able to interact with games as if you had a real joystick. You can assign a swipe to the right, for example, to an arrow on the keyboard and press it instead of the screen. In most cases, such a replacement does its job perfectly.

Remix OS Player

Remix OS Player from Jide was released on PC not so long ago. This is the only emulator on the list that works with Android Marshmallow instead of Android Lollipop or Kit Kat. The installation process is simple, as is working with the emulator afterwards. It's designed for gaming, and there are quite a few settings options on the side panel. The emulator is new, so sometimes there are bugs. Even so, it works better than most and is free. The only major disadvantage is the lack of support for AMD processors.

Windroy

Windroy is a classic and is one of the oldest Android emulators on PC. For this reason, it is difficult to recommend it to all users. There is an opinion that this emulator works best on not the most modern versions of Windows. It is intended mainly for work, not for games; there will be no problems with running office applications. The emulator is free and easy to install.

Xamarin

Xamarin is an integrated development environment similar to Android Studio. The difference is that it can be connected to products like Microsoft Visual Studio. Like Android Studio, it has a built-in emulator for developers. This is a product for developers, unless you are willing to set up the entire development environment yourself. The Xamarin emulator isn't as powerful as options like Genymotion, but it gets the job done. The program is free for personal use; companies and large development groups must negotiate a paid plan.

YouWave

YouWave is one of the oldest Android emulators on PC, last updated in mid-2016. The free version offers Android Ice Cream Sandwich, while $29.99 gets you access to Android Lollipop. The emulator works quite well, the installation process is simple. There are no distinctive functions for games here, but it still handles games just fine. We can recommend this program to those who are encountering emulators for the first time.

Own emulator

You can even create your own emulator if you wish. You need to download VirtualBox and the system image from the Android-x86.org website. Next you need to find instructions on the Internet and follow them. This is the most difficult option to get an Android emulator; without a certain level of technical skills, it is better not to try. There will be bugs and without programming skills it will be difficult to fix them.

Reading time: 3 minutes.

Greetings, dear reader. Today I will tell you about four wonderful tools - an emulator of the Android operating system for a regular desktop computer (PC) running the Windows operating system; the version, in principle, does not matter much.

A few words about why, in fact, you need an emulator (some also call it a simulator, by and large there is no difference, you can call it both an emulator and a simulator, both names are correct). Emulator (simulator) - needed to run games created for the Android operating system on a PC (regular computer).

One of the most popular emulators of the Android operating system on PC. This emulator (simulator) will allow you to run Android games not only on regular PCs, but also on Mac computers. Using this software, you can play your favorite games directly on the screen of your personal computer (PC). Among the features of the program I would like to highlight the following:

  1. The program supports synchronization between the Android mobile device and the PC on which this software is installed;
  2. Ability to download and install the application directly from the official Google Play store;
  3. Using the application you can get ROOT rights to your mobile device.

You can download this software from the link posted above. Suitable for running games.

Andy

Another good emulator (simulator) of the Android operating system for PC. For now, the version is only available for Windows, but the developers promise to release a version on Mac soon. Of all the possibilities, I will highlight a few:

  1. You can use a mobile gadget as a controller to control what is happening on your PC;
  2. Already installed Play Market in the application;
  3. There are synchronization functions between a mobile device and a personal computer.

According to many users, this program itself is light and fast. This emulator program is suitable for a personal computer running Windows, a Mac computer, and a Linux computer. Of all the main features of this program on a computer, I would like to note the following points:

  1. The program allows you to emulate a Wi-Fi connection;
  2. Emulation of such Internet connections as: 3G, GPRS and others is also supported;
  3. The program allows you to install applications directly from the official Google Play source.

Another Android emulator for your computer. Suitable for running both games and regular applications. It is considered the most powerful and varied emulator among all those described here.. By analogy with other applications, I will highlight the most important functions:

  1. Allows you to install applications from the official Google Play source, and also supports installing applications and games from an APK file for later launch;
  2. Supports Flash technology to launch relevant resources.

Suitable for running games.

Vote

As I mentioned above, I would be grateful if you vote for the tool that was useful to you. Your voice is very important, it will help save time for other readers.
That’s all for today, I hope you have found a suitable emulator (simulator) for yourself. If this is the case, then be sure to share this material on your social media accounts.