Run Android Apps On Your PC

Nik Rawlinson finds out how to get your favourite smartphone apps running on WindowsPC

- Nik Rawlinson

When Microsoft originallyintroducedWindows10, it had an ambitious vision: an operating system capable of running the exact same apps on both desktop and smartphone hardware, offering a consistent experience across devices, along with seamless data sharing.

Sadly, the death of Windows Phone put paid to that idea. Today, Microsoft’s mobile efforts are broader; while continuing to develop its Surface hardware, it’s also putting out apps for iOS and Android, and working on Your Phone, a lightweight app that lets you access some of the features of your Android phone from within Windows 10.

If you still dream of using the same apps on the desktop as on your phone, however, it may yet be possible – depending on which platform you’re using. At present, there’s no legal way to run iOS apps on windows, but there are Android emulators that can get your favourite apps working on the big screen.

Pre-packaged Android

The simplest way to run Android apps on Windows is to install a prepackaged Android environment. One of the most popular is BlueStacks (bluestacks. com): it’s easy to install, looks good, and claims to be six times faster than any phone.

BlueStacks bills itself as an “Android Gaming Platform”, and the “Discover apps” panel that sits to the side of the home screen is distinctly game-heavy. Don’t let that put you off, though: ordinary Android apps will also work perfectly well, and the Google Play store gives you access to the full range of compatible apps, including any you’ve already bought on your phone or tablet.