The Google Play Store offers millions of Android applications. So it makes sense that you would want to run Android apps on Mac. Running Android apps on Mac is not a tough undertaking, despite the fact that macOS does not natively support Android apps. The apps must be downloaded as well, though.
You may now use your Mac to access the large library of Android applications. You may create a virtual Android environment using screen-mirroring software and emulators, which opens up a world of new opportunities for enjoyment and work.
What Is The Definition Of Android App Emulation?
Android applications can be run on non-Android devices like computers and other mobile phones via an emulation technique known as “Android app emulation.” To achieve this effect, an emulator – software that creates an artificial Android environment on a host device – must be employed.
How To Run Android Apps On Mac?
Yes, Android apps can be installed and run on macOS using either an emulator or a screen control app. An emulator acts like a virtual Android device on your Mac computer that lets you install and use Android apps just like on an actual Android device while mirroring and controlling an Android device’s screen simply don’t provide an authentic environment to install and run them on macOS.
1. Use iMyFone MirrorTo
iMyFone MirrorTo is a software developed by iMyFone Technology Co., Ltd, designed specifically to mirror and control iOS/Android devices on a computer screen.
MirrorTo allows you to mirror the display from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or tablet onto either Windows PCs or Macs so that you can interact with their screen more easily on larger displays.
Steps to run Android apps on Mac:
- From the iMyFone website, download and install iMyFone MirrorTo on your Android device. Likewise, download and set it up on your Mac.
- Use a USB cord to link your Mac computer and Android mobile.
- Launch iMyFone MirrorTo on your Mac. Select the “Android” & “USB” option.
- Navigate to Settings > Software information on your Android device. To enable Developer settings, tap the “Build number” option seven times.
- Go to Developer settings and turn on USB debugging at this point.
- Through iMyFone MirrorTo, you can now share the screen of your Android handset on a Mac.
2. Installing And Running Apps With Emulator (BlueStacks)
Emulators offer you many choices when it comes to setting one up for Mac or Android use, depending on your technical knowledge or desired feature set. Below we detail how you can set up our favorite general-purpose Android emulator, BlueStacks.
This simple yet reliable Android emulator for Mac provides more control than many similar offerings on the market and its setup process is user-friendly – perfect for anyone regardless of technical knowledge.
Things you should have on your Mac:
You must have macOS Sierra or later in order to use BlueStacks. BlueStacks now offers compatibility for macOS Big Sur, which wasn’t available at first.
Additionally, you’ll need 4 gigabytes of free disc space and 4 gigabytes of RAM. Android apps might not operate on a Mac that is particularly old (2014 or older) if it has a weak graphics card.
The methods for installing BlueStacks are listed below, provided that your computer satisfies all of the prerequisites:
- Go to the emulator’s download page first, then double-click the setup file with the.dmg extension once it has been downloaded.
- Double-click the BlueStacks logo once the application has loaded in order to continue.
- At the bottom of the app window, select the “Install Now” button.
- Click the “Open Security & Privacy” button if a pop-up with the message “System Extension Blocked” appears.
- This ought to bring up a menu with system privacy options. Click the “Allow” button at the bottom.
Running Android apps will become effortless when BlueStacks is in place. Once active, BlueStacks gives access to Google Play from its main app page; from here you may access and purchase applications directly before accessing them directly via clicking their icons on your home page after download.
The Benefits Of Using An Emulator
- Emulators typically allow users to simulate both hardware and software aspects of files on another system, thus replicating their entire experience on that platform.
- Running software without making modifications can be achieved on both sides – software and hardware alike.
- Emulation testing of software can provide an alternative means of debugging its code at a fraction of its true cost of in situ testing.
- Emulators created by independent developers often utilize open-source software, helping reduce costs while enabling easy modification by third parties. This provides both cost savings and simplified customization.
Drawbacks Of Using Emulator
Despite developers’ best efforts, it has not been able to create emulators that can take into account the variances in hardware input. Therefore, most emulation programs are unable to manage issues with real-time data, network connectivity, battery life, etc.
Other Emulators Options To Run Android Apps On Mac
BlueStacks is often the easiest and most user-friendly emulator available for running Android applications on a Mac computer, while others, like Android Studio, serve more as testing and development environments than app acquisition tools.
1. VirtualBox
Android Operating System is built upon Linux, making it possible to run Android applications on Mac by installing a VirtualBox emulator. VirtualBox stands out as more than just a mere virtual machine – its control and working experience surpass those offered by any other virtualization service provider on its own.
Pros:
- Create an emulator from scratch.
- Free of charge
- There are several resources online to assist you.
Cons:
- Merely advised for developers.
- There are many bugs that bother you.
- Difficult for average people without any coding experience.
2. Nox
Nox can be a terrific option if you’re seeking an Android emulator that’s best for playing Android games. The free Android emulator Nox features a variety of game controllers. In addition, Nox enables users to run full-screen Android games and applications.
Pros:
- For players with several game controllers, the ideal emulator.
- game controller with full-screen for the best possible gaming experience
- You can use it to test your applications.
Cons:
- Although app testing is enabled, the emulator is primarily used for gaming.
- Working on development projects can be challenging.
3. ARC Welder
Google created the Mac version of this Android emulator software. It is intended exclusively for Mac computers running the Chrome web browser. It can operate on your Mac without requiring a Google invitation.
This software won’t function with all Android apps since some mobile applications require unique phone information that is not present on your Mac. The APKs must be downloaded in order to use the apps on a Mac.
Pros:
- Both Google Cloud Messaging and Google+ sign-in are supported.
- It supports the official Tweeter app.
- Regular users should test Android apps on Mac.
Cons:
- Not every Android app is compatible.
- Google Play Services are not as well supported and are not as popular with Android developers.
- It is based on Android 4.4 Kitkat rather than a more recent version of Android.
4. KO Player
An easy-to-use emulator for running Android apps on your Mac is called KO Player. It works best while playing Android games on a Mac, and content producers like Twitch streamers can use it to their great advantage.
Pros:
- Playing a game while recording the video, then posting it to a video streaming website.
- Broad app and game compatibility for Android.
- A simple-to-use interface.
Cons:
- KO Player has a sizable number of issues that have been reported.
- You might not enjoy using KO Player to emulate an Android app because it mostly targets gamers.
- Performance lags are typical, particularly in demanding games.
FAQs
The type of app will determine this. In general, while using an emulator, the majority of Android apps ought to run on Macs.
Apps that depend exclusively on specific Android hardware or cell carrier capabilities, however, might not function properly. Additionally, some applications are not made to run on emulators.
Q.2 Can I install Android apps without needing an emulator on Mac OS?
No. Android devices are the only ones for which Android apps are created. These make use of various hardware.
The coding for an Android app wouldn’t work on a Mac, and vice versa, because Android and Mac are two very distinct operating systems. To run Android applications on a Mac, emulators or virtualization software is needed.
Q.3 Can a Macbook M1 or MacBook Pro run Android apps?
By using the techniques described earlier in this article, you can run Android apps on a MacBook M1 or MacBook Pro. Mac PCs can use emulators including the built-in emulators in Android Studio.
Q.4 Why does my Mac constantly crash when I use BlueStacks?
Make sure BlueStacks has all the necessary permissions to operate on your Mac. If not, it can crash or become stuck during launch.
Conclusion
You can see that launching Android applications on macOS is not a difficult task. Just be aware of where to look. It will be simple to return to the emulator once you’ve first set it up whenever you need to.
It’s perfect for people who use an iPhone as their primary device but need to test an app or functionality that is only available on Android.
