The bottom line is that, if you're looking to run Android apps on your PC in 2026 and beyond, there are two main paths before you: Android emulators and the Google Play Games app.
If you only want games, you can instead try Google Play Games for PC, which is a project from Google that translates Android games directly to your PC using a lightweight virtual machine.
Of course, Android developers use emulation to test apps.
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Mobile gamers may find this especially useful. While a subsystem for Linux ended up shipping, Android app support was dropped in 2024 for reasons beyond the scope of this article.
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Mobile gamers may find this especially useful.
Much any computer made in the past decade can run an Android emulator, and as long as you're at least familiar with Android, you'll quickly get the hang of it.
While a subsystem for Linux ended up shipping, Android app support was dropped in 2024 for reasons beyond the scope of this article. The bottom line is that, if you're looking to run Android apps on your PC in 2026 and beyond, there are two main paths before you: Android emulators and the Google Play Games app.
Because it's developed by NetEase, the Chinese publisher of the popular PC and console title Marvel Rivals and mobile games including Destiny: Rising, MuMuPlayer is meant as a PC portal for NetEase games and is not as reliant on ads. It is a full-fat Android emulator and recently got an update to Android 15. You create virtual phones and then run apps from the Play Store or elsewhere, just as you would on a handset.
If you only want games, you can instead try Google Play Games for PC, which is a project from Google that translates Android games directly to your PC using a lightweight virtual machine. You'll find plenty of familiar games, such as Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans and even the mobile adaptation of the critically RPG Disco Elysium.
Gaming is a use case for Android emulation on PC.
Plenty of Android apps lack a PC edition or have more features in the mobile app than on PC. Of course, Android developers use emulation to test apps.
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