Android is overwhelmingly the most popular mobile operating system on the planet, with well in excess of 2.5 billion active devices running a version of Google’s software.
While it has a number of highly polished apps, but unfortunately there’s a very limited selection of desktops that run Android, and even then it’s rarely optimised for desktop use. Therefore, it likely that you’ll be using a Windows PC.
It’s inevitable that you’ll be sharing data between these two platforms, be it through cloud storage services, web-based file transfer or direct USB connection. But what about sharing software?
If there’s an app on your phone that you love, the web-based version is unlikely to be quite as good. Why wouldn’t you want to run the app on your PC instead? What if you want to do it the other way round, running Windows software on your Android device. The good news is that both of these can be done.
Running Android apps and games on Windows
You can run Android apps on a Windows PC or laptop using an Android emulator app. BlueStacks is one solution, but you can find a list of the best Android emulators to try.
The BlueStacks App Player is free to use. The program will allow you to run Android apps on your Windows machine, but as it’s not a full Android emulator you won’t get the full Android experience.
In order to use BlueStacks you’ll have to sign-in with a Google account, as you do when logging into the Google Play Store for the first time on any Android device. It’s quick and easy to sign up for a Google account if you don’t have one already.
The integration with the Play Store is one of the best things about BlueStacks, as it means you can search for and install apps in just the same way as with a true Android phone or tablet.
We did experience a few problems, though, such as when we ran the Wind-Up Knight there were texture problems meaning we couldn’t properly see our game. Apps can look pixelated, while there will be a bit more lag than you’re used to, even when running on a high-spec machine.
On a non-touchscreen PC, zooming with apps that expect pinch- and reverse-pinch gestures can also be problematic. BlueStacks’ support pages suggest that Crtl + and Ctrl – should work, but we didn’t find that to be the case and it seems that it’s probably app-dependent.
AandY is an emulator aimed at mobile gamers first and foremost, but you can still download any Android app from the Play Store. Popular social media and instant messaging apps run particularly well on AndY. Given its gaming focus, it support PS4 and Xbox controllers or you can use your Android phone as a controller.
There’s also a decent level of support available via the Facebook group, and it’s completely free unless you want developer support.
There are other Android emulators out there, which are also specifically designed to run Android games. However, the likes of KoPlayer requires a graphics card that support OpenGL 2.0 to run.
Use Windows programs in Android
To run Windows on an Android phone or tablet you’ll need some virtualisation software and a strong internet connection, and to keep your PC running at home. Microsoft‘s Remote Desktop app does the job with certain versions of Windows, and soon we’ll also be able to use CrossOver with Android devices running an x86 processor.
Solutions for using Windows applications on an Android device tend to involve accessing a Windows PC or a virtual PC via the cloud rather than running the software directly on your smartphone or tablet. While this is undoubtedly a reflection on the more limited resources available on most Android devices, it’s a perfectly workable solution.
The first method is to connect to your home PC using the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on your Android device. We mention this here because it will appeal to some users, and it has the advantage of giving you access to all the software you use on your PC, but there are some serious drawbacks that limit its usefulness.
(Note that you can also use Chrome Remote Desktop to control Windows from an Android tablet or phone).
For a start, although you don’t have to install any software on your PC, it will work only if that PC is running certain editions of Windows. The option is not natively supported on Windows 10, where there’s no support to run the Remote Desktop Client on Android.
Second, for this to work your home PC has to be switched on while you’re away from home. Needless to say, this will increase your electricity bill and doesn’t do much for the environment.
Finally, although you can run the Remote Desktop app on any Android device, if you’re going to be using it to any great extent, a tablet would make a lot more sense than a smartphone. After all, trying to navigate a Windows desktop on a small smartphone screen is going to involve a lot of zooming and panning.
Dual-boot Android and Windows
A small but growing number of platforms have been designed to run both Windows and Android. Industry experts are divided on whether these all-in-one machines will really take off, but it’s a potentially interesting solution to the Windows-Android dichotomy.
Laptops, PCs and hybrid laptop-tablets that run Android and Windows are worth tracking down if it appeals. We’ve found devices like these are popular in China, and you can look on a site such as GearBest for more details (but be sure to read our grey-market tech buying advice before you make a purchase).