**4 Methods To Access Android Apps On Your Mac Or PC**
In the interest of convenience, a multitude of applications today are crafted to be cross-platform. They function on both mobile and desktop platforms, enabling you to effortlessly transition between devices without starting over. It’s also more convenient to access your work from any location, whether you’re on the move, at home, or in the office.
However, while several applications are compatible with both your smartphone and computer, some are restricted to mobile devices only. They lack desktop versions, effectively binding you to your phone whenever you wish to use them. The positive news, however, is that there are alternatives if you want to run Android-only apps on your desktop. From Android emulators to screen mirroring applications, here are some straightforward methods to run your favorite Android apps for fitness tracking, reading, and more, directly on your PC or Mac. The best part: They are completely free.
### Connect your Android phone to your Windows computer with Phone Link
Windows 11 provides a built-in method to manage your Android phone via your PC — utilizing Phone Link. This desktop application wirelessly links your smartphone to your computer, enabling you to check your texts, make calls, browse your images, and even open Android apps straight from your PC. You can also receive phone notifications on your desktop. For checking texts, calls, and images, you’ll utilize Phone Link’s own interface. However, regarding Android apps, Phone Link effectively mirrors your smartphone’s display to access them. Here’s how to set up Phone Link:
1. Link your Android phone and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Install Link to Windows on your Android device. Some Samsung and HONOR devices may already have this pre-installed.
3. Open Phone Link on your PC.
4. On the Phone Link welcome screen, select Android.
5. When asked, enter your computer PIN or password.
6. From your Android device, scan the QR code displayed on your PC.
7. Tap Continue on your Android device.
8. Enter the code shown on your PC.
9. Log in to your Microsoft account.
10. Click Continue on both Phone Link and Link to Windows.
11. In Phone Link on your computer, navigate to the Apps tab at the top.
12. Select the app you wish to use.
13. Back on your Android device, select Allow to enable screen mirroring from your phone to the PC.
14. Use the Android app as you usually would.
Keep in mind that with this method, you may encounter some lag while navigating the apps. It also won’t function if your Android device is offline, locked, or connected to a different network than your PC.
### Play Android games on Windows using Google Play Games
If the sole Android applications you wish to run on your computer are games, Google Play Games is your answer. Google Play Games is a desktop application made for Windows, which syncs games from your Android device to your PC, allowing for quick switching between the two. It transfers your Google Play Games profile, including your game library, progress, and even Google Play Points.
At the very least, your PC should operate on Windows 10 (v2004) and have 10GB of free SSD storage, 8GB of RAM, an Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU (or equivalent), and four CPU cores. To utilize Google Play Games to play Android games on your computer, do the following:
1. Go to the Google Play Games download site on your PC’s browser.
2. Click Download on PC.
3. Install the downloaded EXE file.
4. Select Sign in with Google.
5. In the browser tab that opens, choose the Google account you also utilize for the Play Store on your Android devices.
6. Back in the Google Play Games application, confirm your Play Games profile.
7. Read and accept the terms and conditions.
8. Click Finish.
Now, you can view all the various Android games. Choose one you’d like to install on your Windows computer and begin playing. Keep in mind that not all Google Play games are playable on your PC. Look for either a green checkmark or green laptop icon on the game’s download page. A green checkmark indicates the developers optimized the game specifically for Windows, while a green laptop means it has been tested for playability. You may also notice a yellow laptop icon (game is untested so it may or may not run well), or a red cross icon (game is unavailable for installation), beside an individual listing.
### Use the MuMuPlayer Android emulator
Another straightforward way to access Android apps on your computer is through Android emulators. Android emulators essentially simulate the Android OS environment on your PC or Mac, making it feel like you’re using a genuine mobile device. Among the numerous emulators available, many users highly recommend MuMu
