The M1 chip has taken the market by storm. It was introduced with MacBook and now M1 MacBooks are some of the best laptops in the market. However, the transition from Intel to M1 brings some compatibility issues on the M1 Macs. Some software does not work with the M1 chip. In case you are looking for the top Android emulators for MacBook M1 then you have come to the right place.
In this guide, you will be getting a list of some of the top emulators to run Android apps on MacBook M1. All of these emulators are compatible with the M1 chip and macOS Big Sur.
When we talk about Android emulators for MacBook M1 then it is software that can simulate Android OS on your Mac computer. It means you will be able to use run Android OS and apps on Mac. By that definition, an emulator is software that can enable one computer device to behave like another computer device.
Also Read:How To Run Emulator For M1 Macbook
List of Contents
- 1 Content:
- 2 1. What is Android Emulator?
- 3 2. Uses of Android Emulator?
- 4 3. Best Android Emulators for MacBook M1
- 4.1 1. BLUESTACKS
- 4.2 2. NOX APP PLAYER
- 4.3 3. ANDROID STUDIO
- 4.4 4. GENYMOTION
- 4.5 5. MEMU PLAY
- 4.6 4. What if these emulators not working with your Mac?
- 4.6.1 Method 1:
- 4.6.2 Method 2:
- 4.7 5. How to set up Android Emulator in M1 Mac?
- 4.8 Conclusion
Content:
- What is Android Emulator?
- Uses
- List
- What if these emulator doesn’t work?
- Setting up Android Studio
1. What is Android Emulator?
An Android emulator is a tool that creates virtual Android devices (with software and hardware) on your computer.
Note that:
- It is a program (a process that runs on your computer’s operating system).
- It works by mimicking the guest device’s architecture (more on that in a bit).
Also Read:How To Run Android 12L On Your Windows 11
2. Uses of Android Emulator?
- For Testing Apps: App developers use Android emulators to design and test their apps before launching them to the public. Testing on emulators can save a lot of time and resources for developers. Emulators allow developers to emulate multiple devices using a single computer. So they can test apps across different Android smartphones using a single computer which saves time and money.
- For Gaming: Many gamers use emulators too. It allows them to play games from different devices right on their PC.
- Advantage of Big Screen: Things just look better when they are on the big screen. Gamers use emulators to get more screen real estate. It helps them in gaming and streaming as well. Having a big screen is also useful in the overall immersive experience of gaming.
Also Read:5 Steps To Fix Crackling Sound From Apple TV App In M1 MacBook Pro 2021
3. Best Android Emulators for MacBook M1
1. BLUESTACKS
Bluestacks is one of the most popular and go-to Android emulators for Macbooks. You just can’t go wrong with this one. It works on both Windows and Macs. The new version of Bluestacks is said to be 50% faster. If you wish to run heavy apps on your M1 Mac then this is the one to go with.
The emulator supports 2 million games and consumes very little RAM. Combine the efficiency of this emulator with the performance capabilities of the M1 chip and you got everything you need. It is great for both running apps and playing games on your Mac.
Features:
- Support powerful gaming
- Use 40% less Ram
- Decrease loading time to 8Sec
- Multiple languages
- Supported 2 million+ games
- Increased security level
- Efficient multitasking
- Stable performance
- Improve FPS while playing PUBG, Free Fire
- Usage low resource
2. NOX APP PLAYER
If you are a mobile gamer and looking for an Android emulator just for gaming on your M1 Mac then Nox App Player is easily one of the best options for you.
It is a lightweight and very smooth app, that is specially designed for gaming. The user interface is quite effortless so anyone can install it on their M1 MacBook. Also, the emulator itself is quite easy to use.
Nox app player gives you some great features for gaming including the option to use a gamepad, screen recording, and many multiple tasking features to enhance your workflow. Another great thing is that it gets regular updates so you will not face any problems using it in the long run.
It is one of the top emulators to test Android games and apps.
Features:
- Works with Windows and macOS
- Support low-end computers
- Released monthly updates
- Easy to install the application
- Customize keyboard controlling
- Support via email
3. ANDROID STUDIO
Android Studio is a great Android emulator but it is not suitable for everyone. First of all, it is strictly for app development and testing. Moreover, it requires a lot of technical skills to set it up and use.
From the makers of Android itself, Android Studio is Google’s platform for app development on computers. It is aimed at people with a programming background who want to develop Android apps.
The installation of the emulator can be a bit complex for an average user. So unless you are a programmer and want to develop an app, I suggest that you try other emulators on the list.
Key Features:
- Great for App Development
- Come with Tools to Develop Android Apps
4. GENYMOTION
Cloud computing is gaining a lot of popularity these days. The reason for that is: first, the internet speeds are quite fast these days, and second, the servers can process complex requests much faster without delay.
Genymotion could be your choice if you are looking for a cloud-based simulator. It offers you a cloud-based modal for you to test Android apps. With the cloud solution, you can directly access the Genymotion Android emulator. There you can easily test your apps.
It comes with features like compatibility with CMD, the Java API, and many such applications.
Key Features:
- Cloud-based Solution
- Great for Testing Apps
- Available from Android 4.4 to the latest Android versions, in all screen sizes.
5. MEMU PLAY
MEMU Play is another popular Android emulator for the M1 Mac. It is mainly designed for gaming. The emulator effectively provides you with higher frame rates and a better gaming experience overall.
It utilizes OpenGL and DirectX 3D rendering effects to provide you with better images on the screen while you play. If you are primarily focused on gaming then this is an emulator that you can try.
Key Features:
- Great for Gaming
- Provides Better Frame Rates and Image Quality
4. What if these emulators not working with your Mac?
Method 1:
You can download and install Windows 10 on your macOS to run Android emulators. It’s very simple to install Windows OS on Apple MacBook or iMac. You just need an ISO file of Windows 10 and then run “Boot Camp Assistant“. It lets you use dual boot on your Mac without deleting the existing OS. This is one of the best ways to run an Android emulator on your M1 Processor.
Method 2:
If you don’t want to install Windows 10 on your macOS then you should try Android Studio to run Android apps on your M1 Chip.
5. How to set up Android Emulator in M1 Mac?
- Head on to the Android Emulator M1 Preview repo by Google which is still under beta it works fine but with some exceptions which are mentioned in the readme file of that repo.
- Click on the releases option and download the latest preview version by clicking on android emulator m1 preview.dmg.
- It will download a DMG file.
- Click on the DMG file in the Downloads folder of your Mac.
- However as usual Mac OS GateKeeper will verify this DMG file before executing it select the skip option to bypass the verification process because Mac OS will report an error and prevent the file from executing
- Then as usual click and drag the emulator into the Application folder. Now if you open the Application folder in your Finder you can see a new Application without an icon it is our Android Emulator.
- Further, it shows some warning then go to the settings and click open anyway.
- Double click on it and wait for it the emulator to launch.
Conclusion
So, this is all about this article. We’ve discussed many things about Android emulators for MacBook M1. Hope this is helpful for you.
Related posts:
- How To Run Emulator For M1 Macbook
- Top 20 Best Hidden Tricks and Features Of Android
- How to Scan Your Phone For Malware And Viruses?
- How to locate your Android phone with Google’s Find My Device
FAQs
Then create a virtualization device. Preferably a Pixel 4 or another that has Google play store enabled. Enjoy!
Does Bluestack work on Mac M1? ›
What are the system specifications? Your system must meet the following requirements to be able to successfully install and run BlueStacks on macOS. NOTE: BlueStacks is not supported on Mac computers older than 2014, Mac computers with M1 chips, macOS 12 Monterey and macOS 13 Ventura.
Is android studio optimized for M1? ›
Android Studio is not M1 Optimized Yet
The Software that runs on M1 Chip is no longer Intel Chip, and hence need to be M1 Optimized first.
Which emulator works on M1 Mac? ›
And while RetroArch is technically available on M1 Macs, many emulation fans seem to enjoy OpenEmu quite a bit more. There are different “cores” that you need, such as one for playing NES games, and another for playing SEGA Genesis games.
Does BlueStacks work on Apple silicon? ›
The BlueStacks App Player can create a virtual machine to run Android software on an Intel-based host system. This is a popular option to run games for Android on a supported Mac. iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Silicon users can use the cloud-based BlueStacks X player.
Can you run APK on Mac? ›
The APK file contains fully compiled and ready-to-install code. Since APK is not a cross-platform extension (there is no APK for Mac or Linux), it is only supported by Android, regardless of version and system modification. Files with this extension are stored in the official Google Play store.
Can BlueStacks run on Mac? ›
You can now play your favorite Android games on your Mac with BlueStacks. Take your gaming experience to another level with countless hours of comfortable gameplay. Play games easily with the convenience of using your keyboard, mouse and much more!
What is Rosetta mode? ›
Rosetta mode translates applications made for Intel-based devices so that they can work with the Apple silicon chips.
How do I download Android apps to M1 Mac? ›
Looking to Run Android Apps on your MacBook M1 Chip. Here are the Best Android Emulators For Mac M1 to Play Android Games on macOS.
...
- BlueStacks. ...
- Nox App Player. ...
- Memu Play. ...
- Genymotion. ...
- LDPlayer.
Sideload with macOS 11.2. 3 or below
- Download Apple Configurator 2 from App Store.
- Connect iPhone or iPad via USB cable.
- Use Apple Configurator 2 and click Add and then Apps.
- Sign into Apple ID.
- Find app to download, select and Add.
- A message will appear to 'Skip App', 'Replace' or 'Stop' - do nothing.
The best alternative is Android-x86, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like BlueStacks are Nox App Player, Genymotion, MEmu and Anbox.
Is MacBook Air M1 good for mobile app development? ›
MacBook Air with M1 would be enough for the majority of mobile developers. However, I'd recommend buying the one with 16 GB of RAM. That way, you'd be able to build apps for both Android and iOS as well as try out cross-platform development (Kotlin Multiplatform, Flutter).
Which MacBook is best for Android development? ›
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch – Best Laptop For Running Android Studio. The MacBook Pro 16-inch is an amazing business laptop with the Apple M1 Pro chip. It is designed to run development studios, web design, and other graphic design applications.
Is Apple silicon ready for Android Studio? ›
Yes (2020.3. 1)
Apple silicon status: Android Studio Arctic Fox Canary 15 contains preliminary support for Apple Silicon (arm64). This version of Android Studio for this platform is still under active development, but we wanted to get a functional version out to the app developer community to get feedback.
Can you run an Android emulator on Mac? ›
Whether it's a game, productivity app, or something else, if you're using a Mac computer, you can still get access to Android apps. All you have to do is use an Android emulator.
Can we use Android Studio in MacBook? ›
To install Android Studio on your Mac, proceed as follows: Launch the Android Studio DMG file. Drag and drop Android Studio into the Applications folder, then launch Android Studio. Select whether you want to import previous Android Studio settings, then click OK.
What emulators can you run on Mac? ›
7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
- Virtual Machine.
- DOSBox.
- DeSmuME.
- Redream.
- Dolphin Emulator.
- RetroArch.
- OpenEmu.
If you're having trouble installing BlueStacks on your Mac try updating macOS. BlueStacks often won't work if macOS isn't fully updated. BlueStacks recommend using macOS 10.13 or newer; versions older than 10.12 don't support BlueStacks at all. If you don't upgrade, you won't be able to run BlueStacks.
Does BlueStacks work on M1 Mac Reddit? ›
I'm aware bluestacks is not yet compatible with M1 Mac OS. I'm using Parallels to simulate windows 11 on MacBook Air, but no version of blue stacks will work.
How do I download BlueStacks on my Mac 2022? ›
How to install Bluestacks on your Mac. Go to MacUpdate and click the green "Download" button on the right-hand side to start the download of the app. Launch "Finder" and then go to your "downloads" folder. From within there is the "Bluestacks" dmg which you can double-click on to open and install.
What are the Best Android Emulators to Run Android Apps on Mac in 2021?
- VirtualBox.
- Genymotion.
- Andy.
- NoxPlayer.
But now you can easily access the Google Play Store on your Macbook as well, so you can easily download any Android app on your Macbook. You can download any Android app on your Macbook and the apps provided by the Google Play Store are highly secure. It is the official app store for the Android platform.
How do I get Google Play apps on my Macbook? ›
Run Android Apps on your Mac! - YouTube
How do you play free fire on Mac m1? ›
After the emulator is installed, open the blustack and open the google play store. After opening the Google play store, search by typing Garena Free Fire in the search bar. Now you will start showing the app. You download free fire max.
How can I play Android games on my Macbook? ›
Download BlueStacks on Mac and sign in with a google account. Input “AppCast” in the search bar and install it inside BlueStacks. On your Android device, install AppCast for BlueStacks and sign in with the same account. Tap the game app you want to transfer and run it on Mac.
What is VirtualBox on Mac? ›
VirtualBox, like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, lets you run Windows either in a window on your Mac desktop or in full-screen mode. It also offers a third mode called Seamless that lets you run a single Windows app in a window on your Mac desktop, or full-screen, hiding the Windows taskbar and desktop.
Does Rosetta make Mac slower? ›
Rosetta works automatically in the background whenever you use an app that was built only for Mac computers with an Intel processor. It translates the app for use with Apple silicon. In most cases, you won't notice any difference in the performance of an app that needs Rosetta.
Is it safe to install Rosetta on Mac? ›
For most apps, Rosetta works so seamlessly that you won't notice much difference in the performance of an app using Rosetta compared to one that's been built to work natively with M1/M2 Macs. Rosetta is perfectly safe for your Mac and is made by Apple so you should have no security concerns.
Is Rosetta free? ›
Free Language Learning Apps
With Rosetta Stone, your language proficiency will increase in efficiency on your own schedule, with our free language learning app. The Rosetta Stone mobile app makes improving language skills feel fun, and easy to achieve.
Is M1 an arm? ›
Apple M1 is a series of ARM-based systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) designed by Apple Inc. as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for its Macintosh desktops and notebooks, and the iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets.
Click the Apple icon at the top-left corner of your screen or click the System Preferences icon on your dock. Click the Security & Privacy icon. Click the lock icon, enter your password, and set the “Allow apps downloaded from” option to “Anywhere.” Or click the “Open Anyway” button to bypass Gatekeeper in Mac.
Is Android Studio an emulator? ›
The Android Emulator enables you to test your app on many different devices, virtually. The emulator comes with Android Studio by default, so you shouldn't have to manually install it. The basic workflow with the emulator goes as follows: Verify that you have the system requirements.
Can I play Genshin on Mac? ›
Yes, you can play Genshin Impact on your Mac by making it run through Boot Camp Assistant or GeForce NOW.
Will Genshin come to Mac? ›
The Shanghai developer is making the GeForce now version of Genshin Impact available in 80 different countries and regions, and it's compatible with Mac and Chromebook, along with Windows PC.
Does iMazing still work M1? ›
Important Note: Using iMazing to run iOS apps on M1 and M2 Macs only works on macOS Big Sur 11.2. 3 or earlier. It does not work in macOS 11.3 or later which includes Monterey.
Is BlueStacks or NOX better? ›
We believe you should go for BlueStacks if you are looking for the best power and performance for playing Android games on your PC or Mac. On the other hand, if you can compromise a few features but want to have a virtual Android device that can run apps and play games with better ease, we will recommend NoxPlayer.
What is faster than BlueStacks? ›
Genymotion
If you are an Android developer and looking for a way to virtually test out apps on various Android devices then Genymotion is one that you should pick over Bluestacks.
Is WSA better than BlueStacks? ›
BlueStacks again takes the lead when it comes to controlling. Since the app has been around for quite some time, it is more advanced in customization and buttons. If you want to play android games, BlueStacks seems to be the winner here, but WSA will catch up once the developers start putting more time into it.
Is MacBook Air M1 8gb good for programming? ›
Nope. 8 GB of RAM may be enough to handle basic needs of mobile and web development but it's never a good idea to start at limits as a developer. The tools needed for such development already take up some memory and that only goes up when you want to debug, use emulators, have some backend services run locally, etc.
Is MacBook Air good enough for Xcode? ›
We have already established that you will need a Mac that can run macOS 12 Monterey or later in order to use the latest version of Xcode, and here are the Mac that can run Monterey: MacBook (2016 or newer) MacBook Pro (2015 or newer) MacBook Air (2015 or newer)
Yes, MacBook Air is powerful enough to help programmers with their coding needs. However, you must choose the latest M1-chip models. While the older MacBook Air with Intel i5 processor was also fine for basic development, the performance was limiting in many ways.
Can I build Android apps on Mac? ›
While Android apps are not natively supported in macOS, running Android apps on Mac is not a difficult task. Just downloading the apps won't be enough. Before you can start running them on your Mac, you'll need to choose and install an Android emulator.
Is 8GB RAM enough for IOS development? ›
4) for Xcode 11.0 (see alternatives for PC here) At least an Intel i5- or i7-equivalent CPU, so about 2.0 GHz should be enough. At least 8 GB of RAM, but 16 GB lets you run more apps at the same time.
Is 4 core enough for Android development? ›
In fact, even the latest Android games run fine on a quad-core processor (provided it's backed up by a good graphics processor) and don't have any requirement for eight cores.
Do any Android emulators work on Mac M1? ›
You can install android emulators for M1 on computers and host them with guest devices. To make that happen, first you need to install an emulator suitable for your device. Android emulators for M1 such as BlueStacks, Genymotion, MEMU Play and LD Player are few among the best Android emulators to use.
Is Android studio optimized for M1? ›
Android Studio is not M1 Optimized Yet
The Software that runs on M1 Chip is no longer Intel Chip, and hence need to be M1 Optimized first.
What does not work on M1 Mac? ›
For the time being, some crucial tools either won't run on new Macs or won't run properly. These include Docker, Android Studio, and Haskell. The list of tools that will run on Rosetta 2 but aren't optimized for the M1 is much more extensive and includes Atom, RStudio, PHPStorm, R, Flutter, VSCode, Golang, .
How do I download Android apps to M1 Mac? ›
Looking to Run Android Apps on your MacBook M1 Chip. Here are the Best Android Emulators For Mac M1 to Play Android Games on macOS.
...
- BlueStacks. ...
- Nox App Player. ...
- Memu Play. ...
- Genymotion. ...
- LDPlayer.
Visit our official website and click on either of the "Download BlueStacks 4" buttons, as shown below.
- The BlueStacks Installer will now automatically begin to download. ...
- The BlueStacks Installer will now open. ...
- You will now be asked to confirm whether you want to use the BlueStacks Installer.
As a result, Genymotion Desktop does not run on most Mac models released after 2020, such as: MacBook Air (M1, 2020) Mac Mini (M1, 2020) MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
The best ways to play Genshin Impact on a Mac are: By using the GeForce Now gaming platform (works on both Intel and Apple Silicon M1/M2 Macs) By using Boot Camp to install Windows on a Mac (does not work on Apple Silicon M1/M2 Macs as they do not support Boot Camp).
Can you install Google Play on Mac? ›
But now you can easily access the Google Play Store on your Macbook as well, so you can easily download any Android app on your Macbook. You can download any Android app on your Macbook and the apps provided by the Google Play Store are highly secure. It is the official app store for the Android platform.
Does BlueStacks work on M1 Mac Reddit? ›
I'm aware bluestacks is not yet compatible with M1 Mac OS. I'm using Parallels to simulate windows 11 on MacBook Air, but no version of blue stacks will work.
How do I sideload apps on M1 Mac? ›
Sideload with macOS 11.2. 3 or below
- Download Apple Configurator 2 from App Store.
- Connect iPhone or iPad via USB cable.
- Use Apple Configurator 2 and click Add and then Apps.
- Sign into Apple ID.
- Find app to download, select and Add.
- A message will appear to 'Skip App', 'Replace' or 'Stop' - do nothing.
The best alternative is Android-x86, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like BlueStacks are Nox App Player, Genymotion, MEmu and Anbox.
Why is BlueStacks not working on Mac? ›
If you're having trouble installing BlueStacks on your Mac try updating macOS. BlueStacks often won't work if macOS isn't fully updated. BlueStacks recommend using macOS 10.13 or newer; versions older than 10.12 don't support BlueStacks at all. If you don't upgrade, you won't be able to run BlueStacks.
How can I play Android games on my Macbook? ›
Download BlueStacks on Mac and sign in with a google account. Input “AppCast” in the search bar and install it inside BlueStacks. On your Android device, install AppCast for BlueStacks and sign in with the same account. Tap the game app you want to transfer and run it on Mac.
Can you run APK on Mac? ›
The APK file contains fully compiled and ready-to-install code. Since APK is not a cross-platform extension (there is no APK for Mac or Linux), it is only supported by Android, regardless of version and system modification. Files with this extension are stored in the official Google Play store.
Can we use Android Studio in Macbook? ›
To install Android Studio on your Mac, proceed as follows: Launch the Android Studio DMG file. Drag and drop Android Studio into the Applications folder, then launch Android Studio. Select whether you want to import previous Android Studio settings, then click OK.
What is Rosetta mode? ›
Rosetta mode translates applications made for Intel-based devices so that they can work with the Apple silicon chips.
Within our latest release of Parallels Desktop® for Mac, we have included free systems that are available to the user at no additional cost. These free systems are easily set up with a few simple clicks.
Does Genshin BlueStacks work on Mac? ›
Genshin Impact is an Adventure game developed by COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. BlueStacks app player is the best platform to play this Android 9 game on your PC or Mac for an immersive gaming experience.
Will Genshin ever come to Mac? ›
The Shanghai developer is making the GeForce now version of Genshin Impact available in 80 different countries and regions, and it's compatible with Mac and Chromebook, along with Windows PC.
