4.1 / 5 - 827 Votes

File Size: 440.87MB

Developer: Andyroid

Editors Review:

Andy OS, an Android emulator, enables you to run mobile apps and games in a sandboxed custom build of Android on your Windows desktop.

Full Android experience: While other Android emulators only let you emulate individual apps over a custom user interface, Andy OS lets you in on the full Android experience.

Wide range of app compatibility: Full emulation means Andy can run any apps in the Google Play store. Notifications, app side-loading (installing apps outside Google Play), and even rooting are doable if you have the know-how.

Advanced options: Built on top of open-source Oracle VM VirtualBox, Andy is fully customizable, provided you have the technical knowledge. Modern PCs are powerful enough that you can tweak the virtual machine to run at much higher hardware settings than the standard preset for a smoother Android experience.

Remote control: With the Andy Remote Control app, you can use your Android phone or tablet as a controller to play games wirelessly.

Clunky setup: Downloading and installing Andy requires patience. On some machines we were able to download, install, and run in one go, while other PCs required tweaking. Setting up Andy Remote Control is also a test of will -- the app sometimes did not recognize our PC. However, Andy's Facebook support page is packed with troubleshooting tips.

Hardware-intensive: Andy is not a light app: it requires a minimum of 3GB of RAM and 20GB of hard disk space. Launching multiple apps in Andy will result in some sluggishness. You don't need a powerhouse to run Andy, but a decent rig is recommended, especially if you plan to give the VM an extra boost in advanced settings.

Runs Jelly Bean: Andy OS is currently running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, one of the more popular Android versions that is now a bit outdated. If you've been working on KitKat or Lollipop, you'll have to wait a bit longer until they come to Andy.

Andy OS is a capable Android emulator. The app has hefty requirements and a tricky installation but offers much more customization than most virtualization software. Full Android emulation allows you to run pretty much everything inside and outside Google Play, and the remote-control function makes Andy ideal for gaming. The level of compatibility makes the application a great way for you to delve into Android's ecosystem without buying extra hardware.

Publisher Description:

From Andyroid: Andy OS is a full featured mobile operating system that runs on any Mac or Windows PC, and in the Cloud--it breaks the barrier between desktop and mobile computing, while keeping you up-to-date with the latest Android OS feature upgrades. It also provides users with unlimited storage capacity, PC compatibility, and the freedom to run the most popular Android apps on a desktop. Thanks to seamless connection between desktop and mobile, you can receive a SnapChat phone picture on the street and see it on your desktop at home. Andy OS syncs to the users' Google play account through the cloud. This means that you don't lose app history between an app on your phone and the same app on your PC. With Andy OS your devices are synced, so any app you run on Andy OS, you can run on your phone--and visa versa.

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