In this era of mobile technology, there is hardly any person who has never used any mobile device. Among Android, iOS and other mobile devices, which makes the remarkable position among them are Android devices. When more and more people are using Smartphones as the best affordable solution to meet their needs, Android OS has become most popular around the world because of its amazing functionalities and features to the users.
- BlueStacks vs Nox Player: An In-Depth Comparison. There can be various reasons to want to use Android apps on your PC. Some simple examples can be testing apps, playing games, being habitual to the Windows interface, etc. Regardless of the reason, an Android emulator is the first thing you’ll find to run Android apps and games on your PC.
- Jun 08, 2021 NOTE: BlueStacks is not supported on Mac computers older than 2014 and Mac computers with M1.
Whether you want to play games, want to communicate with others, want to learn something, want to prepare documents, want to manage your data or anything related to the technical world, Android users can easily access all such apps on their devices.
The users first can check the Bluestacks.com for downloading Bluestacks 3 for Windows 7, 8, 10 & XP. There will be an option for Bluestacks 3 download and the users have to click on it. After downloading the Bluestacks 3 for PC, start the installation process. Click on the Next button for installation process in order to accept the terms of.
No doubt, many of these apps are available for free, but some are paid. It means to access these apps, you need to pay some amount or you can go for their paid versions, once you are fully satisfied with their free trials.
But, do you know that you can use these Android apps on your Windows PC and Mac OS?
These apps are exclusively developed to use on Android devices, so you cannot use them directly on your system. But, it doesn’t mean having to follow some complex or paid procedure to get these apps on PC. We have one free solution with the help of which you can perform this task easily and stress-free.
Using this solution, you can also play mobile-based online games on your PC/Mac and can gain excellent gaming experience on the big screen than your mobile phones.
Yes, it is possible. Only you require is the Android emulator.
Contents
Bluestacks Mac Requirements 2020
- 4 How to Install the Android app on PC using BlueStacks?
BlueStacks – Most Popular and Reliable Android Emulator to Meet Gaming needs on PC
Now, you may be thinking of how this android emulator can help you to install and run Android apps on your system.
Android emulator is actually third-party software that works great in emulating the Android environment on Windows OS and enables you to get all its apps on Windows PC and Mac systems.
Some of the popular Android emulators are BlueStacks, Nox App Player, Genymotion, MEmu, Andyroid, and many others.
Here, in this guide, we are going to get all the essential information about one of the most popular and trusted emulators – BlueStacks.
You know what? Millions of people around the world have used this emulator for different purposes, where the main reason involves their gaming needs. Yes, no matter what game you want to play on your PC, with the help of BlueStacks, you can get your desired game on your PC/Mac and that too with better performance and quality.
If you are an action game lover, you must use BlueStacks to install Clash Royale, State of Survival, Crystal Borne, Raid Shadow Legends, Clash of Clans or any Android game on your desktop.
Before moving to the installation steps of BlueStacks, it would be good to be more familiar with this emulator through its wonderful features.
Features of BlueStacks – How it Stands Out?
Let’s have a look at some of the amazing features of BlueStacks that makes it stand out from other android emulators out there in the market.
- This emulator allows you to set the customized keymap based on your needs. BlueStacks also has a default keymap for its users, but you can choose to set your keys, which is quite simple using drag and drop function.
- Do you want to play various games on PC simultaneously? Yes, BlueStacks supports multiple instances that enable you to play many games using different Google accounts or many games using the same Google account, all at the same time. All these games can be played in separate windows.
- If we talk about its performance, you will be amazed to know that BlueStacks perform 6 times faster and much better than Android devices. Due to this reason, BlueStacks is widely used to play games on Windows PC.
- BlueStacks has a simple and user-friendly interface; it means even if you are using this emulator for the time, you will not find any difficulty in accessing apps on this emulator.
- It is also recommended to use the latest version of BlueStacks. It is so because it performs 8 times faster than its prior versions.
- Moreover, there is no need to worry about your system’s resource consumption, as this emulator is well-known for its lower memory and CPU consumption.
Let’s learn how to get BlueStacks on your PC and Mac.
Steps to Install BlueStacks on PC/Mac
Installing BlueStacks on Windows and Mac does not hold any kind of long or complex process, nor, you have to take the help of any paid tool. The whole process is quite simple and straightforward.
All you have to do is just use these steps and get this top-rated emulator on your computer/laptop.
- The first very step is to download BlueStacks using the download link given here.
- After this emulator is downloaded, you have to double-click this downloaded file to install the BlueStacks.
- After taking your confirmation, the installation process will get started.
- Make sure to follow the on-screen instructions attentively.
- The completion of the installation process may take a few minutes, so wait for it.
- Once it is installed completely, your system is ready to install and use Android apps on it.
Now, once BlueStacks is installed on your PC, you can use it to install any Android app or game without any hassle.
Let’s learn how to get the Android app on BlueStacks so that you can use it effortlessly on your PC.
How to Install the Android app on PC using BlueStacks?
Now, it’s time to install and run Android apps on your PC with the help of BlueStacks.
As you have already learned the steps of getting BlueStacks on your system, now learn to get an app/game using BlueStacks.
It can be done in two ways. One is using the APK file of that particular app and another one is using Google Play Store.
In order to make you understand it in a better way, here we are going to install ‘Clash Royale’ with both these methods.
Installing Android app on BlueStacks using APK
- Download BlueStackson your PC/Mac with the help of the available download link.
- After this, you have to install by clicking its .exe file.
- Now, open the BlueStacks.
- In the next step, you have to download Clash Royale APK using the download link given here.
- Once it is downloaded, double-click this file.
- You will get a pop-up window, asking you to confirm the installation of this online game on your PC.
- After its installation, go to the main page of BlueStacks.
- You will find an icon of Clash Royale and click on it.
- Now, your game is ready to play on your system.
Installing Android app on BlueStacks using Google Play Store
- Download BlueStacks on your PC/Mac with the help of the available download link.
- After this, you have to install by clicking its .exe file.
- Now, open the BlueStacks.
- In the next step, you have to sign-in to the Google account with the aim to access apps available in the Google Play Store.
- No worries if you have no Google account, you can create the new to move further.
- Open the Google Play Store and type ‘Clash Royale’ keyword in the search bar.
- Now, select the topmost result and click its Install button.
- Once it is installed completely, its icon will be available on the main page of BlueStacks.
- That’s it, start playing your favorite game on the large screen of your computer.
BlueStacks – Is it safe to use?
No matter which Android app you want to install on your system, BlueStacks makes the entire process easier and smoother by letting you use any kind of Android app effectively on your PC.
Even though it is the most popular android emulator around the world, many users are still confused about their system’s privacy and security when it comes to getting third-party software on it.
It has been reported that this emulator is completely safe to use and you can blindly rely on it to meet your gaming needs on your PC.
More to this, the latest version of BlueStacks has overcome all downsides or errors which had been reported by some of its users. Some had complained of it as an insecure emulator and also reported some kind of warning message indicating it as an emulator with some viruses.
Moreover, this emulator does not contain any kind of malware. But still, if you are not satisfied with the answer, you are advised to go for its premium version instead of its free version.
Alternatives of BlueStacks
The above information about BlueStacks will surely encourage you to install this emulator on your PC/Mac and enjoy your desired apps on it.
Here are some of the alternatives to BlueStacks, which you can try to have a somewhat similar or better experience than BlueStacks.
- Genymotion
- Remix OS Player
- LDPlayer
- And many more…
No matter which emulator you will choose to get Android apps on your PC, each one of them will work great and will never disappoint you in terms of their performance.
System Requirements for Installing BlueStacks
It is really good that you have decided to go with BlueStacks on your PC. But, have you checked whether your system is capable enough to install and use BlueStacks without getting any issue?
For this, you must check these minimum system requirements and determine if your system meets these requirements or not.
Operating System – Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7
Processor – Intel or AMD Processor
RAM – at least 2 GB
HDD – 5 GB of free disk space
Graphics Card – latest Graphics drivers
DX – Version 9.0c
Note:
The system with better PC specifications than these minimum requirements always performs better and incomparable.
Final Words
If you are wondering how to get your favorite mobile-based game on your PC/Mac, this guide will help you to answer all of your queries with a 100% satisfied solution.
Simply, get BlueStacks on your system and gain fantastic gaming experience on the larger screen than your Android device, and that too with superior performance and speed.
What are you thinking?
Use this guide to install BlueStacks and start playing your favorite game on your computer/laptop and have more fun with your friends.
There are many android applications that we use on our smartphones these days and a lot of us would really like to use those same apps on our Windows or Mac personal computers. If you fall under this same category then wonder no more, because Bluestacks will give you just the opportunity to install and use your favourite android applications on your Windows and Mac computers even faster than the mobile devices.
Contents
- 3 How to Download Bluestacks for PC Windows
- 4 How to Download Bluestacks for Mac
- 7 How to Fix Bluestacks Engine Won’t Start Error
- 7.2 Change to DirectX and Change your RAM Capacity
- 8 Fixed: Bluestacks Snapchat not Working
Bluestacks App Player
So, what then is this Bluestacks I am talking about? Well, for those of you are might be hearing about it for the first time, Bluestacks is an Android Emulator or App Player developed by an American tech company with the same name. This company also built some added cloud-based multi-platform products and services that work with it. What Bluestacks actually does, is it gives you the users that leverage to be able to run android applications on Windows and Mac Operating Systems.
The app is easy to download and install as software for both Windows and Mac operating systems. Once installed, the app creates a virtual Android operating system within the Windows and Mac environment making it possible to install APKs on your computers. The biggest advantage of using Bluestacks 4 is the fact that you can enjoy the key features of cross-platform apps with more functions for free.
I have been enjoying my favourite mobile games on my Mac and it is faster and better on the bigger screen. So, if you want six times faster performance, access to Google Play Store and over 1.4 million applications all on your Windows and Mac without any compatibility challenges, follow this step by step guide.
Features of Bluestacks
Bluestacks comes with a lot of great features that you will definitely enjoy. When I first installed the software on my Mac computer, it did really well in terms of performance while playing “Need For Speed”. Check out some of the features associated with this awesome android emulator app.
- It has intuitive keymapping which lets you set controls on your keyboard, gamepad or mouse.
- Sleek User-Interface with easy navigation.
- It offers 6x faster performance than the fastest mobile smartphone with better graphics.
- It runs on Android N (7.1.2).
- Enjoy add-ons like Quests, Bluestacks Store and more.
- Play 3 games at once from different Google Play Accounts using the Bluestacks Multi-instance feature.
- You can play Pro games by converting Bluestacks store items into points.
- Enjoy over 1.4 million games, over 500 thousand flash games and stream videos on Facebook and Twitch.
How to Download Bluestacks for PC Windows
I must say before you start the download and installation process, you have to make sure that your Windows PC is compatible and meets the following requirements to avoid any issues as you proceed.
System Requirement for Windows
Operating System: | Windows XP, 7, 8/8.1, 10 |
Processor: | Intel or AMD |
RAM & Disk space: | 2GB RAM & 4GB Disk space |
Require Graphics: | Yes |
Privileges: | Administrator |
Require Internet: | Yes |
How to Install Bluestacks on PC Windows
- First of all, Download Bluestacks from the above link and once it is finished, double click on bluestacks.exe setup file from your download folder.
- You will get a popup warning you about the new software installation. Click “Run” to proceed with the installation.
- Grant the software administrator rights after file extraction are finished, so Bluestacks can work without issues on your PC.
- Accept the user license by ticking the small box at the bottom right of the Bluestacks installation window and click “Install Now”. You will also see an option to customize Bluestacks before you hit Install Now if you want to.
- Your installation will start immediately, so you have to wait a few minutes depending on your computer’s specifications for it to finish.
- Click “Complete” when the installation is completed to close the installation window.
- Bluestacks will automatically launch itself and it will take a while to setup on the first-time startup.
- You will be prompted to create a Google account or login if you already have an existing one, once the first-time initial setup is completed.
- Once you are signed in to your Google account in Bluestacks, make sure to grant it all permissions to Google Play Store so it can be connected. This will enable you to search and install apps directly on your PC from there.
If you followed these steps carefully, it means you have successfully installed Bluestacks on your Windows PC without issues.
How to Download Bluestacks for Mac
If you are wondering whether it would be easy to install Bluestacks emulator on your Mac operating system, well, wonder no more. You can install this application software but you first of all need to make sure your Mac computer meets the following minimum requirements to run it smoothly.
System Requirement for Mac OS
Operating System: | Mac OS Sierra (10.12) High Sierra (10.13) Mojave (10.14) |
RAM & Disk space: | 4GB RAM & 4GB Disk space |
Require Graphics: | Yes |
Privileges: | Administrator |
Require Internet: | Yes |
How to Install Bluestacks on Mac OS
- Go to your download folder and double-click bluestacks.dmg file after the download.
- Bluestacks installer will then be verified by your Mac OS. Once the verification is done, you will get a “Are you sure you want to Open it” prompt.
- Click “Open” to proceed.
- Then click “Install Now” in the installation window.
- Enter your password when you get the prompt saying “Bluestacks is trying to install a new helper tool” to proceed.
- Wait for it to load on your Mac computer which may take some minutes.
- You will get another prompt saying “System Extention Blocked”. Click the “Open Security Privacy” option.
- Then “Security & Privacy” settings will popup. Click “Allow” at the bottom right to continue the installation which will take some extra minutes.
- Launch Bluestacks once the installation is completed and start enjoying your favourite android apps on your Mac.
How to Install APKs on Bluestacks
Installing APKs on Bluestacks is different from installing games from the Google Play Store. To do this, you first of all need to have the APK file downloaded on your computer. This is especially useful when you want to install third-party apps that are not available on Google’s Play Store. Below are the steps to install APK files from your Windows PC or Mac on Bluestacks.
- Launch Bluestacks and make sure “Home” is highlighted, then click “My Apps” at the top left corner of the Bluestacks window.
- At the bottom-right corner of the Bluestacks window, click “Install APK”. This will open a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Go to the location or folder where the APK file you want to install is located and click the APK file to select it.
- Then click “Open” at the bottom-right corner of the File Explorer window. This will start installing the app immediately.
- Once the installation is completed, you will see the app’s icon on the “My Apps” tab. Click on it to open the app.
How to Install Games on Bluestacks
Installing games that are available on the Google Play Store is different from the method of installing third-party apps on Bluestacks. The following steps will work you through this method.
- Open Bluestacks and click “My Apps” tab in the Home screen at the upper-left corner.
- Click “System App” in the top right side of the My Apps page. This folder contains stock Bluestacksapps.
- Click “Google Play” with the triangular multi-colored icon which will open Google Play Store.
- Right on top, you will see the search bar text box. Click on it and type the name of the game you want to install and hit enter.
- From the results, click the game you searched for and click the green install button.
- Depending on the app, you might be prompted to accept some terms. Click Accept.
- Once the installation is completed, you will see “Open” click on it to launch the app. Or you can alternatively launch the app from My Apps page by clicking the app’s icon.
How to Fix Bluestacks Engine Won’t Start Error
The moment you get this error message on your screen, everything becomes ineffective because it keeps popping up. For you to be reading this post, I am pretty sure you have encountered this error message on your screen. But not to worry, I will be explaining the possible solutions and how to fix this error below.
One of the major causes of this error message is when you install the latest Bluestacks or download the latest update of a new version. Windows updates too can cause this error through a bug while updating, sometimes it might be due to wrong settings or when you disable your computer’s virtualization technology. By following the following methods, you will be able to clear this error once and for all.
Disable Antivirus Temporarily
The first thing to do when you encounter this error message is to temporarily disable your anti-virus and check of Bluestacks will work better. To do this, launch your antivirus software and find the ‘Disable’ option. Once you do that and Bluestacks runs fine, then you might have to change your antivirus to prevent future occurrence of the error.
Change to DirectX and Change your RAM Capacity
By default, Bluestacks uses OpenGL for its graphics mode. You can try and switch this graphics mode to DirectX and reboot your device to clear this error. Please follow the steps below to change the graphics mode:
- Launch BlueStacks
- Go to options by clicking the button which looks like an arrow pointing down.
- Click on Settings
- Then Engine
- Select the DirectX option and click Restart Now
If after all this you still get this error message, then you might also want to change your RAM capacity. You can do so by clicking “Engine” in settings, to the right, you’ll see the option for CPU & RAM allocation. Adjust the RAM capacity to the right and hit Restart Now to see if it helps.
- Turn-on Virtualization Technology
This could be part of the reason you see this error message when your Virtualization Technology is not enabled. It helps Bluestacks to operate smoothly and faster without issues, but you have to make sure this technology is supported by your system first. To check for system support depends on what processor you are using.
Bluestacks Requirements Windows
1) For Intel Processor Users
- First, you have to download IPIU(Intel Processor Identification Utility)
- Then install and run the IPIU
- Go to the tab CPU Technologies
- From the drop-down menu, select Intel Virtualization Technology. If it says “Yes”, it means your system supports the Virtualization Technology.
2) For AMD Processor Users
- For those who use an AMD processor, you will need to download the AMD Detection Utility
- Install and run the Utility software which will then notify you with a “The system is compatible with Hyper-V.” This means your system is compatible with Virtualization Technology.
But in the event where Virtualization Technology is not supported by your system, you can skip this process. You can enable Virtualization Technology from your BIOS settings using the steps shown below.
- First, you will have to restart your system
- Then press any of the following keys Esc, F8, F12, or F10 when the manufacturer’s logo comes out.
- By pressing any of the keys, it will bring up your BIOS menu. Sometimes you might not see it directly and you will need to select the menu yourself from the list.
- Search through the menu options for Intel Virtualization Technology, Virtualization Technology, Intel VT for Direct I/O, or any name your system manufacturer uses. Then enable the option and select “Save settings and Exit”.
Try Uninstalling and Reinstalling BlueStacks
If the above methods do not stop this error, then you will have to uninstall and reinstall the application to see if the errors will clear off.
- On your keyboard, hold the key with the Windows logo and press R to bring up the RUN command
- In the search box, type “%temp%” and hit the Enter key
- Select all the files in the folder by pressing the Ctrl key and A simultaneously
- When all the files are selected, hit the Delete on your keyboard and follow the prompts. This will erase all the files in the temp folder
- Download and install the “BlueStacks Uninstall” application and launch it. This uninstaller will remove all files related to Bluestacks on your computer which might take some couple of minutes
- Click “Yes” to confirm your actions and then OK when the process completes
- Download the most recent version of Bluestacks again using the link given earlier in this post. After that, you will have to go into safe mode on your computer.
- Again, hold the key with the windows logo and press R on your keyboard
- In the search box, type “msconfig” and hit Enter key.
- Go to the Boot tab and select Safe Boot
- Select OK and then Restart when it prompts you
- After system restart, your system will activate Safe Mode
- Double click the BlueStacks installer and wait for the installation to complete
- Once it is done, you can then turn off Safe Mode
- Hold down the key with the windows icon and R
- When the Run Command comes up, type “msconfig” and press the Enter key
- Go to Boot tab in the options and uncheck Safe Boot
- Then click OK to confirm and restart your computer in normal mode
Fixed: Bluestacks Snapchat not Working
Just because Bluestacks was developed with gaming in mind does not mean you can not use other android apps on it too. So, some time ago, apps like Snapchat used to work on Bluestacks but recently it gives an error message saying you are using a version of Snaptchat that is no longer supported. The major reason for this error is that Snapchat developers have in recent times have decided not to allow their app work with the latest Bluestacks versions. So, the best thing to do is to downgrade to an older version of Bluestacks.
Uninstall and Reinstall a Previous Version of Bluestacks
If you are currently using Bluestacks 3 or 4, then you might want to uninstall it and reinstall version 2. To do so:
- Hold the Windows key on your keyboard and press R
- In the command box, type “appwiz.cpl” without the quotation marks and press Enter
- Find Bluestacks and click uninstall, then follow the prompts. Or right-click Bluestacks and click uninstall.
- Download the installer for the older “Bluestacks 2” version from the Bluestacks website.
- After it has finished downloading, double click on the installer and follow the installation instructions on your screen. That’s all.
Try Installing Casper
Since the Snapchat developers are making changes to their application to restrict it from working on emulators. This is where Casper comes in, it can be used to make Snapchat unable to detect if it is being run on an emulator. So, let’s download and install Casper.
- Visit this linkto get the Casper APK file
- After downloading Casper, launch Bluestacks and at the top right corner of its home screen, click the “3 dots”.
- Then select Install APK option
- Then select the Casper.apk file you just downloaded and it will automatically install.
- Launch Casper and then install the latest Snapchat version on it.
But if this does not work for you, then there is only one more thing we can do.
- Try Using Snapchat in Beta Mode
Using the Snapchat beta version is another way to avoid this error message. This is because beta apps are used to test recent updates in applications before they are fully rolled out to the general public. For you to switch to beta mode, you, first of all, have to get the beta version of Snapchat.
- login on your Snapchat account through Bluestacks
- Click on Settings (the gear icon)
- Scroll down under the “Advanced” section, you will see “Join Snapchat Beta” click on it.
- Download the beta version and login to this version of Snapchat on Bluestacks. The beta version will automatically be applied.
F.A.Q
Is Bluestacks Free Software?
Yes! Bluestacks is totally free to download and install on Windows and Mac OS.
Bluestacks Mac Requirements Laptop
Can I stream on Bluestacks?
Yes! You can stream by installing an OBS studio or OBS classic. Follow this guide for more details on how to stream using OBS studio or classic.
Is it possible to transfer files from Bluestack to PC/Mac and Vice Versa?
Of course, you can transfer files from your Windows/Mac to Bluestacks and vice versa by going to the My Apps tab>More Apps>Media manager>Import from Windows or Export to Windows. Refer to this guide for more details.
How do I check and install BlueStacks updates?
You can check for the latest Bluestacks updates by clicking on the gear icon at the bottom left>About>Check for updates>download.
Conclusion
Bluestacks App Player is one excellent application software that was created to solve a seriously challenging problem among Android users. This emulator converts your Windows and Mac computers into an Android environment where you will be able to run .apk files effortlessly.
It even runs apps faster with better graphics than mobile devices and has a lot of amazing features as well. If you are a mobile gaming enthusiast or user of some mobile apps that you would prefer on a bigger screen, then Bluestacks is your solution.
I hope this article has helped you to successfully download and install this software on your Windows and Mac to enjoy your favourite android apps.