How to run Android apps on your computer with an emulator

An Android emulator is a pretend phone that runs in a window on your computer. It is useful for privacy because whatever happens inside it stays away from your real phone.

Why use one

• Try an app before you trust it with your real phone.
• Keep a nosy app off your phone altogether, for example an app you only need once.
• Use a phone-only app on your computer's big screen and keyboard.
• Practise settings and guides without risking your own phone.

Option A: Android Studio (Windows, Mac and Linux)

Android Studio is Google's free app-building tool, and it includes the most reliable Android emulator. You only need the emulator part; you do not need to write any code or sign in to anything.

Step 1: Install Android Studio

1. Download it from the official site, developer.android.com/studio.
2. Install it with the standard settings. The first start downloads the Android tools, which can take a while.

Step 2: Create a Google-free virtual phone

1. On the welcome screen, click More Actions > Virtual Device Manager (or Device Manager).
2. Click + (Create Virtual Device) and choose a phone, such as a Pixel. Click Next.
3. Choose a system image. For privacy, pick one marked Android Open Source (no Google services). Avoid images that list Google services, because they come with Google apps that send data to Google. Click the download icon next to it, then Next.
4. Give the phone a name and click Finish.

Step 3: Start it and install apps

1. Click the play button next to your virtual phone. It starts in a window.
2. Download the F-Droid app file (APK) on your computer from f-droid.org.
3. Drag the APK file onto the emulator window. It installs automatically.
4. Open F-Droid inside the emulator and install apps from there, including Aurora Store if you need an app that is not on F-Droid. See how to download apps safely.

Step 4: Clean up

In Device Manager, open the menu next to the phone and choose Wipe Data to reset it, or Delete to remove it completely.

Option B: Waydroid (Linux only)

Waydroid runs a full Android system (based on LineageOS) directly on Linux, fast and Google-free. Install it from waydro.id following the steps for your Linux version, then install F-Droid by downloading its APK and running waydroid app install F-Droid.apk.

Privacy tips

• The emulator uses your computer's internet connection, so apps see your computer's IP address. Turn on your VPN on the computer first.
• Apps can tell they are in an emulator. Some banking and payment apps refuse to work, and emulated phones are easier to fingerprint. Do not rely on an emulator to be anonymous.
• Do not sign in to personal accounts in an emulator you use for testing untrusted apps. Keep test phones and personal phones separate.
• On a Qubes OS computer, run the emulator inside its own qube for extra separation.
• An emulator needs virtualisation turned on in your computer's firmware (Intel VT-x or AMD-V). Android Studio tells you if it is off.