Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

This wikiHow teaches you how to download and install Android apps on Bluestacks (Android platform emulators) on Windows and Mac computers. Similar to Android devices, you can install apps directly from the Google Play Store right on Bluestacks. Alternatively, you can also download and install an app's APK file directly if the app isn't available on Play Store.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Use the Play Store

1. 

   Google Play. The app has a multicolored triangle icon on the "System app" page. The Google Play Store app store will open.

2. 

   
   
   Click the search bar. This text box is at the top of the Google Play Store page.

3. 

   Find the app. Enter an app name (or a keyword to find if you don't remember a specific app name), then tap ↵ Enter.
   • As you type in your app's name, the icon along with the app's name will appear in a drop-down menu below the search bar. Once there, click on the name next to the app icon and skip to the next step.

4. 

   
   
   Choose an application. Scroll down until you find the app you want to install, then click the icon to open the app's page.
   • The Google Play Store will usually show the best match for your search at the top of the list of results. You can click INSTALL (INSTALLATION) below this app to initiate the installation; If you choose this option skip to the next step.

5. 

   
   
   Click INSTALL. This green button is in the top right of the page.

6. 

   Click on ACCEPT (ACCEPTED) when asked. The application will begin to install.
   • Depending on the application, you may not need to click ACCEPT as above.

7. 

   Open the app. Once installed, you can launch the app in two ways
   • Click OPEN (OPEN) on the app's page in Google Play Store to open now.
   • Click the application icon in the tab My Apps whenever.
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Method 2 of 2: Use APK Files

1. 

   Installing and setting up Bluestacks. If your computer does not have Bluestacks, go to https://www.bluestacks.com, click the button DOWNLOAD BLUESTACKS 3N in the middle of the page, click on the button DOWNLOAD Go to top green and proceed to install depending on your computer's operating system:
   • Windows - Double-click the downloaded EXE file, click Yes When asked, click on Install now, click Complete When possible, then open Bluestacks (if it doesn't start automatically) and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.
   • Mac - Double-click the downloaded DMG file, double-click the Bluestacks icon, click Install When prompted, confirm the installation process when prompted, click tiếp tục When possible, continue to open Bluestacks (if the program doesn't start automatically) and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.

2. 

   Download the APK file to your computer. APKs are installation files; Usually used to install certain third-party apps that are not available on the Play Store, you can also use this file to quickly install versions of some stock apps like Chrome. To download APK files of a certain application, you search by keyword including the name of the app with apk (such as "facebook apk"), then choose a website and click the link Download or Mirror.
   • APKMirror, AppBrain, and AndroidAPKsFree are reputable sites where you can download APK files.

3. 

   Click the card My Apps in the top left of the Bluestacks window.

4. 

   Click Install apk (Install apk) in the lower right corner. A File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window will open.

5. 

   Select the downloaded APK file. Go to the directory where the APK file was downloaded, then click to select it.

6. 

   Click Open (Open). Tasks in the lower-right corner of the window. The APK file will open on Bluestacks and start installing the app.

7. 

   Open the app. After the application icon appears on the card My AppsYou can click on it to open the application. advertisement

Advice

• As of July 2018, the latest version of Bluestacks runs Android Nougat (7.0).
• To delete an application, click and hold the mouse on the application icon until the mark X Red appears in the upper left corner of the icon, click on it X and click on action Delete when asked.

Warning

• APK files are handy, but often contain viruses as well. If you want to be safe, you should only download apps from the Google Play Store.
• Bluestacks is inherently very slow even when used on a high configuration computer. Because of this, your device may become lumbering when running some applications.