Run Android Apps in Mac OS X with BlueStacks

Jun 28, 2012 - 11 Comments

Run Android Apps in Mac OS X with BlueStacks

If you’ve ever wanted to run Android apps on your Mac, a new virtualization tool called BlueStacks makes it easier than ever before. The extremely simple to install solution includes 17 popular Android apps that can be run independently and without the need for running Android ICS in a virtual machine, removing the often clunky virtualized Android OS experience and instead launching directly into the apps.

The default installation is heavy on the games but includes other popular titles too. You’ll get Air Control Lite, Alchemy, Basketball Shot, Drag Racing, Elastic World, Facebook, Glow Hockey, Guns’n Glory, Paper Toss, Pulse news reader, Robo Defense, Seesmic, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Zebra Paint, all conveniently located in an “Android Apps” folder in the OS X Dock. Because they run as independent apps, you’ll also find them in LaunchPad.

BlueStacks runs Android apps in Mac OS X

Performance is very good and there are no noticeable issues or speed problems, and some of the games actually seem to run better in Mac OS X under the virtual layer than they do on some older Android phones – not surprising considering the desktop hardware is beefier.

Drag racing Android game in Mac OS X

This is a great free solution for anyone wanting to run Android apps on their Mac, and if you’ve been curious about the world of Android apps but didn’t want to get a smartphone, deal with virtualization, or buy the new Nexus 7, there is no easier way to check them out.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in Fun, Mac OS, Tips & Tricks

11 Comments

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  1. bob says:

    I cant get clash of clans

  2. grannygear says:

    There doesn’t seem to be a blue stacks app player for a mac, nothing comes up when I click on it except questions about it, how to uninstall it, etc., but no app player.

  3. Afsal says:

    Can we run Gps based apps on mac using Bluestack app.. ?

  4. Nilesh Parmar says:

    I hope they do do that, this would really make this app full worthwhile

  5. koen says:

    Does anyone know how to install an app from the play store?

    • Paul says:

      I believe you have to wait for BlueStacks to support the app, as of the current Alpha version there isn’t a direct Play connection.

  6. MuTz777 says:

    There is no point in trying WhatsApp unless the developer finds a way to connect a sim card reader to the emulator….

  7. Dave says:

    Performance on my MacBook Pro 2010 with 8GB of upgraded RAM is not good at all. The games take about 5 minutes each to load up then I get an fps of about 10 making it pretty unplayable. It is also crashes frequently. Uninstalling now.

    • Zedd says:

      Imagine that, an ALPHA program has issues? Naw, apps are perfect and ready for market as soon as they are written.

    • Tom says:

      My stock Macbook Air late 2010 seems absolutely fine with games, both running and loading… so perhaps in 2 months it’s come on a lot, unless it’s down to some specifics of the specifications, if you catch my drift.

  8. David says:

    The problem with virtualizing Android as a whole is the lack of touch screen support, otherwise it wouldn’t be too bad. I’d like to try a VM of Jelly Bean anyway.

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