First of all, what we have to do is download the iso new OS that we are going to install in the virtual machine from , to then execute the aforementioned .
Thus, once we have started the program, first of all, we are going to add a new virtual machine by clicking on the button represented by the “+” sign of the main interface.
We assign the name we want to it, and in the “Type” section we can select “Linux”, and in “Version” we specify another linux of 64 bit.
Thus, once we have created the virtual machine, we have to configure it and add the iso that we downloaded previously, for which we click on the entry with the right button of the mouse and select “Settings”.
In the new window that appears, click on the “Storage” section located on the left side of the Interface and, after clicking on “Empty” in “Optical Unit”, we can now navigate to the location where we save the ISO of the Android that we want to load into the virtual machine.
Once we have added it, we accept it by returning to the initial interface of the program, and we mark it again with the the right button of the mouse, but in this case we select “Start”. It is then that the process of execution either facility of the new Android that we are going to use on our desktop computer.
Thus, the first thing that appears is a menu like the one we see in the screenshot attached, where we can select between install android in it equipmentor create a LiveCD of the system to start it without having to install it in the virtual machine, everything will depend on the needs of each one.
Then the process loading of the ISO in VirtualBox, so we will clearly see on the screen a message that reads Android in large, a process that can take a few minutes, depending on the type of selected facilityand the capacity in terms of performance of our PC.
Therefore, once the ISO has been loaded into the virtual machine, we can start the process of setting new Android system on our desktop, all in a similar way to how we probably have done it before on our mobile devices.
This is a fairly simple process that will allow us, from now on, to be able to use the operating system to mobile devices most used in the world, but in this case in our desktop computer through a virtual machine that we have created with the virtualbox software.
limitations
Google’s operating system is intended to be used on devices such as smartphones and tablets, not on computers. This is one of the reasons why the official Android images do not support PC architectures and it is necessary to resort to alternatives such as the Android-x86 project for this.
Although it is possible to install Android on our computer, the truth is that we will be quite limited in many aspects. For example, there are applications that will not work when an unofficial Android version is detected. All apps are designed to be used on touch screens, so using them with a keyboard and mouse will be very unintuitive.
Nor will we be able to make use of OTA updates to the operating system.
Regarding compatibility, the drivers included in Android-x86 are limited, and we will surely end up having problems using it on many types of computers, despite having the support of the Linux Kernel. The hardware is not going to perform at 100% of its capacity either, and some games (if we want to play here) may give us problems.
With WSA in Windows 11
One of the main novelties that came with Windows 11, without cutting with the new design and hardware requirements that left many relatively modern computers out of this version is WSA. WSA is the Windows Subsystem for Android, a feature that allows us to run Android applications on Windows without installing any emulator. In this way, we can install any Android application on a PC, although at the moment it is limited to all the applications that are available through the Amazon App Store.
In order to enjoy WSA in Windows 11, it is necessary that our computer is managed by at least 8 GB of RAM, if we have 4 or 6, from the Microsoft Store we will not have the possibility of installing the Amazon App Store application, through which we can install any Android application on our PC. But, previously, we must activate this subsystem, and to do so, we must access the application Turn Windows features on or off via the search box and check the box virtual machine platform.
Next, we restart the PC and go to the Microsoft Store to download the Amazon Appstore application, an application that we can download through the following link.
Drawbacks
The main drawback of using WSA is that we can only install the games and applications available in the Amazon Appstore, whose range of options leaves a lot to be desired. Although it is true that we can download the APK files of applications available in the Play Store and install them in Windows, these will not work since they mostly depend on Google services.
Google is working to bring the catalog of applications from the Play Store to Windows, however, at the moment we still do not know how it will do it, if it will use the Microsoft Store like Amazon or if it will launch its own application that does the same functions as the Amazon application and thus be able to install any Android application on Windows without the need to resort to emulators, virtual machines or to install Androix x86 as a separate partition.
Worth?
Since Android has started to gain popularity as the most widely used operating system in the world (at least in the smartphone market), bringing this OS to other platforms has always been something that has attracted the attention of many users. Today, Android is present in smartphones, tablets, televisions, cars, consoles… but where it has never officially arrived has been to PC. Google has its own projects (such as Chrome OS or Fuchsia OS) to try to conquer the PC market, but it has never tried with an official Android.
The alternatives that we have to install this system on a PC are limited and unofficial. And this is where the problems begin. The compatible hardware leaves a lot to be desired, finding that, assuming that we can install it, some peripherals or components will not work. Nor can we forget that, surely, we will have performance problems since we do not have a Kernel optimized to work on other computers. And, of course, we can forget about Google Play Services, since, since it is not an official Google device, we will not have access to the store or the other services of the Internet giant.
As for whether it is worth it, it will depend on each one. If we need, yes or yes, to install Android programs on the PC, then we have no alternative (until Windows 11 enables the Subsystem for Android). But, if what we want is a system for day to day, the truth is that it is not the best option.
Alternatives to have Android on Windows
The Android-x86 project is very interesting to be able to enjoy the advantages of Google’s operating system on a PC. But it is extremely limited. There are many things we can’t do with it. Therefore, in case you have some special needs, it is better to know some of the alternatives that will allow us to better enjoy the advantages of Android on the PC.
Without a doubt, one of the best ways to bring Android to Windows is through the . Google’s official programming IDE has one of the best Android virtual machines that will allow us to install and test up to the latest version of this operating system with very few limitations. It consumes a lot of resources and is a bit slow, but it is the “official” way to have Android on Windows.
And if what we want is an Android that works natively, then we can opt for Phoenix OS. This project is similar to Android-x86 but has much more up-to-date support, in addition to completely redesigning the interface to become a hybrid between Android for PC and Chrome OS. CyanogenMOD It also has excellent roms that allow us to install a version of Android on a PC and other devices, such as the Raspberry Pi. Although the process is more complicated.
Install Android on the PC or virtualize it?
This is the question that we often ask ourselves when we want to test Google’s operating system on a PC. Is it better to virtualize it, or do we physically install it on the PC? Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, physically installing it on the computer will allow us to take better advantage of the PC’s hardware (although not completely). It also allows us to have an alternative operating system to start the computer. But it forces us to turn our backs on other systems, such as Windows, which are much more designed to work on a PC.
If we virtualize Android on Windows, we will lose some performance (little, considering current virtualization techniques), but we will gain in many other ways. For example, we can use Android and Windows at the same time, share resources between both systems and, most importantly, not put our data at risk.
It depends on the needs of each one we will have to choose one system or another.
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