Bluestacks is an emulator of the Android operating system. Since this system is the only open platform, users no longer have options for launching mobile applications on personal computers and laptops. Using the emulator, you can run your favorite games from your smartphone and enjoy them on a large monitor. Application developers can test their software for performance without leaving your computer or using full-fledged Android devices. Let's figure out how to install Bluestacks and work with it.
System requirements
First you need to verify your configuration with the official requirements. Since the emulator recreates a full-fledged operating system, it may require a lot of computer resources. So, to start Bluestacks and work with it comfortably, you will need:
- operating system Windows 7 and later;
- at least 2 GB of RAM;
- for installation you need 4 GB on the hard drive.
These are the minimum computer requirements. Now imagine the recommended ones:
- Windows 10 operating system 64-bit;
- 6GB of RAM;
- 4-core processor;
- SSD for faster software work.
As you can see, most of all the performance of the emulator depends on the amount of RAM. If you have less than 4 GB, then we recommend that you close all third-party applications and games so as not to overload the system with unnecessary processes.
If you were unable to install Bluestacks, then your system does not fit the system requirements.
How to download
To download, you must visit the official website of the developers. On the portal you will find all relevant information regarding the emulator, its updates and innovations. To start the download, click on the "Download Bluestacks" button in the center of the page. The size of the installer will be at least 200 MB, depending on the version of the program. After that, you can install Bluestacks using the convenient installation wizard.
How to install
Run the downloaded file to open the emulator installer window. On the first screen, you need to confirm the license agreement and click on the "Continue" button.
Next, the installer offers to select a directory for the program. By default, the application is installed on the system partition of the hard drive in the Program Files folder. You can change this path to any other, however it is recommended to leave the installation directory unchanged. If you want to install Bluestacks in another folder, then click on the "Browse" button and select a directory. Finally, click on "Next."
The next window offers manual selection of components. You can mark them as you wish or leave everything as default. For beginners, the second option is recommended. To start the installation, click on "Install".
Installation will take no more than 2-3 minutes, depending on the capabilities of your hard drive. After that, a shortcut will appear on the desktop to start the emulator. After you have managed to install Bluestacks on your computer, the application will automatically start at system startup and include related services. Because of this, the turn-on time of the PC can increase significantly. We recommend that you turn off services at startup and start the emulator only if necessary, especially if you do not have the most powerful computer.
Run emulator and setup
Now you need to make the initial settings. Turn on Bluestacks and wait for the virtual machine optimization to complete. Next, you will see the initial interface of the emulator, repeating the screens of the Android operating system. As usual, this OS cannot be used without creating a Google account. You can register a new account or log in with an existing one. For example, you can use an account from your Android smartphone or an account from a Google Chrome browser.
The following are the language settings, time zone and the like. After completing all the steps, you will be taken to the Bluestacks main screen on Windows. Installing applications using this emulator is very simple.
How to use
To get started, you need to open the "My Applications" tab. There will be one system folder with applications - go to it. In the folder you will see the settings, browser and other services specific to the operating system. We are interested in Google Play, a complete app store. Click on it with the mouse.
Here you find yourself in the familiar app store. In the search bar you must enter the name of the program or game. Next, go to the page with the application and click the "Install" button. After installation, you can find this program in the "My Applications" tab on the emulator desktop.
If you were unable to install applications in Bluestacks, then check your Internet connection - without a stable connection, you will not be able to download games from the store. If this does not help, reinstall the emulator and try to configure it again. The settings window may also help. You can open it using the down arrow icon in the upper right corner of the screen.