It is possible to install Android on a PC without using an emulator. Learn how to run Android apps and access a full version of the mobile operating system on Windows.

If you don’t have an Android device, you’re missing out on millions of apps in the Google Play Store. Even if you already have a smartphone or tablet that plays Android games, you might prefer to play them on your PC.

There are several ways to run Android apps on your computer. For example, the Android SDK comes with an Android emulator for debugging apps, and BlueStacks is a cloud-based virtual machine that optimizes Android apps for desktop. However, if you want to access the full version of Android without an emulator, Phoenix OS is your best bet.

Phoenix OS is an operating system based on Android 7 (Nougat) that is designed to run on desktop and laptop computers. If you install it to your hard drive, you will be given the option to boot Phoenix OS every time you boot your computer. You can also save it to a USB flash drive for use on any computer.