The smartphone market is growing at an unprecedented rate, which means that a lot of money is spinning here. All this prompted such a computer giant as Microsoft to start creating their own phones, with the Windows Phone operating system. And while Microsoft has great marketing people, the Windows Phone operating system never caught on.
The reason for this was the lack of popular applications running on the Windows Phone operating system. Ordinary people don't want to buy such a phone because the app store is scarce, and app developers don't want to build apps because Windows Phones aren't in demand.
How to run android apps on windows phone?
But what should people who have already purchased such a phone do, how can they use their favorite applications? Especially for such people, Microsoft developers and third-party specialists are creating special programs - android emulators for windows phone. They should enable Windows phone users to install and use applications created on the basis of the android operating system.
Most of all, Microsoft is interested in solving this problem. The corporation itself has high hopes for a new version of the windows phone 10 operating system. As the developers themselves said, this system should become truly universal and give a new impetus to the development of Windows phones.
Instruction:
Download from the Android SDK from this repository.
- Unzip the downloaded files to some folder on your computer.
- Open the folder where you copied wconnect in Explorer and launch the command window (hold Shift, right-click on an empty area of the window and select the appropriate option from the context menu.
- Connect your smartphone to your computer. This can be done in two ways. The easiest is using a USB cable. If this method does not suit you for some reason, use a local Wi-Fi connection. In the first case, in the command window, write "wconnect.exe usb" (without quotes) and press Enter. In the second case, enter the command "wconnect.exe 192.168.xxx.xxx" (also without quotes). Here 192.168.xxx.xxx is the local IP address of your smartphone. This address can be found through the device settings or the router.
- You will need to pair your smartphone and computer. A code will be shown on the smartphone screen. Remember it, enter it in the command window and press Enter.
- Navigate to the ADB folder and open a command window.
- Make sure your smartphone is correctly detected by the computer. To do this, run the "adb devices" command - you will see a list of connected devices.
- Lastly, copy any APK file to your ADB folder and issue the command "adb install xxx.apk", where xxx.apk is the name of the file you want to port to Windows 10 Mobile.
- Wait a few seconds or minutes while the application or game is installed on your device. After that, you can try to run him (or her).The second way to install Android apps is more automated and therefore much easier.
Download the program and run it on your computer.
- Open on your smartphone, go to the update and security section and enable developer mode and device detection.
- Pair your smartphone with your computer. To do this, connect your smartphone to the computer's USB port with a cable and wait until the code appears on the smartphone screen. Remember it and enter it in the program window.
- Drag the APK file you need into the program window and wait for a while while the application is being installed.
- Try running the application.Initially, not all applications can run on Windows 10 Mobile. Those that require Google services for normal operation will not run. Blackberry owners are familiar with this trouble, so there is a special tool for the Canadian company's smartphones that "dissects" the code of APK files and removes binding to Google services from applications.
Download the program from the crackberry.com forum, install it, run it and "feed" it the APK file of the application that does not want to run on Windows 10 Mobile. The application will patch the file, remove the binding to Google services from it and save a new version of the file, much less whimsical. Try to install it - with a high degree of probability, the installed application will work on Windows 10 Mobile.
It is worth bearing in mind that installing APK files can be very harmful. Firstly, in most cases you will violate copyrights (of course, if the application developer himself did not upload the APK file on some site and did not allow it to be ported to different platforms, which happens extremely rarely). Secondly, APK files very often spread malicious code that can conduct unwanted activity on a smartphone (send messages, generate traffic to sites with questionable content, steal money, files, correspondence, photos, etc.). In addition, Astoria is an experimental project exclusively for developers who want to port their own apps or games from Android to Windows 10 Mobile. For ordinary users, and even more so for those who are going to use it for the purpose of piracy, it is, of course, not intended, and this is more than obvious. After all, an incompatible APK file can easily damage your smartphone, turning it into a hard-to-repair "brick". In any case, we cannot recommend that you port applications that you did not create from one platform to another. If you still decide to do this, we warned you about the consequences.
There have been rumors that Windows 10 Mobile has a built-in virtual machine to run Java code for Android applications, but now we are sure that this is the case. Microsoft found itself in a rather strange situation. As we know, the quantity and quality of apps for Windows Phone (and now for Windows 10 Mobile) by and large leaves much to be desired, and Android app support could solve this problem.
Microsoft has long considered the possibility of running Android applications on Windows Phone, but could not come to a final decision on how to implement this feature. If developers were allowed to port them themselves, there would be a risk that many of them would simply not want to take the time to port the code, even if this process were as simple as possible. On the other hand, it is not possible to allow unmodified Android application code to run on WP-smartphones for several reasons. Firstly, applications still need to be optimized, and secondly, in this case, many users would begin to pirate the most popular games, including those released on Windows Phone.
Surely Microsoft has not yet decided whether Windows 10 Mobile needs such a simple support for Android applications, whether it will be useful to the platform, or vice versa - it will only bring harm and suffering. Still, we are talking about the mass market, and not about the experimental features. What's good for Android can be deadly for Windows 10 Mobile. Viruses, piracy, have we been striving for this all these years? We were proud of the security of Windows Phone, but what about Windows 10 Mobile? Second Android?
Portable devices that exist today, such as smartphones and tablets, run on a wide variety of operating systems. In view of this diversity, application developers face the rather difficult task of porting their products to different platforms. Many of them neglect their duties, as a result, some applications are only suitable for specific operating systems. The situation can be corrected by special programs called emulators.
What is an emulator?
The abundance of programs imported to only one or two platforms has necessitated the development of special programs that can simulate a completely different software environment for running applications. They were called emulators, although the first such applications were developed in the distant past for personal computers. Modern emulators, for example, an android emulator for windows phone, PS2, are able to give the owner of the device the opportunity to run an application designed for a completely different operating system.
There are several such programs at once, however, all of them, to one degree or another, have the same advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of such applications include:
- Expanding the capabilities of the device by creating a completely different software environment in it;
- The ability to run exclusive applications available only on the Android OS;
- A large selection of programs that allows you to choose the right emulator.
The disadvantages, as a rule, include low performance and a large number of possible errors, which, however, is far from relevant for all representatives of this category of applications.
Most Popular Programs
Among such applications, there are leaders, characterized by stable operation and high performance. Given the quality of most emulators, these characteristics are fundamental when choosing them. One of the most promising developments to date is Leapdroid, which is very popular with owners of gadgets with OS.
Nox App Player is the second most popular and provides users with the ability to launch applications with unprecedented stability. In fact, this program is one of the best options for solving such problems.
In general, emulators seem to be excellent programs that can significantly expand the functionality and capabilities of a smartphone, as well as increase the number of applications available for use.
Modern mobile games developed for the Android OS are very popular among users of all ages. A few years ago, installing programs with the APK extension on another operating system was technically impossible. However, today the owners of smartphones running on Windows Phone have the opportunity to play Android games on their devices absolutely freely. Let's look at how to install Android applications on Windows Background.
Ways to install Android on Windows Phone
Despite the good build quality and good technical characteristics of mobile devices running Windows Phone, they have one significant drawback - a limited amount of software suitable for this platform. It is this factor that inclines many users to buy Android or iOS phones and tablets.
To somehow correct the current situation and attract new customers to their products, Microsoft has developed several tools:
- WConnect;
- APKToWIN10.
The company supplies the specified software absolutely free of charge. With it, the owner of a smartphone on Windows Background can install almost any program in APK format on his gadget and work freely with it.
It should be noted that the utilities in question are only compatible with the latest version of the operating system - Windows 10 Mobile (Lumiya 430, 435, 540, 638, 830, etc.). If you have an older mobile device in your hands, you will not be able to download an Android game on it.
Installing Android on Windows Phone via WConnect
Before you put the APK game on Windows Mobile, you will need to set up your device:
After that we do the following:
After the installation is completed, the installed programs will be available not only on Android, but also on Windows.
Using the APKToWIN10 App
Considering how to install an Android program on Windows Mobile, the APKToWIN10 utility should also be noted. It is easier to use than WConnect, but is not suitable for all Windows 10 devices. The workflow is as follows:
Once the installation is complete, you will be able to open the program on your Windows Phone.
Currently existing portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets, run on a wide variety of operating systems. In view of this diversity, application developers face the rather difficult task of porting their products to different platforms. Many of them neglect their duties, as a result, some applications are only suitable for specific operating systems. The situation can be corrected by special programs called emulators.
What is an emulator?
The abundance of programs imported to only one or two platforms has necessitated the development of special programs that can simulate a completely different software environment for running applications. They were called emulators, although the first such applications were developed in the distant past for personal computers. Modern emulators, for example, an android emulator for windows phone, PS2, are able to give the owner of the device the opportunity to run an application designed for a completely different operating system.
There are several such programs at once, however, all of them, to one degree or another, have the same advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of such applications include:
- Expanding the capabilities of the device by creating a completely different software environment in it;
- The ability to run exclusive applications available only on the Android OS;
- A large selection of programs that allows you to choose the right emulator.
The disadvantages, as a rule, include low performance and a large number of possible errors, which, however, is far from relevant for all representatives of this category of applications.
Most Popular Programs
Among such applications, there are leaders, characterized by stable operation and high performance. Given the quality of most emulators, these characteristics are fundamental when choosing them. One of the most promising developments to date is Leapdroid, which is very popular with OS gadget owners.
Nox App Player is the second most popular and provides users with the ability to launch applications with unprecedented stability. In fact, this program is one of the best options for solving such problems.
In general, emulators seem to be excellent programs that can significantly expand the functionality and capabilities of a smartphone, as well as increase the number of applications available for use.
Let's imagine a situation where a user needs to launch a certain mobile application, but his smartphone is not suitable for this task. This usually happens due to the incompatibility of the program and the Android version on the mobile gadget. In this case, you can use the Android emulator for the Windows operating system and open the application on your computer or laptop.
An emulator is a program that copies the working model of one electronic system to another, mimicking the basic functionality. In our case, the digital environment of the Android operating system is integrated into the Windows environment.
Use the Android emulator for Windows in three cases:
- Ordinary users want to see how this or that Android application works;
- Application developers test the behavior of their programs;
- Avid gamers run mobile games on their PC without restrictions on operating system versions and technical requirements;
Now on the Web you can download a huge number of Android emulators for Windows for free. We have selected the best ones designed for the most popular OS versions from Microsoft: Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows XP.
Android Emulators for Windows 10:
This Android emulator for Windows appeared on the market in 2015 and has already gained a reputation as an excellent emulator that 100% imitates the shell of the Android operating system on a PC. Users praise Droid4x for its good performance and nice interface. To increase the speed of the emulator, developers recommend using a processor that supports Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization technology. Otherwise, the emulator may sag in stability from time to time.
The main advantages of Droid4x:
- Built-in Google Play Store, through which you can install applications directly on Windows without additional downloading of APK installation files;
- The emulator is well optimized to run the heaviest 3D games;
- It has an additional application that turns a smartphone into a gamepad for games on a Windows computer;
- Point control setting. For example, you can bind specific keys on a physical keyboard to specific points on an emulated Android screen;
- Synchronization of applications installed on Android and Windows;
The official website of the emulator is not yet available, so you can download the program through a torrent or online software storage.
The Android operating system emulator for Windows differs in that it is based on its own Dalvik virtual machine, which works with the services and applications of Android applications. Therefore, when using Windroy, there are no additional software involved that can slow down the performance of the emulator.
The emulator is based on Android OS version 4.0.3 and runs on Windows all applications and games created for it.
In order to install a game or application in the emulator, you need to download the apk file and transfer it to the \ data \ app folder in the directory with Windroy. After that, you can immediately use the downloaded application.
Important! For optimal performance, the Windroy emulator should be installed in the root directory of the main drive. For example, like this: c:\Windroy
The emulator is controlled in the same way as on an Android smartphone. The user can type text using the on-screen keyboard, set up audio and video capture from the webcam, download the desired application from the digital store.
The main functions of the emulator:
- Installing Android applications from a separate folder;
- Export files from Windows memory;
- Creation of screenshots;
- Running one game on multiple screens for playing in multiplayer;
- Video recording;
- Location setting and so on;
The performance mode of the emulator can be changed depending on the resources of the computer. To do this, the amount of RAM and processor power are assigned in the settings. Testing of the program showed that the Nox App Player emulator works without brakes and crashes.
Important! If the emulator does not start, check that the path to the exe file is written in English. The emulator distribution is incompatible with Cyrillic characters.
There are many ways to combine the functions of a smartphone and other electronic device into one system. For example, a smartphone can control household appliances in the house. How to do this, you can read in the article "How to make a TV remote control from a smartphone". Also on the pages of the official website of the British company Fly you will learn about tricks in setting up Android, read about applications for all occasions, and also get information about new Fly smartphones.
We recommend that you pay attention to the update of the popular Cirrus series - model. The power of a fast 1.5 GHz quad-core processor is enough to run any application that you learn about on the blog pages of the official website. Whether you are installing live wallpapers or downloading a book to the reader, the bright and contrasting 5-inch IPS 2.5D screen will give you an unforgettable experience of viewing graphics and managing text on your smartphone. The 8-megapixel camera is perfect for those who like to take unforgettable photos with their smartphone, and connoisseurs of bright design will definitely like the ability to change the color panels to suit their mood.
We all know that the Windows Phone operating system appeared not so long ago and has already become a competitor to all other well-known operating systems. Developers do not stand still and in October the release of Windows 10 for smartphones will be released. The most advanced users who do not like to wait have long installed Windows 10 Technical Preview on their smartphones and are experimenting with it. There are many experiments, and one of them is the installation of Android applications, namely * .apk files on your smartphone! And now I will tell you about this method in more detail.
Yes, you understood correctly, if you have Windows 10 Technical Preview on your phone, then you can already install applications on your Android smartphone, namely * .apk files. But I would like to warn you that not all smartphones now have such an opportunity and that not all *.apk format files will work for you! You can see the list of devices that currently have this feature: Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 925, Nokia Lumia 929, Nokia Lumia 830, Nokia Lumia 930, Nokia Lumia 1520, Nokia Lumia 635 1 GB RAM, Nokia Lumia 730, Nokia Lumia 820, Nokia Lumia 435, Nokia Lumia 928.
Step 1. You need to download from our website and install on your computer a special utility for installing *.apk files on your smartphone, although it is not in Russian, but I think no one should have any problems:
Microsoft has been making great efforts lately to popularize its mobile platform, but, alas, it cannot boast of any particular success. All the attempts of marketers and programmers break into a vicious circle in which Windows Phone found itself: "users do not come because of the meager selection of applications, and developers are ignored because of the small number of users."
However, with the release of Windows 10, which, as you know, will be a universal system for all platforms, everything can change. Microsoft came up with a radical way out of the trap in which their mobile devices found themselves. Project Astoria is a dedicated developer tool that aims to make it as easy as possible to port and run Android apps on Windows mobile devices.
The presentation of this project was scheduled for autumn 2015 along with the final release of Windows 10 Mobile. However, something went wrong, and yesterday the documentation and files of Project Astoria were leaked to the Web. And here is some interesting information that became public knowledge:
- Project Astoria will let Windows 10 Mobile users seamlessly install android apps in the event that they do not use Google Play services in their work. Otherwise, developers will still need to make a slight modification.
- Along with Windows, the Project Astoria SDK will also be available for Mac at a later date.
- To install the application apk file, you will need Java JDK (1.7 or older), Android Studio and the ability to work with the Android Debug Bridge (adb).
- Currently, a limited list of devices is supported, but in the future it will be expanded. Here is the list: Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 925, Nokia Lumia 929 (icon), Nokia Lumia 830, Nokia Lumia 930, Nokia Lumia 1020, Nokia Lumia 1520, Nokia Lumia 635, Nokia Lumia 730, Nokia Lumia 820, Nokia Lumia 435 Nokia Lumia 928.
Some curious users have already tried out the tools posted on the Web and installed Android applications on devices running Windows 10 Mobile. It turned out that this process is very simple and accessible to almost any advanced user. You can see the detailed step by step guide in the following video. Links to the necessary files are given in the comments to this roller on YouTube.
This news cannot but please all owners of mobile gadgets running an operating system from Microsoft. Finally, they will be able to install any programs they need and stop envying the wealth of choice from competitors. However, can this save the Windows Mobile platform? We invite you to express your opinion in the comments.
Today we wrote that one of the Windows enthusiasts was able to install Android applications on his phone without any modifications or changes. Almost immediately, the author published the installation instructions, so you can try to install the APK yourself on a Windows 10 Mobile smartphone.
Attention: this procedure is only for advanced users who are not afraid to damage their smartphone. All actions you do at your own peril and risk, and the responsibility lies solely with you.
- Nokia Lumia 920
- Nokia Lumia 925
- Nokia Lumia 929
- Nokia Lumia 830
- Nokia Lumia 930
- Nokia Lumia 1520
- Nokia Lumia 635 1 GB RAM.
- Nokia Lumia 730
- Nokia Lumia 820
- Nokia Lumia 435
- Nokia Lumia 928
Installation procedure:
- Download and install Android SDK ADB and Wconnect tool .
- Unzip all files into one folder.
- Open the Wconnect folder and install the IpOverUsbInstaller.msi and vcredist_x86.exe files
- Open the settings on your smartphone - update and security - for developers. Turn on developer mode and device discovery.
- Go to the unpacked Wconnect folder, press Shift + right mouse button - open command prompt.
- Connect your smartphone via USB to your computer and type wconnect.exe usb. Press Enter.
- Then enter the pairing code.
- Navigate to the unpacked ADB folder and launch a command prompt in the same way. To verify that your device is successfully paired, type adb devices and hit enter.
- Place the APK file in the ADB folder.
- At the command prompt, type adb install filename.apk.
- Wait for the process to complete.
What if the application requires a cache?
- Install any Android file manager. Anyone who can work with cloud storage will do.
- Log in to your vault after downloading the cache of the app or game you want.
- Now download the cache to your device and place it in the desired folder using the installed Android file manager.
- Install the APK file you need and run it. If you have located the application cache correctly, it will find the files it needs and start.
What about apps that require Google Play Services?
Apps that require Google Play Services to run won't be able to run on Windows 10 Mobile, but you can try to patch them by removing the service affinity. To do this, you will need the GMaps Patcher utility. It also allows you to get the APK file you need to install by downloading it from the Google Play store.
Don't forget that installing Android apps this way comes with some risks, so you need to make sure you don't worry about damaging your device. But if you're really itching to run the popular green robot apps on your smartphone, now you know how. Hopefully, Microsoft will share more details about Project Astoria in the near future.
