Use Android As Pc

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• Use Android As Pc Extended Screen
• Use Android As Pc Controller
• Android For Pc Download

This makes Android x86 one of the best options if you're looking to install the latest version of Android on PC and use it as your primary operating system or run it in a VM. The software offers. If You Want to Use A Phone as Your Main PC, You Should Buy Android More and more people are moving towards a one-device-life, with smartphones taking center stage. If you've considered such a move yourself, you should look hard at an Android phone.

As handheld mobile tech becomes more prevalent, you may have looked at your devices sitting around and wondered 'how can I use my tablet as a second monitor?'

While working from home, most will not have the luxury of a productivity setup. Fear no more, in this article, we will show you on how to use your Android, Windows and iOS tablets as a second display.

To use a tablet as a second monitor, simply download the app on both your tablet and laptop. Each app will give you the capability to connect via a cable (which reduce portability) or wireless connection (which is less stable, but more portable).

How To Use android tablet as second monitor With Cable & Wirelessly

Picking an App and Method

There's a bit more to it than that though, as you need to be careful in what apps you pick! Some free options are available that we'll discuss below, but most likely you are going to have to spend a little money to get the best wireless experience.

Why exactly is that? Because free apps usually have these limitations to keep in mind:

• The app will bombard you with ads (which obviously isn't ideal for uninterrupted usage)
• The app will only work for a limited time on a free basis
• The app will require elevated tablet access permissions that you may not feel comfortable giving to a third party

Wireless Monitor Extension Apps

This is what most users actually want, so let's jump into going wireless first, although as we note below, there are some big limitations here you may want to keep in mind.

Each app has in-depth instructions on going through this process, so there's no need for us to rehash that here, but there are some things to keep in mind when picking a monitor extension app.

First up, be on the lookout for apps that allow you to both extend and mirror your display. These two options come in handy in different situations.

For instance, programmers may want to see their code on the main panel while having other resources on the secondary screen.

In other cases, you may need multiple people to see what's on the screen, so mirroring makes more sense — especially if you want to pass the tablet around a staff meeting.

Now that you know what to look for, what apps should you try out? After extensive research, these are the tools we specifically recommend trying out for using your Android tablet as a monitor:

Note that iDisplay Lets you use your Android tablet as a monitor for your Mac as well as a Windows PC.

Using Remote Desktop Apps

There's another option here that a lot of users don't realize is freely available and essentially gives you the same functionality as an extension app — using a remote desktop program!

In particular, we recommend these two options:

It's important to note this isn't exactly the same thing as using your tablet as a second monitor, but it essentially gives you the same features.

Rather than extending your laptop display to your tablet, these apps let you control your laptop directly from your tablet, no matter where you are located.

This is particularly useful if you need to access your desktop from your tablet while you are away from your home or office.

..In some ways, remote desktop apps are actually better than using a paid monitor display app…

In some ways, remote desktop apps are actually better than using a paid monitor display app, because they give you screen sharing while also letting you freely transfer files between the two devices.

Broadcasting From Tablet To PC Monitor Or TV

We've seen how to use your tablet as a secondary monitor for your laptop, but what if you want to go the opposite direction?

Of course, there are apps for that as well, and as a bonus many of them let you display your tablet's audio and video on your TV as well as your computer!

That can be a huge boon if you want to stream something like Netflix from your phone or tablet on your larger screen television. To go this route, check out these apps:

Via A USB Cable

Going wireless with the apps listed above is usually ideal for maximum portability, but it may not be the best option for your setup.

…It's very important to note that wireless connections through an app will often result in a slight lag or delay…

It's very important to note that wireless connections through an app will often result in a slight lag or delay between what you do on your computer and what you see on your tablet screen.

That's where you are going to end up seeing the bulk of the negative reviews for any programs that let you use your tablet as a secondary monitor.

If you have particularly fast and stable wifi in your area (and devices with enough RAM to run the connection app smoothly), that's less of a concern. In some cases, you may want to go with a cable-based connection using a USB instead.

Just like the wireless apps listed above, these programs let you extend or mirror your laptop display over to your tablet. They work through a faster-wired connection, however, and typically don't suffer any major lag in display time:

Note that SplashTop's wired version lets you try out the connection for free for 10 minutes to decide if you want to buy, so we recommend giving that a shot first to make sure it will work with your computer/tablet combo.

Via HDMI

If USB can be used to connect your tablet to your PC, you are probably wondering if it would be simpler to just use a standard video connection cable.

Some tablets like the Amazon Fire HD feature an HDMI port, which might make you assume using your tablet as a monitor will be as simple as plugging in a cable.

Unfortunately, in most cases, these tablet ports are actually for output, rather than input.

That means you can display your tablet's screen on another device via an HDMI cable, but not vice versa.

• Nylon-braided HDMI cable (A Male to A Male): supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K video, and Audio Return Channel (ARC)
• Connects Blu-ray players, Fire TV, Apple TV, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, computers, and other HDMI-enabled devices to TVs, displays, A/V receivers, and more
• Allows for sharing an Internet connection among multiple devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable

Using external screen with a Company laptop

With the rise of 'work from home' culture, some will be given a company laptop with limited access to install app.

Unfortunately, your options is very limited. You can either connect with a TV via HDMI, or buy an external display.

Using Windows 10 Tablet As A Monitor (Or Even Your IPhone & IPad!)

As would be expected, of course, there are similar tools available for Windows 10 tablets for those who don't care for Android devices. Splashtop comes to the rescue here with this nifty tool:

This is essentially Google's Remote Desktop program, but specifically for Windows environments instead of Android.

Wondering about an iOS device instead? Most of these programs listed above have Apple Store equivalents as well:

If you are using an iPad Pro, simply using Apple Sidecar built-in feature

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dual (Tablet – Laptop) Display Experience

The portability of using a mobile device as a screen is a big plus, but if you intend to use your tablet as a secondary monitor at a permanent workstation, we recommend getting one more peripheral: A tablet Stand

• EXCELLENT COMPATIBILITY: The iKross tablet bracket adjusts from 6 to 8.7 inches to accommodate majority of the 7 to 13 inch tablets including Apple New iPad 9.7-inch 2018 / 2017, iPad Pro 11/ 9.7,...
• MODERN DESIGN: The sleek and modern holder perfectly complements the kitchen countertop, cashier table, desktop and nightstand. Multiple mounting options are designed for convenience and versatility...
• STURDY CONSTRUCTION: Heavy duty brushed aluminum base is fully adjustable and folds down with removeable tablet holder for clutter free viewing.

Although obviously if you frequently pick up your tablet and move it to another location, that may not be an ideal solution.

With that done, enjoy your Increased productivity from a dual screen setup without having to buy a whole new monitor!

Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, but just because it's meant for mobile doesn't mean it can't be installed on the desktop. There are many ways to get Android running on a PC, including virtual device emulators, bootable USB versions, and even full standalone applications like BlueStacks. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs.

If you're looking to install Android on PC, we have your back! Here is the full breakdown of each of the best options available.

Using Android Studio and the virtual device

For the most part, Android development requires a tool called Android Studio. This is the software developers use to enter their code, test their apps, and manage their projects. It also happens to include a powerful 'Android virtual device manager' (AVD Manager) for setting up and installing emulators that can run full-fat Android extremely well.

Using this Android virtual device has many advantages. If you select x86_64 as the architecture, there is the option to run the Android virtual device in using Intel's Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager (HAXM) to speed up the performance. In many cases this will offer a seamless experience; especially on more powerful hardware.

Another big advantage of the AVD is that it comes with the latest version of Android. In fact, this is how most developers will first try out new updates to Android, to see how they affect their apps. That means you can even try beta versions of Android before they're released! Another way that the virtual device has evolved since the early days is by including the Google Play Store on some devices. This means you can access all the apps you've already purchased!

See also: Android SDK tutorial for beginners

The AVD does require a little more set-up than some options on this list. You'll need to download Android Studio first (alongside the SDK) and then you'll need to create your new virtual device. This process does give you the option to choose the display size, memory, and even Android version. Unfortunately, the combination of Android Studio, the Android SDK (which houses the Android Virtual Device), and the Android platform all take up a lot of harddrive space.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dual (Tablet – Laptop) Display Experience

The portability of using a mobile device as a screen is a big plus, but if you intend to use your tablet as a secondary monitor at a permanent workstation, we recommend getting one more peripheral: A tablet Stand

• EXCELLENT COMPATIBILITY: The iKross tablet bracket adjusts from 6 to 8.7 inches to accommodate majority of the 7 to 13 inch tablets including Apple New iPad 9.7-inch 2018 / 2017, iPad Pro 11/ 9.7,...
• MODERN DESIGN: The sleek and modern holder perfectly complements the kitchen countertop, cashier table, desktop and nightstand. Multiple mounting options are designed for convenience and versatility...
• STURDY CONSTRUCTION: Heavy duty brushed aluminum base is fully adjustable and folds down with removeable tablet holder for clutter free viewing.

Although obviously if you frequently pick up your tablet and move it to another location, that may not be an ideal solution.

With that done, enjoy your Increased productivity from a dual screen setup without having to buy a whole new monitor!

Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, but just because it's meant for mobile doesn't mean it can't be installed on the desktop. There are many ways to get Android running on a PC, including virtual device emulators, bootable USB versions, and even full standalone applications like BlueStacks. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs.

If you're looking to install Android on PC, we have your back! Here is the full breakdown of each of the best options available.

Using Android Studio and the virtual device

For the most part, Android development requires a tool called Android Studio. This is the software developers use to enter their code, test their apps, and manage their projects. It also happens to include a powerful 'Android virtual device manager' (AVD Manager) for setting up and installing emulators that can run full-fat Android extremely well.

Using this Android virtual device has many advantages. If you select x86_64 as the architecture, there is the option to run the Android virtual device in using Intel's Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager (HAXM) to speed up the performance. In many cases this will offer a seamless experience; especially on more powerful hardware.

Another big advantage of the AVD is that it comes with the latest version of Android. In fact, this is how most developers will first try out new updates to Android, to see how they affect their apps. That means you can even try beta versions of Android before they're released! Another way that the virtual device has evolved since the early days is by including the Google Play Store on some devices. This means you can access all the apps you've already purchased!

See also: Android SDK tutorial for beginners

The AVD does require a little more set-up than some options on this list. You'll need to download Android Studio first (alongside the SDK) and then you'll need to create your new virtual device. This process does give you the option to choose the display size, memory, and even Android version. Unfortunately, the combination of Android Studio, the Android SDK (which houses the Android Virtual Device), and the Android platform all take up a lot of harddrive space.

This method will work on OS X, Windows and Linux without issue. Android Studio, including the AVD Manager, can be found here.

Pure Android emulation with Genymotion

Use Android As Pc Mouse

Genymotion is a legacy Android on PC project, offering pure Android emulation with thousands of configuration options available to tailor your experience. The software runs an Android Virtual Device from within VirtualBox, which you'll also need to install.

One of Genymotion's biggest draws is the simulation of GPS, camera, SMS & calls, multi-touch, and basically all the other familiar Android hardware features. Other features include ADB access, support for a variety of app testing frameworks, even cloud access through services like Amazon and Alibaba.

Remember though, Genymotion is primarily targeted at developers looking for an environment in which to test their applications. As such, it's a professional environment with a selection of price plans to match. However, you can download and use the Personal Edition for free.

Open source Android x86.org Android on PC

Next on our list is a free open-source option – Android x86.org.

Based on the Android Open Source Project, Android-x86.org set out to make Android available to anyone with a PC. This makes Android x86 one of the best options if you're looking to install the latest version of Android on PC and use it as your primary operating system or run it in a VM. The software offers near complete stock Android with no additions whatsoever, which is a mixed bag. The good news is that Google Play Services is installed by default. The bad news is that using something made for touch on a desktop is not that intuitive.

Unfortunately, installation is also a little more involved than some of the applications listed below. The standard method is to burn an Android-x86 version to a bootable CD or USB stick and install the Android OS directly to your hard drive. Alternatively, you can install Android-x86 to a Virtual Machine, such as VirtualBox. This gives you access from within your regular operating system.

From inside your Virtual Machine, you can install the ISO file and then boot into the operating system. Find an official guide to the installation options for Android-x86 here.

Old but gold – BlueStacks

BlueStacks is one of the longest-enduring methods to install Android on PC, founded in 2011 and still going strong. BlueStacks has impressive performance, though it's not a patch on the Android Virtual Device. Additional features include: a simplified UI, optimizations dedicated to gaming, key-mapping, and multi-instance support to run multiple apps and even Google Accounts at once.

The user interface on Windows is more akin to what you would see in a web browser. It offers quick app switching in a tab format on the top of the window. However, those hoping to install their own launchers will be disappointed. The option was removed with the release of BlueStacks 4. On the plus side, BlueStacks also integrates with Windows to transfer files like APKs and there is even universal copy and paste.

BlueStacks remains a virtual machine at its core. So you don't quite get native system performance, but this keeps the application simple to install and run. BlueStacks 4 runs on a 32-bit version of Android 7.1.2 Nougat, so it's not the most up-to-date out of all the options out there. It is also heavily monetized, which some find distasteful. It will repeatedly request that you download apps from its partners, and suggest sponsored apps and games on the main menu.

Use Android As Pc Extended Screen

Even so, BlueStacks remains one of the best methods of running Android on PC out there. Check out what BlueStacks has to offer by clicking on the link below. You can download the platform at the bottom of the page.

One for the gamers – MEmu

If you're after a simple way to run Android games on a Windows PC, MEmu might be the way to go. The Chinese software is ad-supported, which might be a put-off compared to alternatives. However, MEmu's gaming-focused features might be worth it for some.

Use Android As Pc Controller

MEmu supports multiple-instances, allowing you to run several apps at once to level up multiple accounts. There's also support for keyboard and mouse input as well as gamepads so you can play your way. Other functionalities include the ability to sideload apps and window resizing with a minimum sizing that prevents apps from becoming unusable.

In terms of performance, MEmu gained popularity as a faster emulator compared to BlueStacks 3. However, the race is much closer these days given BlueStack 4's performance improvements. The latest MEmu version supports up to Android 7.1, with Android 5.1 and 4.4 compatibility included too.

There are a number of other game-focused clients that let you install Android on PC, including Gameloop (formerly Tencent Gaming Buddy), NoX, and others. Check out our list of the best Android emulators for more niche options.

Comparing the best options to install Android on PC

Android For Pc Download

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, but it really depends on what you want out of having Android on your desktop.

Bluestacks and other emulators like it have some baggage. Genymotion uses VirtualBox's virtualization. Android-x86 works great as a proof of concept, but it isn't that practical to use when comparing it to the other options discussed in this article.

On balance, this author finds installing the AVD Manager to be the optimal solution. While it comes packaged with Android Studio, the performance and flexibility are unmatched. Plus it is genuinely free, officially supported by Google, and constantly up-to-date. Hey Google! Why not release the virtual device separately?

Up next:How to play Android games on your PC