Frank (@fnetf) sent me another detailed tutorial by email, which describes how you can run Android in the emulator on your PC and how you can also install apps (APK files) in it.
Since the tutorial turned out very well again, I can’t withhold it from you, of course. Thanks to Frank for that…
In this tutorial, I would like to describe to you how you can use the Android Windows SDK to install any Android app (APK file) and then run it in the emulator. In this way, you have the opportunity to install a functional Android environment on a Windows PC in a very simple manner.
The Android SDK is a developer environment to develop and test Android projects under real conditions.
However, the emulator can also be used to install and run a ready-made application in an AVD.
And this is exactly what I would like to explain to you here:
1.) Download and install the Android SDK for Windows
Here you can download the SDK for Windows, Linux, and MAC
In this tutorial, however, I will only deal with version.
Download the Windows Zip package now
For the SDK on your PC, it is best to unpack the zip files into the main directory of your PC (e.g. C:, D:, E:, etc.)
My installation is on E:/android-sdk-windows (this applies to the entire course of the tutorial)
2.) Start and,
– Now please start the SDK Manager.exe under E:/android-sdk-windows :
Once the SDK manager has started, click on “Available packages” in the left part of the window and then on “Android Repository” in the selection menu that appears on the right.
The individual Android SDK versions from 1.5 – 2.3 are now listed there with documentation. You can now install all versions or choose individual ones. I only have version 2.1 and 2.2 installed (source).
The selected SDK versions will now be downloaded and then installed – this may take a little longer!
3.) Set up AVD (Android Virtual Devices).
Next, the actual Android device must be created, in which your APK files will ultimately be installed and executed. To do this, click on the left part window that appears on the right, and click on “New”.
Another window opens (see left).
– For Name, I have entered “saved” as an example
-In point “Target” you choose that for your AVD. I chose Android 2.2 because my two Samsung Galaxy Archos 70IT run on FroYo (version 2.2).
– In the next point “SD Card” you can (but don’t have to) set up a virtual SD card. Under “Size” you choose the size.
Since Android FroYo 2.2 there is the possibility to store apps on SD. Above all, games use this, otherwise, the app memory in your AVD is quickly exhausted. I chose 300MB here. You can also use the virtual SD card to store files of all kinds.
– I did not test the item “SD Card: File:”.
– The next point relates to the display resolution. You can choose a standard resolution under “Built-in” or define your resolution under Resolution. I selected “WVGA800” under “Built-in”, so I can display the AVD in full format on my laptop (1280×800).
– The last point concerns the virtual hardware that should host your AVD.
You can set up support for SD card, DPad, accelerometer, cache partition size, audio playback, trackball, camera, battery, touch screen, device RAM, keyboard, GPS, GSM modem, etc.
I’ve set up almost everything here because I have no way of installing any components once the AVD has been completed. Of course, you can also create different AVDs with different hardware support.
When you have finished configuring everything, click on “Create AVD” at the bottom. Now your virtual device is created (source). Before the next step, you can now close the SDK Manager selection window.
4.) Start the emulator with the created AVD
Now click the “Start” button on your PC enter “cmd” in the program search line and confirm with Enter. The Windows command prompt (terminal window) opens. Enter “CD E:/android-sdk-windows/tools” in the command prompt. Now enter “emulator @favd” behind this path and confirm with Enter.
If everything has been configured correctly, your virtual Android device will now start… 🙂
Note: Of course, you also have the option of placing a link to “Emulator.exe” on your desktop (see right).
5.) Apk installation into an existing AVD
Important: Your created AVD must be started before you install an APK!
– Now you copy the APK file – Then start a “cmd” (command prompt) again – As described under point 4 you enter “CD E:/Android-SDK-Windows/Tools” (confirm with Enter) and then “E:\Android-SDK-Windows\Platform-tools\adb install name-your-apk.apk”.
If the installation is successful, the word “Success” appears this app should be found under Applications like normal smartphone.
