In this tutorial, learn how to install, set up, and use the BlueStacks Android emulator on MacOS. These instructions are applicable to macOS 10.12 and later. However, BlueStacks recommends using macOS 10.13 or newer for the best performance. Certain steps specifically apply to macOS 11 Big Sur, as installing and running BlueStacks on Big Sur is more challenging compared to earlier macOS versions.
How to Download & Install BlueStacks on Mac
Here’s how to download and install BlueStacks on your Mac:
1. Update macOS.
Ensure your macOS is fully updated for the best compatibility with BlueStacks.
If you cannot update to the latest version, make sure your current version has the latest patches installed to improve the chances of BlueStacks working properly.
2. Download BlueStacks for Mac OS.
3. Once the download is complete, open the BlueStacks installer.
4. Double-click the BlueStacks installer icon to begin the installation.
5. If prompted with a security warning, click Open to proceed.
6. Click Install Now in the installer window.
7. When prompted, enter your macOS username and password, then click Install Helper to continue.
8. If you see a “System Extension Blocked” popup, click Open Security & Privacy to allow the installation to proceed.
9. In the General tab of the Security & Privacy window, locate the message:
“System software from developer ‘Oracle America, Inc.’ was blocked from loading”. And then Click Allow to grant permission.
Depending on your macOS settings, you may need to click the lock icon in the lower-right corner of the window and enter your password to make changes.
10. Click Restart if prompted.
11. If you see a “BlueStacks interrupted restart” message, click Cancel.
12. Wait for your Mac to restart. Once it finishes, BlueStacks will be ready to use.
How to Use BlueStacks on Mac
3. When prompted, enter the email address associated with your Google account or create a new one if you don’t have an account yet. Then, click Next to proceed.
4. Enter the email address associated with your Google account, or create a new account if you don’t have one yet, then click Next.
5. Next, enter your Google account password and click Next to continue.
6. Once logged in, click the Play Store icon on the emulated Android desktop to access the Google Play Store.
7. Click the search bar in the Google Play Store and type the name of the Android app you want to install.
8. Once you find the desired app, click Install to begin the download.
9. When the installation is complete, click Open to launch the app.
App Orientation & Usage
10. BlueStacks will automatically switch to portrait mode for apps that require it.
11. You can interact with apps just like on an Android device, but instead of tapping, use your trackpad or mouse to click.
Switching Between Apps
12. Click a tab at the top of the BlueStacks window to switch between open apps, the desktop, or the Play Store.
13. If you have multiple apps open, they will all be accessible via these tabs.
Accessing the App Drawer
14. From the BlueStacks desktop, click the white circular icon at the bottom center to open the app drawer.
15. Here, you can quickly access all installed apps, search functions, and system settings.
System Settings & Features
16. BlueStacks includes Android system settings, allowing you to customize your experience as you would on a real Android device.
17. The Chrome browser is pre-installed and works just like it does on an Android phone or tablet.
Additional BlueStacks Options
18. Click Actions to simulate shaking an Android device, take screenshots, or switch between portrait and landscape mode.
19. Click Audio to adjust the volume within the emulated Android environment.
20. Go to Apple Menu > Preferences to modify BlueStacks display options and other settings.
Adjusting Device Profiles & Game Settings
21. Click Advanced > Choose a predefined profile to make BlueStacks behave like a specific phone model.
22. If the default Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus profile isn’t compatible with your app, select a different device from the dropdown menu.
23. If a game isn’t running correctly, go to Game settings, enable Optimize in-game settings, and adjust other settings as needed.
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