Sideloading apps in the Google Play Games Emulator is easy

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From LDPlayer to Gameloop, there are numerous emulators that allow you to run Android games on PC. Compared to the most popular emulation apps, Google Play Games Emulator offers one of the easiest ways to enjoy your favorite mobile games on your powerful gaming system. Unfortunately, the first-party emulator has an extremely small game library and zero apps that you can install from the built-in Play Store.




But the bright spot here is that it is possible to sideload a number of Android titles and applications on the Google Play Games Emulator. Of course, you will need to use the USB debugging feature to run some ADB commands, but the whole process is a breeze if you follow this tutorial!

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Sideloading apps via the Windows Terminal

The Windows Terminal provides an easy way to run ADB commands on Android devices – and that includes the Google Play Games Emulator. Although we used Powershell in the Windows Terminal frontend, you can follow along if you're a Command Prompt user.

  1. If you have not yet installed the Google Play Games Emulator, please activate the Always allow from this computer Check box and click the Allow button when the emulator prompts you USB debugging during the initial setup.
    Enabling USB debugging during Google Play Games Emulator installation

  2. Alternatively, you can also use this function via the Developer options Menu in system the Settings App.
    Enabling USB debugging in the Google Play Games Emulator Settings app

  3. Open the File Explorer and paste the following address into the Search bar. 
    C:\Program Files\Google\Play Games Developer Emulator\current\emulator
    The Google Play Games Emulator directory in Windows 11

  4. Right-click anywhere in the File Manager and select Windows Terminal.
    Open Windows Terminal in the Google Play Games Emulator directory

  5. Run this command to check if the Android Debug Bridge detects the Google Play Game Emulator: 
    .\adb devices
    Running the .\adb devices command in Windows Terminal

  6. Run the command .\adb install followed by the directory and name of the APK file you want to sideload on the emulator. 
    .\adb install directory\apk_name
    Sideloading an app in the Google Play Games Emulator

  7. Assuming you have downloaded the APK file from a reliable source, press Install anyway if the Google Play Protect service blocks the installation process.
    Installing an app even if Google Play Protect displays a security warning


Which apps can you sideload on the Google Play Emulator?

Browsing games on Google Play Games Emulator

If you have performed all steps correctly, the terminal will display the Success Message and the application will appear once you swipe up on the Google Play Emulator home screen. However, there are certain limitations when sideloading apps on the emulator. For example, app stores like Aurora and F-Droid do not allow you to install a single app, and I have seen mixed results when installing arm64-v8a and armeabi-v7a apps.


Still, it's one of the most optimized Android emulators in the PC landscape. Unlike its third-party competitors, Google's offering doesn't charge extra for the best performance, nor does it shove ads in your head at every opportunity, making it a great option for casual gamers as well as app developers.


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