Free Mac app runs Android apps like normal Mac software

A free Mac app called Mac.apk can install Android apps and run them in their own windows, like regular Mac software. Android Police writer Dhruv Bhutani tested it for a few days. Two of the three apps he tried worked well, including a podcast app and a 3D game. The third froze. The project is early alpha software, meaning it is unfinished.

What it is

Mac.apk is open source, which means its code is public, and it is free. It works only on Macs with Apple Silicon, Apple's own chips. It is not a typical emulator, which imitates a whole phone. Mac.apk does not boot a full Android system in the background. It translates Android instructions into ones the Mac understands and packages each app as a Mac app.

How it works

Setup is simple. Download the DMG file, which is the usual Mac installer, and install it. Then drag an Android app file, called an APK, onto Mac.apk. It supports other common formats too, including APKM, XAPK and APKS. Installed apps show up in the Applications folder and open from Spotlight, the Mac search bar. Google sign-in works, so apps that need it can log in.

What worked and what did not

Pocket Casts, a podcast app, went well. After signing in, it pulled in the tester's podcasts and listening history. One catch: the app stayed in horizontal layout. It can be made bigger or smaller, but not freely reshaped.

Crossy Road, a mobile arcade game, ran on the first try with no visual problems, delays or lag. DI.FM, an internet radio app, froze on a blank screen. Games built around touch gestures or motion controls may not feel right with a mouse and keyboard. Mac.apk offers different input options, but results depend on the game.

Limits to know

• Only Apple Silicon Macs are supported.
• Only one Android app could run at a time in testing.
• The tester could not tell if that is a limit of the alpha version or by design.
• Some apps will not run at all.

What to do

If a favorite Android app has no Mac version, Mac.apk is a free way to try it. The project is on GitHub. The tester would not recommend it for important work yet. Expect bugs, and keep a backup plan, such as a browser version, for anything you rely on.