Install Android x86 on PC from Windows

Android from Windows using Flash Drive

Android x86 is an open source project facilitating use of Android OS on a PC. Android is an open source operating system basically designed for Mobile devices. Most of the world’s mobile phones and tablets have Android operating system on their phones. They can download and install Android Apps to use on their mobile phones. There are great variety of Apps, Games, etc. available worldwide on Android App Store. One may sometimes think how wonderful it will be if you can use those Apps on your computer as well. However, using Android Apps on desktop is not as straight forward as it is on Mobile phones. This is so because Android x86 unable to use Android Store.  But you can always work around to use Android Apps on your big device or PC i.e. Desktop or Laptop with x86 architecture using APK files and allowing 3rd party Application installation.

Let us see how to install Android x86 on PC i.e. your Laptop or Desktop Computer using a bootable flash drive with setup files on it. This article describes the process to install latest version Android x86 as a Single Boot Host Operating System on a Computer by creating a bootable Android x86 USB Flash Drive on an existing Windows System while replacing the existing operating system. You can use a Flash Drive of 2 GB or more to make it Android x86 bootable Flash Drive.

To create an Android x86 bootable Flash Drive (sometimes known as Pen Drive or USB Drive) on a Windows system and install it as a single host operating system follow the Five easy steps below:

Step 1: Download Android x86 ISO File

Login to your Windows System, open a web browser and navigate to official website of Android x86 Operating System. On the Home Page, click on “Download” button to navigate to download mirror page of latest release of Android x86 Operating System.

Download button Android x86

Choose one of the given mirror either “Fosshub” or “OSDN” to get ISO download link:

Android x86 download mirror

On OSDN ISO download page click on “android-x86-9.0-r2.iso” file name link to download 64-bit Android x86 ISO file. Whereas, on Fosshub ISO download page click on “Android-x86 64-bit ISO file” file name link to download 64-bit Android x86 ISO file. Both these mirror will provide you the same ISO file.

The browser will prompt to save the ISO file. Save the ISO file to your computer. Wait for the download to finish.

Step 2: Download Rufus Flashing tool

In the meantime, while the Android x86 ISO file is downloading, navigate to official web site of Rufus to download Rufus flashing Software tool for creating a bootable Flash Drive. Scroll down the page and click on the link to download latest version of Rufus tool under download section. Wait for the download to finish and close the web browser.

Step 3: Flash Android x86 ISO to USB Flash Drive

Go to the download location and open Rufus tool by executing downloaded Rufus file. The “Device” dropdown box will be empty. Insert a Flash Drive in the USB slot of your computer. Rufus will detect the Flash and display in “Device” dropdown box. Now browse and select the Android x86 ISO file from download location by clicking on “Select” button. Type in Label for the flash drive of your choice such as “Android x86 Flash Drive” or continue with default label. Keep other options with default values and click on “Start”. Click “Yes” to allow Rufus to download additional system files for compatibility with the given ISO file. Click “OK” and continue with recommended option to “Write in ISO Image mode”. Ensure that there is no important data on the Flash Drive (as it will be erased) and click “Ok” to continue flashing the drive. Wait for the flashing to finish. Click “Close” when Rufus window display “Ready” as status to close the Rufus Tool on successful flashing of Flash Drive.

Step 4: Set and Boot from bootable Flash Drive

On system boot, press a designated key (F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc, F9) to enter BIOS or UEFI Setup. It could be different on different make and model. Try other keys as per Make and Model of your computer. Search for the booting device settings and select USB Drive as the Booting Device. Save and Exit BIOS / UEFI setup. The system will restart. While booting, press the designated key (F9, F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc) to display Boot Menu. It will display the list of booting devices. Select USB Drive as Boot Device and Hit Enter.

Step 5: Install Android x86 on PC

If the system will boot from the flash drive, it will display Android x86 splash screen on your computer screen.

Android x86 Installation Setup

Press “Enter” on “Installation – Install Android-x86 to harddisk” option to begin installation of Android x86 operating system. The setup will display a list of partition including Windows MBR partition (~ 500 MB), Flash Drive and a Windows Partition. Choose the windows partition and hit “Enter” to remove Windows and install install Android x86. The setup will ask the filesystem for formatting. Select “ext4” and continue. After formatting, setup ask whether you want to install boot loader GRUB. Press “Yes”. On next screen, press “No” as we are installing Android as the sole OS and removing Windows. So, we do not need a boot item for Windows in the Grub boot Loader. This option is valid of we install Android in dual boot mode with Windows. Continue with the default settings.  The installation will begin.

Wait till installation process is on-going. Upon completion, installation setup will provide the option to “Run Android-x86” or “Reboot”. Remove the Flash Drive and click on “Reboot”. The system will reboot. Wait while system is rebooting.

Upon reboot, boot loader will load Android x86 operating system on your computer. Configure the initial setup as per on screen instructions. Android-x86 Operating System will be ready for your use. Use it as per your requirements.

Watch the practical demonstration of how to install Android x86 on PC in the following video:

 

Also Read: Install Android x86 alongside Windows in dual boot mode


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