Android emulator on a Mac M1 or M4: step-by-step setup

By Ryan Gibo · 28 October 2026

If you searched for “Android emulator Mac M1” or “Android emulator Mac M4”, a lot of what comes up was written before Apple Silicon. This is the short, current version: how to get Android games and apps running on an M-series Mac with SiliconPlay, the app I build for Apple Silicon.

What you are installing

Underneath, SiliconPlay runs Google’s official Android Emulator, natively on the Mac’s ARM cores. The Mac app around it, the interface and the control mapping, I wrote from scratch. It is made only for Apple Silicon, from M1 to M5, and I have tested it on macOS Tahoe.

What you need

A Mac with an M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 chip (Pro, Max and Ultra included).
macOS Tahoe. That is the version I have tested on.
A Google account, if you want to install from Google Play.

Setup, step by step

Download SiliconPlay.dmg.
Open the DMG and drag SiliconPlay to Applications.
Open SiliconPlay and start Android.
Sign in to Google Play and install your games and apps. To install an APK file instead, press Command-I.
Click the Android image. Direct touch is the default. For keys, accept the preset SiliconPlay offers for your game, or apply MMORPG (WASD) and move the buttons.

Download SiliconPlay for Mac

The shortcuts to learn first

Command-I: import an APK and install it into Android.
F12 or Command-K: switch between Typing and Game keys.
Command-Shift-G: show or hide the on-screen game buttons.
Escape: leave fullscreen. Outside fullscreen it is Android Back.
Shift-Escape: release every virtual finger.

M1 or M4: what changes?

The app is the same on every chip from M1 to M5. I have not published per-chip benchmarks, so I will not give you numbers for an M1 or an M4. Newer chips have more headroom, which matters most in heavy 3D games. If a game stutters, lower its graphics settings first. Apps that ship without an ARM build will not run on any of them, but most current apps include one.

FAQ

Does it work on a Mac M1?

Yes. M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5, including Pro, Max and Ultra.

Which macOS version do I need?

I have tested SiliconPlay on macOS Tahoe. If another version behaves differently, tell me.

Is it Google’s emulator?

Underneath, yes: Google’s official Android Emulator. The interface and the control mapping are SiliconPlay’s own, written from scratch.

Do I need root?

No. Root is optional and off by default. It is there for developers who need it.