How can I download and run MEmu on a Mac with an M1 chip?

General Discussions
1

I want to use the MEmu Android emulator on my Mac with an M1 chip. Does anyone know if it’s possible, and what steps are needed to download, install, and run it on an Apple Silicon Mac?

Are there any alternatives if MEmu isn’t compatible?

2

Hey! I’ve tried MEmu before, and unfortunately, MEmu doesn’t have a native macOS version, and it’s only officially supported on Windows. On an M1 Mac, you cannot run it directly because it relies on Windows virtualization and x86 architecture.

So if you’re trying to run MEmu, you’d need something like Parallels Desktop to virtualize Windows first, then install MEmu inside Windows—but that’s a bit heavy and can be slow. Personally, I avoided this setup because the performance for gaming or heavy apps is not great on M1 through double virtualization.

3

Since MEmu won’t run natively, I’ve switched to alternatives that work on M1 Macs:

BlueStacks 5 for Mac (Apple Silicon version)

  • Officially supports M1 and M2 Macs.

  • Can run most Android apps and games.

Easy setup: just download the DMG from the BlueStacks site, drag to Applications, and start.

NoxPlayer via Windows VM (not ideal)

  • Works if you run Windows ARM in Parallels, then Nox.

  • But this double virtualization slows down performance significantly.

  • Android Studio Emulator (ARM64)

  • Free, official from Google.

  • Supports M1 Macs with ARM images.

Great if you’re testing apps rather than playing heavy games.

I personally use BlueStacks M1 because it’s smooth, doesn’t require Windows, and I can run most apps without issues.

4

  • Performance: Avoid trying to force MEmu on M1, performance is terrible and crashes are common.

  • App compatibility: Some games or apps may only work on x86 emulators, so check if there’s an ARM-compatible version.

  • Sideloading APKs: Both BlueStacks and Android Studio let you sideload .apk files, so you can still use apps that aren’t on the Play Store.

Tip: If your goal is gaming, stick with BlueStacks for Apple Silicon. If it’s app testing or development, the Android Studio ARM emulator is better and more reliable.