LDPlayer 9.5.32.0 for Windows

LDPlayer 9.5.32.0 is an Android emulator for Windows: it creates a virtual Android device on your PC so you can run mobile apps and games with a keyboard, mouse and big screen. You can download LDPlayer for Windows free of charge from the developer's website ldplayer.net.

Quick facts

• Version: 9.5.32.0
• Developer: Shanghai Changzhi Network Technology
• Type: Android emulator (virtualisation)
• Platform: Windows
• Licence: free to download
• Size: about 1.23 MB according to catalogue data (an online installer that downloads the rest)

What it is used for

An emulator is a program that pretends to be a phone. LDPlayer runs Android inside a window, and apps installed there behave as if they were on a real device. Gamers use it to play mobile games on a larger screen with keyboard and mouse controls, often for many hours without draining a phone battery. Others use it to run a messenger or a mobile-only app on the computer, or to test apps without installing them on their personal phone. Developers and testers also find it handy for checking how an app behaves. Because everything happens inside a virtual device, the emulator also offers a degree of separation from your main phone and its data, although it is not a security sandbox in the strict sense.

Installing it

1. Download the installer from the developer's site ldplayer.net.
2. Run it and read each screen; decline extra offers you do not need.
3. Enable hardware virtualisation in the PC's firmware if the emulator reports that it is off.
4. Sign in to Google Play inside the emulator and install apps as on a phone.

Performance tips

Emulators are demanding. Close heavy programs before playing, update the graphics driver, and give the virtual device more processor cores and memory in its settings if your PC has them to spare. Keep enough free disk space: games and their updates are stored inside the emulator and take a lot of room.

Security and privacy

Download LDPlayer only from ldplayer.net. Many sites offer repackaged emulators, and some of them add adware. Inside the emulator, install apps from Google Play, not from random APK files, and use a separate Google account if you want to keep your main account away from test apps. Review the emulator's own settings for data collection and ads.

Choosing between emulators

Emulators differ mostly in how well particular games run and how the controls are set up. If one game stutters, try another emulator before upgrading hardware.

Price

LDPlayer is free to download; Wikidata lists its licence as shareware, so some extras may be offered inside the program.

Pros and cons

• Pro: mobile games with keyboard and mouse.
• Pro: big screen for mobile apps.
• Pro: free to download.
• Con: demanding on processor and memory.
• Con: installer may include extra offers.

Alternatives

Other Android emulators in our listings: BlueStacks, NoxPlayer and MSI App Player.