How will this help?
This article will teach you the different ways you can install an app on BlueStacks 4.240 and above
How can I install an app?
There are four different methods to install an app on BlueStacks 4.
- Installation from the Google Play Store
- Installation using BlueStacks Search bar
- Installation from the Game center
- Installation through the "Install apk" option
Let us go through each one of them in detail.
Installing apps from the Google Play Store
1. Launch BlueStacks and go to the My Games.
2. Click on the icon for the Google Play Store.
3. The Google Play Store will now open up.
4. Here, type the name of the app you want in the search bar and click on install when you find it in the search results. Let's take the app Facebook as an example.
The app will now install on BlueStacks. You can access it from the My games tab.
Installing apps using the BlueStacks Search Bar
1. Once you launch BlueStacks, locate the search bar given on the top right corner.
2. Type in the name of the app you wish to install and click on the search button with the blue magnifying glass icon.
3. Click on the icon for the app you want, in your search results.
NOTE: In case the app does not show up in the search results, you can click on the option to Search in Google Play and download the app according to the steps mentioned in the first method.
4. The app you want to install will open in the Google Play store. Here, click on install.
The app is now installed. You can access it from the My games tab.
Installing apps through BlueStacks Game Center
1. Inside BlueStacks, the Game center displays a variety of useful apps, which will be most relevant to you.
2. When you find the app you want to install, click on it.
3. The app you selected will open up in the Google Play Store. Click on Install.
The app will now get installed. You can access it from the My games tab.
Installing apps through the “Install apk” button
The steps for this method will vary according to the BlueStacks version you are one.
- If you're on BlueStacks 4.240 and above, click here.
- If you're on BlueStacks 4.230 and below, click here.
How can I do this on BlueStacks 4.240 and above?
1. Download the .apk file for an app from any third-party site and launch BlueStacks on your computer.
2. Now, press the Ctrl + Shift + B keys or click on the Install apk button from the side toolbar, as shown below.
3. This will open up a Windows Explorer pop-up, from where you can navigate to the file for the app you want to install on BlueStacks.
4. Once you find the file for the app, either drag and drop it to BlueStacks or select it and click on Open.
5. The app will now begin to install on BlueStacks.
Once the app gets installed on BlueStacks, you can access it from the My games tab.
How can I do this on BlueStacks 4.230 and below?
1. First download the .apk file for an app from any third-party site and then go to the My games tab on BlueStacks
2. Within the My games tab, click on the three bars given next to 'Personalize'.
3. A list of options will pop open. Here, click on Install apk.
4. This will open up a Windows Explorer pop-up, from where you can navigate to the file for the app you want to install on BlueStacks.
5. Once you find the .apk file for the app, either drag and drop it to BlueStacks or select it and click on Open.
6. The app will now begin to install on BlueStacks.
After the app gets installed, you can access it from the My games tab.
I'm on an older version of BlueStacks 4. What should I do?
If you're on an older version of BlueStacks 4, click here to learn how to install an app.
Thank you for choosing BlueStacks. We hope you enjoy using it. If you have any further questions, please contact us at support@bluestacks.com. Happy Gaming!
Last updated on Sept 28, 2020.