How to run WhatsApp, Instagram and other Android apps on Mac

Android Runtime for Chrome (ARC) is a tool that allows running Android apps via Chrome OS on the desktop. The app is automatically added whenever you install an Android app on your Chromebook. You can uninstall the extension by removing all the Android apps.

To run the apps you need:

• APK for the app
• PC, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook
• Chrome version 41+
• ARC Welder app

The apps on the desktop mostly function like those on an Android phone or tablet and users have the opportunity to enjoy Android apps which do not have any desktop alternative.

The ARC currently in the beta version can be used on Mac to install and run a few Android apps like WhatsApp messenger and Instagram.

Folks at iDownloadblog claim to have tested the aforementioned app on Mac OS X, which seems to have worked fine. However, there are a few caveats with Camera support and Google Play Services.

Check out the following guide if you want to run Android apps on Mac OS X (with Google Chrome OS version 41+).

Step-1: Add ARC Welder app to Google Chrome

Step-2: Download an Android app APK

Step-3: Launch ARC Welder and select a local directory

Step-4: Click the Add your APK button, then point to the APK which you downloaded earlier

Step-5: Click Download ZIP then click Save to save the file in the directory you created in step-3

Step-6: Open the directory from Step-3 and extract the ZIP file

Step-7: In Google Chrome click Windows>> Extensions and check Developer mode option

Step-8: Click Load unpacked extension and point to the directory where you extracted the file earlier and click Select

Step-9: Open Launchpad and click on the app icon to launch the app

Note that not all Android apps will support Mac. For more information check out the video walkthrough.