Have you ever considered using Android as an operating system for a computer? Android is a fantastic operating system for touch-based mobile devices. You have, we’re positive. Given its feature set and more than a billion apps, everyone thinks Android will eventually prove to be a great operating system for computers, but the fact is that it wasn’t designed to be used with a keyboard and mouse. That will change thanks to Jide’s Remix OS.
Remix OS: The Android PC dream might become a reality soon
A multi-window environment is constructed over Android 5.0 Lollipop in the desktop operating system Remix OS, which is based on the open-source Android x86 project (According to Jide, it will soon take the leap to Android 6.0 Marshmallow). The OS is designed for those who wish to operate an Android PC traditionally, using a keyboard and mouse. In essence, Remix OS enables you to run Android on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. Remix OS can be operated from a USB flash drive, saving you the trouble of having to replace your present operating system.
In terms of the OS’s user interface, the homescreen offers a Start menu, taskbar, and system tray that resemble those in Windows. Overall, it features a fairly Windows-like user interface, even with regard to the programmes. The Android apps on this page have been enhanced to work nicely with the multi-window capabilities of Remix OS. Like Windows, apps allow you to maximise and shrink them, as well as run numerous programme windows on top of one another. The Google Play Store is not included in the current alpha edition, but you can sideload it to access the more than 1.6 billion Android apps available.
Although there are now a few Android-powered PCs available, including Google’s own Pixel C, the issue is that Android’s native experience isn’t yet fully developed for a PC. Remix OS is intriguing to us in this regard. Even though the OS is still in its infancy, it’s on the right track and is absolutely worth a try. Given that a new Android OS called Phoenix OS is already making headlines as a Remix OS substitute, the OS may potentially be the reason why developers begin producing additional Android OSes like this. Hence, with greater competition, we have more options.
Returning to Remix OS, as you might have inferred from the headline, we are here to explain how to set it up on a Windows computer. Here’s how to go about it:
Run Remix OS on Windows PC through a USB Flash Drive
System Requirements
- 8 GB+ USB 3.0 FAT32 flash drive
- 64-bit CPU (Intel and AMD)
Note: Although Remix OS ran successfully on a USB 2.0 flash drive, you can only use the Guest mode. For some Chromebooks and older Macs with ARM CPUs, the OS is also not supported.
Install Remix OS on USB Flash Drive
Note: Since this is an early developer build, the Remix OS alpha build is available for installation here; however, it may contain bugs. Fortunately, you can run the operating system directly from the USB flash drive, so there’s no need to worry about losing your system data.
1. Download and extract the Remix OS package (around 700 MB). The EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) version is for newer Computers with greater and quicker storage hard drives, whereas the legacy version is for older PCs. If you have a traditional Windows PC, we advise downloading the legacy version; if you have a Mac or a more modern, high-end Windows PC, we advise downloading the EFI version. The Remix OS ISO file and Remix OS USB tool are both included in the package.
Note: Use Windows key + R and type MSInfo32 to see if your Windows computer supports Legacy files or EFI. Check BIOS Mode after that.
2. Use the FAT32 format to format the USB flash drive you intend to utilise.
3. Open the ISO file from the extracted folder by using the Remix OS USB programme. To start the procedure, clickOk.
4. The programme will start transferring files and setting up Remix OS on the flash device. After finished, the tool will prompt you to restart your computer. If you want to reboot right away, click Reboot. If you want to exit, click Exit.
Boot Remix OS from a USB flash drive
1. Attach the bootable USB flash drive for Remix OS to the computer.
2. Open your PC’s BIOS settings by hitting F12, F2, or any other key that your system supports. Go to Boot Options and disable Secure Boot after that. Finally, restart your computer after setting the USB flash drive as the initial boot device.
3. After the PC has started using the USB flash drive, you will be given the choice between the resident mode and guest mode. In Remix OS, the Resident mode allows you to save data, programmes, and settings to the flash drive whereas the Guest mode does not. Decide on your preferred mode.
4.Remix OS will launch for the first time after you’ve chosen a mode. Depending on the setup of your machine, it can take some time.
5. Your language preferences, WiFi connection, user agreement, etc. will then be configured by the OS. You will see the Remix OS homescreen after the setup is finished.
How to Install Google Play Store & Services
Although the current alpha edition of Remix OS does not have the Play Store, Jide claims to be in discussions with Google to bring its Play Store services to Remix OS. As Android has no restrictions, Google Play Services can be rather readily installed on Remix OS. Here’s how to go about it:
1. Open a browser by going to the Remix OS start menu. Install the GMSInstaller APK file by downloading it from this link.
Like with other Android smartphones, you must first navigate to Settings->Security->
Apps can be sideloaded and installed from untrusted sources.
2. Click one-click to install Google services after opening the programme. The necessary files will then begin to download as the app.
How to update Remix OS
3. Upon completion, the Google Play Store icon will appear in the start menu. After that, you can access the Store, log in using your Google account, and install whatever apps you like.
Although Jide does not presently offer automatic over-the-air updates, you can still acquire them manually. The procedure is really simple; all you have to do is use the same flash drive you’ve been using and burn the most recent Remix OS build to it without formatting it. You won’t lose any of your apps or data while doing it, and you’ll obtain the most recent Remix OS version.
Remix OS is Android with a Windows twist
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