BlueStacks (also known as BlueStacks by now.gg, Inc.) is a chain of cloud-based online cross-platform products developed by the San Francisco-based company of the same name. The BlueStacks App Player enables the execution of Android applications on computers running Microsoft Windows or macOS.
At the Citrix Synergy conference held in San Francisco, an early version of BlueStacks App Player was showcased on stage by Citrix CEO Mark Templeton, who also announced a partnership between the two companies. The initial alpha version of App Player was launched in October 2011, and it exited beta on June 7, 2014. In July 2014, Samsung disclosed its investment in BlueStacks.
BlueStacks generates its primary revenue through an Android emulator referred to as App Player. The basic features of the software are available for free, while advanced features require a paid monthly subscription. By February 2021, BlueStacks reported over 1 billion app downloads. The App Player provides support for mouse, keyboard, and external touch-pad controls.
What is BlueStacks?
BlueStacks is a proprietary virtualisation program for Windows from now.gg, Inc.. It ranks 11th by popularity among virtualisation in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 2011. Besides Windows, it is available for macOS.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE. The main installer is 3.74 GB. Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 5.22.166.1003, released on February 13, 2026. 25 versions are listed since May 5, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 5.2 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 19,002 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 24 of our languages. On Windows it registers 2 file types, including .apk and .xapk. Similar programs include Sandboxie, Oracle VirtualBox and Vagrant.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on macOS
- Mature project (since 2011)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
- Large download (3.74 GB)
In short: BlueStacks is a virtualisation tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is BlueStacks safe to download?
- The file is served by ak-build.bluestacks.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
DBE8B99D3D06F520865D7ADD1C8651B4841D55BEF07FB04C9F2D025263ADCAB7· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 25 versions ›25 versions over 5 years · about 5.2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.22.166.1003Latest | February 13, 2026 | 3.74 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.150.1014 | November 25, 2025 | 3.73 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.130.1019 | October 17, 2025 | 3.74 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.125.1001 | October 4, 2025 | 3.73 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.91.1029 | July 10, 2025 | 3.70 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.85.1011 | June 11, 2025 | 3.64 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.51.1038 | March 25, 2025 | 3.60 GB | 64-bit EXE |
| 5.22.0.1102 | February 19, 2025 | 3.60 GB | 64-bit EXE |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id BlueStack.BlueStacks -echoco install bluestacks -yBlueStacksFullInstaller_5.22.166.1003_amd64_native.exe -sRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask bluestacksInformation
- Publisher
- now.gg, Inc.
- Category
- Virtualisation
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE
- Other platforms
- macOS
- Version
- 5.22.166.1003
- Released
- February 13, 2026
- First release
- 2011
- Added to the catalogue
- June 14, 2021
- Versions listed
- 25
- Updates / year
- 5.2
- Chocolatey downloads
- 19,002
- Website
- bluestacks.com
- winget ID
- BlueStack.BlueStacks
- Chocolatey package
- bluestacks
File types it opens (2)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is BlueStacks free?
BlueStacks is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is BlueStacks safe to download?
The download comes from ak-build.bluestacks.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install BlueStacks with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can BlueStacks be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does BlueStacks run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of BlueStacks?
The versions page lists all 25 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 5, 2021.
What are alternatives to BlueStacks?
Sandboxie, Oracle VirtualBox, Vagrant, QEMU and Multipass. The alternatives page compares them.
