How to Play Genshin Impact on PC via an Android Emulator
Genshin Impact on PC: official client or Android emulator? HoYoverse's current requirements (Android 10+, 110 GB on PC), default controls and settings.
People search for "Genshin Impact on an Android emulator" for good reasons: one window for all their mobile games, a PC that seems too weak for the Windows version, or progress that lives on a phone. Before you set anything up, it helps to know what HoYoverse actually supports today, because it changed the answer.
Short answer: for almost everyone, the best way to play Genshin Impact on PC is the free official Windows client, which shares progress with mobile through your HoYoverse account. HoYoverse's current Android minimum is Android 10, so an emulator only works if its Android image is version 10 or newer, and emulators are not on HoYoverse's list of supported devices.
What does HoYoverse officially support?
HoYoverse's help center lists these requirements (HoYoverse Help Center, checked September 24, 2026):
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Windows 10 64-bit, 6th-gen Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1050 (or Intel Iris Xe), DirectX 11 | Windows 10/11 64-bit, 7th-gen Core i7 or Ryzen 5000, 16 GB RAM, GTX 1060 6 GB |
| PC storage | 110 GB or more (an SSD is recommended) | 110 GB or more |
| Android | Android 10, ARMv8-A 64-bit, non-PowerVR GPU, Snapdragon 660 or Helio G88, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB storage | Android 12, Snapdragon 855 / Dimensity 1000 / Kirin 980, 6 GB RAM, 60 GB storage |
The page also lists iOS, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It does not list Android emulators. The official site shows the game on Version 7.1 at the time of writing (genshin.hoyoverse.com), and HoYoverse notes that storage requirements may grow with future updates.
Two consequences follow from that table:
- The Android version needs Android 10 or newer. An emulator running an older Android image is below the minimum. Google Play may hide the game or mark it as incompatible, and there is no setting that fixes that.
- The Android version is not "lighter" in storage. It needs 40 to 60 GB on the virtual device, on top of the emulator itself.
Is an Android emulator ever the better choice for Genshin?
Rarely. The arguments usually made for it are weaker than they look:
- "My PC is below the PC minimum." Emulating Android adds a virtualization layer, so a PC that struggles with the native client will usually struggle more with the Android build in an emulator. Lower the in-game settings of the native client first.
- "My progress is on my phone." Progress is tied to your HoYoverse account and server, not the device. Log in on the Windows client with the same account and server and your characters are there.
- "I want one window for all my mobile games." This is the only argument that holds up, and it is a convenience, not a performance gain.
If none of your hardware limits apply, another option is cloud play; our emulator vs cloud gaming comparison explains the tradeoffs.
How to install the official Genshin Impact PC client
- Download HoYoPlay, HoYoverse's launcher for its PC games, from hoyoplay.hoyoverse.com, or get the game from the Epic Games Store. Both are free.
- Install the game on an SSD with at least 110 GB free, as HoYoverse recommends.
- Log in with your HoYoverse account. If you already play on mobile, choose the same server you use on your phone.
- Let the full download finish before launching. If it stalls, check that your antivirus is not quarantining files in the game folder.
How to set graphics on PC for a steady frame rate
In Settings → Graphics, start with a preset one step below what you think your PC can handle, then adjust:
- Frame rate: set it to 60 if your hardware can hold it. A stable 45 is better than a 60 that drops often.
- Shadow quality: the first setting to lower when combat with many effects stutters. It usually recovers the most frames for the least visual loss.
- Visual effects: lower it next if big fights still stutter.
- Render resolution: lower it last; it has the most visible impact on image quality.
On a laptop with two GPUs, make sure Windows uses the dedicated one: go to Settings → System → Display → Graphics, pick the game under custom options and choose High performance (Microsoft Support). Long sessions on a laptop can also throttle when it gets hot; if the frame rate falls after 45 to 60 minutes, check cooling before changing settings. For general tuning ideas, see our guide to emulator and game settings for gaming.
What are the default keyboard and mouse controls?
The Windows client has native keyboard and mouse controls, so there is nothing to map. The main defaults at the time of writing:
| Action | Default |
|---|---|
| Move | W / A / S / D |
| Camera | Mouse |
| Normal attack | Left mouse button |
| Elemental skill | E |
| Elemental burst | Q |
| Jump | Space |
| Sprint / dash | Left Shift |
| Switch party member | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 |
| Interact / pick up | F |
| Map | M |
| Inventory | B |
| Menu | Esc |
You can rebind them in the controls section of the settings. If you want the same layout ideas for other mobile games that do need mapping in an emulator, our guide to keyboard and mouse controls for mobile games covers joystick simulation and camera sensitivity.
If you still want to use an Android emulator
Check these points before you install anything:
- Android version: the emulator's Android image must be 10 or newer to meet HoYoverse's minimum. Some emulators now ship much newer images; our article on MuMu Player 6 and Android 15 is one example of what changes with a newer base.
- Resources: give the virtual device at least 4 GB of RAM (6 GB matches HoYoverse's mobile recommendation) and 40 to 60 GB of storage.
- Graphics: use a GPU-accelerated renderer, never software rendering.
- Support: if the game refuses to start, crashes or is flagged, HoYoverse does not list emulators as supported, so there is no official fix. Keep your account on the official client if that risk matters to you.
For Genshin, the official PC client is the better route, so that is what we recommend over any emulator, including NovaPlay, the one we make. NovaPlay is aimed at mobile games that have no PC version. If Genshin is your main game, our list of the best gacha and RPG games on PC also covers which other titles have native PC clients.
Genshin Impact on PC: FAQ
Can I use a controller on the PC version? Yes. HoYoverse lists the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, the DualSense and the DualShock 4 as officially supported on PC (HoYoverse Help Center). Other controllers may work, but they are not on the supported list.
Does my progress carry over to PlayStation or Xbox? Yes. HoYoverse says Genshin Impact supports cross-save on PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation and Xbox, as long as you sign in with the same HoYoverse account on each one (HoYoverse Help Center).
Can I move my account to another server? No. HoYoverse does not offer server transfers or merges, so your progress, characters and purchases stay on the server where you created them (HoYoverse Help Center). If you started on the wrong server, you have to begin again on the right one.
Sources
- HoYoverse Help Center, system requirements for Genshin Impact: https://support.hoyoverse.com/hc/en-us/articles/52089402685593-What-are-the-system-requirements-to-play-Genshin-Impact
- Genshin Impact official site: https://genshin.hoyoverse.com/en/
- HoYoPlay, HoYoverse's PC launcher: https://hoyoplay.hoyoverse.com/
- Epic Games Store, Genshin Impact: https://store.epicgames.com/p/genshin-impact
- Microsoft Support, graphics settings for games in Windows 11: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/display-graphics/optimizations-for-windowed-games-in-windows-11
NovaPlay is an independent Android emulator and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any third-party game or brand mentioned. Game names are used for descriptive purposes only.