Unlimited access to films and television shows of your choosing, not hindered by shady licenses, subscription costs, or pay-per-use downloads. If it sounds too good to be true, let us show you how to download ShowBox to your Windows PC (desktop or laptop; doesn’t matter which). It’s not a myth and it’s not a gimmick.
We’ve written about ShowBox before, but have never given detailed instructions about how you might access it in Windows. Since ShowBox is made to run on mobile operating systems (iOS and Android, for the most part) you might think that such a thing has been out of your reach, leaving you to rely on other streaming services apart from the one that you want to use. Thankfully, this is not the case. We’ll have to access it in a roundabout way–there isn’t a version of ShowBox for Windows–but it’s a wholly reliable method that doesn’t give you many extra hoops to jump through. On top of that? Our method may well give you more options to access still more apps that you thought you didn’t have access to on your Windows PC.
The trick is in emulation and given that the Android operating system is just open enough to allow near-perfect emulators to run on Windows computers, it’s not going to be particularly difficult. Instead of tricking the ShowBox app into working on your Windows PC, what we’re instead going to do is partition part of your computer’s resources to run a legitimate version of the Android OS. Professionally developed and supported, many Android emulators (we’ll recommend a few, below) run seamlessly on Windows computers, and greatly open up the library of app possibilities on your machine.
This article won’t just be about emulation, though. We need to talk about ShowBox itself, and in a greater context than how you might go about getting access to it. Closing out this article, we’ll discuss online safety and some of the risks that you might be taking in using this popular program. Copyright law is strict business, and streaming apps like ShowBox can provide awfully muddy water, obfuscating the situations that common users like you and I might be getting ourselves into.
Getting ShowBox on Your Windows PC
First things first. You want to be running Windows 7 or newer on your computer before dipping into emulation. Changes in the ways that operating system software and computer hardware integrate have shaped the development of computer software, and you’re going to have a rough road if you’re using an older version of Windows with this newer emulation software. Thankfully, even Windows 7 has aged fairly well, and the vast majority of Windows users have a newer version anyway.
Beyond that, emulation software is fairly lightweight! This means that you don’t need to have an expensive computer or pricey hardware in order to pull it off. Your laptop can handle it, which means that your desktop computer can most certainly handle it, without ever breaking a sweat.
Finding a Good Emulator
Before we can get into ShowBox at all, however, we have to cross that emulation hurdle. That means finding the right software, downloading it, and installing it. Thankfully, this entire process can be free! Without any further ado, let me show you my favorite three Android emulation options that are currently available:
- Will I ever stop listing Andyroid as my go-to Android emulation software? When something better comes my way, sure, but until then this is one of the best emulators that you can install on your Windows (or Mac!) computer. It’s fully functional, carries all Android features, and is updated regularly to reflect Google’s own updates to the popular operating system. It will handle ShowBox in a pinch, and also features Bluetooth connectivity for your phone so that you can use it to control the app.
- Bluestacks is my runner-up, and it’s an excellent Android emulator. From the website, you’ll garner that it primarily leans on Android gamers, but the software itself will handle any Android app you toss at it. Bluestacks has a free option that carries ad-support, but you can ditch the ad-support for a monthly fee.
- Looking for an emulation solution that doesn’t involve installing more software on your Windows PC? Manymo is your answer. Though the free version will only allow you to use Manymo ten times per month, the potential cost of this in-browser emulator is balanced by its excellent utility. Everything you like about Andyroid or Bluestacks is absolutely available here, and you can choose which resolution your emulated Android environment will run in. Though the free version is certainly an option, dedicated users may want to opt into the monthly version to extend their usage of the emulator.
Are there more available than these three? You bet there are, and which Android emulator you come to prefer is very much going to come down to preference. If you find a different emulator to work better for the ShowBox app, then comment below!
I’ll trust that the installation process for any Android emulator that you choose will go simply. None of them are intrusive programs, and once you’re set up, we can go ahead and find a copy of the ShowBox .apk.
Getting ShowBox
There’s a reason that you won’t find ShowBox on your mobile operating system’s app store, and we’ll get to that in a moment. Suffice it to say, getting a copy of the app to install in your Android emulator is going to require some basic searching online. A few words of warning before we proceed:
- Ensure that you have antivirus and anti-malware software running on your Windows PC. Searching for ShowBox .apk files can be risky for your machine, so use proper the proper protection.
- Version check your downloads! As of when this article is being published, ShowBox version 4.53 is the most up-to-date that I was able to find. Downloading a version of the app that’s too old may result in it not working properly.
- Keep track of where you save your .apk file, once you download it! You’ll need to find it again later, and you might be surprised (or, you might not) at the number of people who don’t organize their online downloads.
Got it? Good. It’s easy to overlook those two things and find yourself in an otherwise avoidable hot mess. With that taken care of, proceed to your favorite search engine and type in “ShowBox .apk download.” One of the top results will likely be what you need, but don’t forget to check the version that you’re downloading! Remember that you just want the .apk file. Anything else is absolutely unnecessary.
Once you’ve downloaded the file (easy, right?), it’s time to open up your brand new emulation software. Though the methods of doing so might differ depending on the software you’re using, you should find the option to add a .apk file to your emulated Android. Find it, and then find where you saved your .apk file on your hard drive.
All Android devices will allow you to download and run custom .apk files, and as long as you’re on Android, it won’t require any jailbreaking of your device. Similarly, installing and running the ShowBox .apk won’t be difficult once you’ve found an up-to-date version of the app.
Once you’ve installed ShowBox, you’re in business! The app doesn’t require you to sign up for any third-party service or offerings. Once you run it, you’ll be able to have full access to a wide variety of films and television shows that you very likely wouldn’t be able to stream through any subscription services! ShowBox listings are updated frequently, but due to the nature of the app, you’ll occasionally run into a video that you’re not able to stream. It might have been taken down (more on this, momentarily) or it may simply not be available yet. Either way, ShowBox gives you a massive library of content to view.
Is ShowBox Legal?
While the installation process and use of ShowBox are remarkably simple, this topic is where things can get a little bit tricky. Admittedly, the risk associated with using programs like this can sometimes drive people away. The concern is understandable, too! Copyright laws are frequently being discussed in popular news media, and as the internet has grown, matured, and become more diverse in its offerings, the developers of media such as what’s featured on ShowBox have cracked down on their copyrights.
The issue is “copyright infringement,” and many ShowBox users are curious as to whether they’re participating in it by using the app. I’ve spoken with numerous professionals on the issue, and the water is still muddy. Technically speaking, when you’re streaming content online, the buffering process creates a copy of that content on your machine. It could be argued that you’re not actually “downloading” anything, but the fact of the matter is, you are.
Does this make ShowBox risky to use? The answer lies somewhere between a clear cut “yes,” and “somewhat.” For many users, the risk is worthwhile; ShowBox offers more content than most subscription streaming services, and much of it is often newer, too. On the other hand, ShowBox and apps like it will always be riding this risky line unless some major change happens with copyright law.
Did we miss anything? Tell us about your own experience downloading and using ShowBox on your Windows laptop or desktop PC!
