Periscope is an Android and iOS app that lets you broadcast live videos.
Although Periscope doesn’t have a dedicated desktop-based version, it is still possible to use this app on desktop/laptop computers.
This guide covers all the aspects of downloading and installing Periscope for PC users.
What is Periscope?
Periscope is an app that lets you stream and view live videos directly on your smartphone. Its claim to fame came in 2015, when Twitter acquired the app even before it was publicly launched.
The interactive nature of the app encourages viewers to participate in videos by sharing their comments. The ability to interact in real time is one feature that has made Periscope stand apart from other video streaming apps.
In a nutshell, Periscope enables you to become your own on-the-go broadcast channel.
Steps to Download Periscope on a Computer
Periscope was only officially developed for Android and iOS devices, but there are many who would like to use this amazing live streaming app with either Windows or Mac computers as well.
An Android emulator can come in handy to solve this problem. You can make use of any Android emulator to run Android-based apps on non-supported operating systems like Windows or Mac OS X.
Prerequisites:
In this tutorial, we will explain the step-by-step procedure of installing Periscope for PC on a Windows 10 computer with the help of the BlueStacks emulator. You can follow the same procedure to get Periscope installed on other versions of Windows, as well as Mac OS X.
The only prerequisite to perform this activity is to have the Microsoft .NET framework installed on your system, as BlueStacks needs the .NET runtime environment to work properly.
So if your computer doesn’t have the .NET framework installed, go to the official Microsoft download site and download the latest version before going ahead with the following steps.
Now you are all set to begin the installation procedure. Let’s find out the steps involved to download and install Periscope on computer.
Method 1: Installing Periscope for PC Using BlueStacks
Step 1: Download BlueStacks Emulator
You can use any Android emulator for this exercise, but we prefer BlueStacks due to its easy-to-use interface and wide popularity among users.
You can easily download BlueStacks from the official developer site. Just click on the download button located on top of the page to get the installation file on your hard drive.
The next step is to run the BlueStacks installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully to install BlueStacks on your Windows PC. Reboot your system after installation for the changes to take effect.
Step 2: Log in to the BlueStacks Dashboard
Click to open the BlueStacks app on your PC and you will come across the login prompt. An active Google account is required for signing in. Provide your Google username and password to log in to the dashboard.
Step 3: Open Google Play Store from the BlueStacks Dashboard
Once you have logged in, locate the All Apps icon on the dashboard and then navigate to Browser. In the browser address bar, enter “http://play.google.com.”
This will open up a new dialogue box with two options: Browser and Play Store. Select the latter to go to the Google Play Store interface.
Step 4: Search for Periscope and Install it
Enter “Periscope” in the Play Store search bar. Select the Periscope app and click on the Install button. The Play Store will now download the app and then install it on your computer automatically.
Method 2: Installing Periscope for PC Using the APK File
Here’s an alternative method to download and install Periscope for PC using the APK file, if you are facing issues with the first method.
● First you need to download the Periscope APK file
● Then go to the Downloads folder on your PC and right-click on the APK file
● Select Open With > More Options > BlueStacks to begin the installation process
● Follow the on-screen instructions to install Periscope on your computer
That’s all you need to do to install Periscope for PC on your Windows computer. Now you are all set to start broadcasting your videos live for your followers.
Periscope Key Features
What are the reasons behind Periscope’s immense popularity? Why are so many users exploring the world of live video broadcast through Periscope?
Let’s find out the exclusive features that make Periscope stand apart from other live video streaming apps.
Interactive Viewing Experience
Apart from watching live streams, Periscope allows users to interact in real time with other viewers. You can “heart” streams and let your thoughts be known in the form of comments.
Map View
This feature allows you to filter videos based on geographic location.
Private Broadcast
If you are looking to stream your video only to specific individuals, this feature can come handy. The private broadcast feature allows you to share your videos only with selected viewers.
Replays
Missed out on an interesting live video? Don’t worry. You can still catch the highlights through the replay option.
Download Video Stream
Once you are done with the live event, Periscope allows you to keep the record by downloading the video stream.
Twitter Integration
Periscope is owned by Twitter. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that the app has inbuilt Twitter integration. It allows you to share broadcast notifications with your Twitter followers instantly.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, you should no longer find it difficult to use Periscope on your computer.
This step-by-step guide will make it a real breeze for you to install Periscope for PC on your Windows or Mac OS X computer. Just follow the above-mentioned guidelines and you will be able to install Periscope for PC in a matter of a few minutes.
If you are still encountering issues with installing Periscope on your computer, feel free to let us know in the comments section. We will be glad to help you out!
