How to Run Android on Ubuntu

Running Android on Linux can be a useful way to access Android apps and games on your Linux machine or test and develop Android applications. In this guide, we will show you how to run Android on Linux using an emulator called Anbox.

Using Anbox

Anbox (Android in a Box) is a free and open-source Android emulator for Linux that allows you to run Android applications on your Linux desktop without the need for a separate virtual machine or dual-boot setup. Anbox uses container technology to run Android in an isolated environment, making it more secure and lightweight compared to other Android emulators.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or by searching for it in the applications menu.

Step 2: Install Anbox

Run the following commands to add the Anbox PPA and install Anbox:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:morphis/anbox-support
sudo apt update
sudo apt install anbox-modules-dkms anbox

For other Linux distributions, follow the installation instructions provided on the Anbox GitHub repository: https://github.com/anbox/anbox

Step 3: Load Kernel Modules

Before you can use Anbox, you need to load the necessary kernel modules. Run the following commands in the terminal:

sudo modprobe ashmem_linux
sudo modprobe binder_linux

To load the kernel modules automatically at boot, add these lines to /etc/modules file:

ashmem_linux
binder_linux

Step 4: Install Android Debug Bridge (ADB)

Anbox requires ADB to install Android applications. To install ADB, run:

sudo apt install adb

Step 5: Launch Anbox

To start Anbox, search for Anbox in your application menu and click on its icon. Anbox will launch with a minimal Android environment, including basic apps like a browser and settings.

Step 6: Install Android Apps

To install additional Android apps, download their APK files from trusted sources, and use the ADB tool to install them. For example, to install an APK file called example.apk, run:

adb install /path/to/example.apk

Conclusion

By following this guide, you should now have a working Android environment on your Linux system using Anbox. You can install and run Android apps alongside your regular Linux applications, making your Linux desktop more versatile and powerful. Enjoy exploring the Android ecosystem and running your favorite apps and games on your Linux machine!