How to Run Android Apps on Linux 2026
Linux has long been considered one of the most powerful operating systems, thanks to its stability, security, and flexibility compared to other platforms. Its open-source nature and robust architecture have allowed it to serve as the foundation for many well-known operating systems, including Android itself.
However, despite Android being built on the Linux kernel, there’s a notable paradox: Android apps and games don’t run natively on Linux distributions. This is due to fundamental differences in how applications are executed and managed on each platform.
Fortunately, the innovative Linux community has developed several solutions to bridge this gap. One of the most powerful tools is Waydroid, which we’ll focus on in this article. Waydroid allows you to run Android apps on Linux with full support for the Google Play Store, regardless of the distribution you’re using.
Let’s walk through how it works and how you can set it up step by step.
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| Run Android Apps on Linux |
What Is Waydroid?
There are several solutions available for running Android apps on Linux, but Waydroid stands out as the best and easiest option. Waydroid is an open-source tool that uses Linux container technology to create a virtual Android environment, without relying on traditional emulators.
This approach allows Android to integrate directly with the Linux desktop, making Android apps behave like native Linux applications. Apps open in regular desktop windows that you can move, resize, and interact with naturally, unlike classic Android emulators. In many ways, this experience is very similar to Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) introduced by Microsoft in Windows 11.
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| Waydroid - Android in a Linux container |
What truly sets Waydroid apart is how well it bridges Android and Linux. Android apps can fully access system resources, including GPU acceleration, which results in smoother performance for demanding apps and games. Additionally, Waydroid includes support for the Google Play Store, making it easy to download apps and games directly. Even installing apps from outside the Play Store (APK files) is simple and straightforward.
One important thing to note is that Waydroid runs a modified version of Android called LineageOS 21, based on Android 11. The tool works on any Linux distribution that supports the Wayland display server, including Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, Debian, and NixOS.
For the purpose of this guide, Waydroid was tested on Ubuntu 24.10, but the steps are largely the same across supported distributions.
How to Install and Use Waydroid on Linux
To get started, open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard, or by searching for Terminal from the applications menu.
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| Install and Use Waydroid on Linux |
First, install cURL and the required certificates. These are necessary to run Waydroid’s official installation script:
sudo apt install curl ca-certificates -y {codeBox}
After entering your password and pressing Enter, run the following command to download and add the required Waydroid repository data:
curl -s https://repo.waydro.id | sudo bash {codeBox}
Finally, install Waydroid on your system by running:
sudo apt install waydroid {codeBox}
As mentioned earlier, Waydroid supports multiple Linux distributions. The steps above apply to Ubuntu and Debian-based systems. Other distributions such as Fedora, Arch Linux, or NixOS can also run Waydroid, but the installation method may differ.
For those distributions, it’s highly recommended to check the official Install Instructions page on Waydroid’s website to follow the correct setup steps for your specific Linux distro.
Initial Setup: Enable Google Play Store in Waydroid
After finishing the Waydroid installation, launch it from the Applications menu. You’ll see the Initialize Waydroid window.
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| Initialize Waydroid Window |
In the Android Type dropdown menu, make sure to select GAPPS instead of VANILLA. This step is essential if you want Google Play Store and Google services to be included in your Android environment.
Once selected, click Download to start downloading the required files and creating the virtual Android environment inside Linux.
This process may take some time depending on your internet speed. In our testing, the GAPPS image is roughly 900 MB, so be patient. When the “Done” button appears, click it and Waydroid will launch automatically. {alertWarning}
Fix Full-Screen Mode and Enable Multi-Window Support
When Waydroid starts for the first time, you may see a warning stating that the device is not certified to run Google Play apps. Don’t worry, this is easy to fix and we’ll cover it shortly.
You’ll also notice that the Android environment runs almost entirely in full-screen mode, which can be annoying. Thankfully, Waydroid allows you to enable Multi-Window Mode, letting Android apps run like regular Linux applications.
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| Enable Multi-Window Support on Waydroid |
To enable this feature, open the Terminal again and run:
waydroid prop set persist.waydroid.multi_windows true {codeBox}
Then restart the Waydroid session to apply the change:
waydroid session stop {codeBox}
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| Android Apps Via Waydroid |
After this, Android apps launched via Waydroid will run in separate windows, just like native Linux programs.
Using Android Apps on Linux with Waydroid
By default, Waydroid comes with several preinstalled apps from its customized LineageOS 21 build, including:
- Web Browser
- Calculator
- File Manager
- Google Play Store
All Android apps appear directly in your Linux applications menu, mixed alongside your system apps. To keep things organized, you can place them into a dedicated folder so they don’t clutter your main app launcher.
You can interact with Android apps using your keyboard and mouse, making the experience smooth and desktop-friendly.
Fix “Device Not Certified” Error in Google Play Store
To sign in to Google Play Store, you must first register your Waydroid device with Google.
Open the Terminal and enter:
sudo waydroid shell {codeBox}
Next, run the following command to generate a unique Android device ID:
ANDROID_RUNTIME_ROOT=/apex/com.android.runtime \
ANDROID_DATA=/data \
ANDROID_TZDATA_ROOT=/apex/com.android.tzdata \
ANDROID_I18N_ROOT=/apex/com.android.i18n \
sqlite3 /data/data/com.google.android.gsf/databases/gservices.db \
"select * from main where name = \"android_id\";" {codeBox}
Copy the displayed ID and visit the Google Uncertified Device Registration page. Paste the ID, then click Register to certify the device.
Once completed, restart Waydroid using:
waydroid session stop
waydroid session start {codeBox}
You can now sign in to Google Play Store normally.
Final Thoughts
Waydroid delivers one of the most seamless and practical ways to run Android apps on Linux without relying on heavy, resource-hungry emulators. Thanks to its container-based approach and deep integration with Wayland, Android applications behave almost like native Linux programs, running in separate windows, supporting hardware acceleration, and working smoothly with keyboard and mouse input.
The ability to install Google Play Store, certify the device, and even sideload APK files makes Waydroid a flexible solution for both casual users and power users. Whether you want to run productivity apps, test Android software, or enjoy mobile games on a larger screen, Waydroid provides excellent performance and stability across modern Linux distributions.
If you’re looking for the closest experience to Android apps running natively on Linux, Waydroid is currently the best option available—and a clear upgrade over traditional Android emulators.