Install Linux on Android without Root (with the App)

Step-by-step guide to installing a Linux distro like Ubuntu, Debian or Manjaro on Android with the Andronix app and Termux, no root required.

Installing your favorite Linux distro with Andronix only takes a few minutes. This guide walks you through the whole process: picking a distro, choosing an interface, running the install command in Termux, creating your user, and starting your new system.

These instructions need the Andronix app 10.0 or newer (Andronix 2.0). Don't want to use the app? See Install without the app.

This is not a guide for installing a Modded OS. For that, see Installing Modded OS.

Older video (Andronix 7)

This walkthrough shows the Andronix 7 app and the pre-2.0 installer (root login, window managers). The steps on this page are current.

1. Preparation 🚀

Linux Distributions

Open the Andronix app and tap the Linux Distribution card on the dashboard. This takes you to the list of distros you can install.

The Andronix app's Home screen, with the Linux Distribution block

Selection

You'll now see every distribution that can be installed on your Android device.

The list of free Linux distros in the Andronix app

2. UI Selection ⭐️

Select

Tap the distro you'd like to install.

Not sure which one to pick? We recommend starting with Ubuntu.

Select the UI

Next, choose the kind of interface you want. This decides how you'll interact with your distro once it's running.

Choosing between a desktop and the command line for Debian

A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the visual interface, with windows, icons and a mouse pointer, that you use to get things done in your Linux distribution.

A Command Line Interface (CLI) is the text-based interface where you type commands to perform tasks in your Linux distribution.

Desktop Environment GUI

Choose a Desktop Environment if you want to use your mouse as well as your keyboard, or if you have little or no experience with Linux. Learn more about Desktop Environments.

Command Line Interface CLI

Choose the Command Line Interface if you don't need a graphical interface. You'll get a terminal, which is all you need if you know your way around Linux. You can add a desktop later with andronix install.

Window managers have been retired. Andronix 2.0 offers desktop environments (XFCE, LXQt, MATE, and KDE Plasma on some distros) and the command line only. If your version of the app still shows a Window Manager option, pick a Desktop Environment instead. Read more.

If you can't decide, we always recommend going with a Desktop Environment.

Continue

Follow the instructions below that match the option you picked.

Desktop Environment

Select the Desktop Environment (DE) you'd like to install: XFCE, LXQt, MATE, or KDE Plasma (Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and Kali only). If you want to compare them first, read the Desktop Environments page. If you're not sure, pick XFCE.

Choosing XFCE, LXQt, MATE or KDE Plasma for Debian

CLI

No extra configuration is needed for the Command Line Interface. Continue to the next section.

3. Termux Execution 💻

This is where the actual installation of your Linux distribution happens.

The Andronix app has automatically copied an install command to your clipboard.

The Termux step, showing the andronix install command with Copy and Open Termux buttons

Execute

You'll run this command in Termux to download and set up the distro.

Before you continue, make sure you're using a compatible version of Termux. If you haven't already, follow the Migrating Termux to F-Droid guide.

Paste

Open the Termux app, long press to paste the copied command, then press Enter to run it.

Wait

The command sets up the andronix installer and runs it. You'll see a list of steps, each ticked off with a ✓ as it finishes, with a progress bar for the long ones:

✓ Installing proot          (only if Termux doesn't have it yet)
✓ Checking your phone
✓ Finding the best download
✓ Downloading Debian 13
✓ Unpacking files
✓ Setting up Debian 13
✓ Refreshing package lists
✓ Updating Debian 13
✓ Installing XFCE desktop · 250 packages
✓ Installing Firefox
✓ Setting up the desktop
✓ Writing start-debian.sh

The andronix installer in Termux, ticking off its install steps

A desktop install usually takes a few minutes, depending on your phone and connection. Keep Termux open until it finishes.

Android may ask whether Termux can keep running in the background. Tap Allow, and disable battery optimization for Termux, so Android doesn't stop the install.

If the install stops for any reason, paste and run the same command again. It continues where it left off. See Troubleshooting installs if it keeps failing.

Create your user

When the install finishes, it asks you to set up your user:

Username: lower-case letters and numbers, for example alex.
Password: used to log in and for sudo.
Desktop (VNC) password: 6 to 8 characters. If your password is 6 to 8 characters long, you can reuse it.

Free distros no longer log you in as root. Your user can run any command as root with sudo, for example sudo apt install nano. On Manjaro, where sudo doesn't work yet, use andronix start manjaro --root from Termux instead.

Creating your user in Termux: username, password and desktop password

When it's done, the installer takes you straight into your new distro.

Back in the app

Back in Andronix, tap Next. The app waits while the install runs in Termux, then shows the result:

The install result: Debian 13 with XFCE installed

4. Starting Distribution ⚡️

If you're already in the distro shell (you see your username, like alex@localhost, in Termux), skip the next section.

Start the Distro

Next time, start the distro by running the command for your distro in Termux:

Distro	Command
Debian 13	`./start-debian.sh`
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (the app's Ubuntu 22 button)	`./start-ubuntu26.sh` or `./start-ubuntu22.sh`
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (the app's Ubuntu 18 and Ubuntu 20 buttons)	`./start-ubuntu.sh` or `./start-ubuntu20.sh`
Kali Linux	`./start-kali.sh`
Fedora 44	`./start-fedora.sh`
Arch Linux	`./start-arch.sh`
Manjaro ARM	`./start-manjaro.sh`
Alpine 3.24	`./start-alpine.sh`
Void Linux	`./start-void.sh`

You can also use andronix start <distro>, for example andronix start debian. See Supported Distros for details on each one.

Verify

If you see your username followed by @localhost in the shell, your distro is up and running. Type exit to go back to Termux.

5. Start the desktop 📺

If you chose a Desktop Environment, open it next.

VNC Start

The Start VNC server page should now be open in the Andronix app.

The Start the desktop step, with Termux:X11 installed and the andronix desktop command

VNC Server

Open it full screen on the phone with the Termux:X11 app. In Termux, run:

andronix desktop debian

Replace debian with your distro. Step 3 covers getting the Termux:X11 app and everything else. To use the desktop from another device, see Other ways to connect (VNC).

Keep the Termux session open while you use the desktop. Closing it, or typing exit, stops the desktop too.

Debian 13 with XFCE, seen in a VNC viewer

Seeing the Process completed (signal 9) - press Enter error in Termux? Read Android 12 and Newer to fix it.

NextStart the desktopStep 3: open your desktop full screen on the phone with Termux:X11.

Install with the App