Supported Distros
Every free Linux distro Andronix installs, with its version, supported CPUs, desktops, and the commands to install, start and remove it.
Andronix installs these free distros. Each one comes with the desktop you pick (XFCE, LXQt, MATE, or KDE Plasma on some distros) or the command line only, a VNC server for the desktop, and Firefox. This page lists what you get with each distro and the commands to install, start and remove it.
The andronix install commands below need andronix in Termux. If you haven't installed a distro with Andronix 2.0 yet, use this one line instead, with your distro and desktop:
(curl -fsSL --retry 4 --retry-delay 3 https://dl.andronix.app/get.sh -o $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh || curl -4 -fsSL --retry 2 --retry-delay 3 https://dl.andronix.app/get.sh -o $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh) && sh $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh install debian --de xfceSee Installing without the app.
At a glance
| Distro | Version | CPU types | Package manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | 13 | arm64, arm, x86, x86_64 | apt |
| Ubuntu | 26.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS | arm64, arm, x86_64 | apt |
| Kali Linux | rolling | arm64, arm, x86, x86_64 | apt |
| Fedora | 44 | arm64, x86_64 | dnf |
| Arch Linux | rolling | arm64, arm, x86_64 | pacman |
| Manjaro ARM | stable | arm64, x86_64 | pacman |
| Alpine | 3.24 | arm64, arm, x86, x86_64 | apk |
| Void Linux | rolling | arm64, arm, x86, x86_64 | xbps |
Every distro offers XFCE LXQt MATE CLI only. Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and Kali Linux also offer KDE Plasma.
In the commands below, replace xfce with lxqt, mate, kde (where offered) or none (command line only) to pick another desktop. See the andronix command for every option.
Debian
Debian 13 "trixie", a stable, well-supported distro. A good first choice, and it runs on every CPU type.
| Install | andronix install debian --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-debian.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove debian |
| Browser | Firefox ESR |
Ubuntu
Ubuntu comes in two versions. The app's Ubuntu 22 button installs Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, and the Ubuntu 18 and Ubuntu 20 buttons install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | andronix install ubuntu --de xfce | andronix install ubuntu24 --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-ubuntu26.sh or ./start-ubuntu22.sh | ./start-ubuntu.sh or ./start-ubuntu20.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove ubuntu | andronix remove ubuntu24 |
- Firefox is installed from Mozilla's own repository, because Ubuntu's Firefox is a Snap and Snaps can't run in Andronix. Mozilla's repository covers arm64 and x86_64, so 32-bit (arm) phones get no browser.
- New to Ubuntu on a phone? How to install Ubuntu on Android without root walks through it from Termux to the desktop.
- The Ubuntu 18 and Ubuntu 20 distros from the pre-2.0 installer are no longer offered. Existing installs keep working; see Installs from before Andronix 2.0.
Kali Linux
Kali Linux rolling, the distro built for security work. You get the base system and your desktop; install the Kali tools you need with sudo apt install.
| Install | andronix install kali --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-kali.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove kali |
| Browser | Firefox ESR |
Step by step, with the desktop: How to install Kali Linux on Android without root.
Fedora
Fedora 44, with up-to-date software. Only available on arm64 and x86_64.
| Install | andronix install fedora --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-fedora.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove fedora |
| Browser | Firefox |
The first dnf command downloads Fedora's package lists (about 50 MB), so it takes a minute.
Arch Linux
Arch Linux, a rolling distro for people who like to build their own system. On phones this is Arch Linux ARM; on x86_64 devices, it's Arch Linux.
| Install | andronix install arch --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-arch.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove arch |
| Browser | Firefox |
Update with sudo pacman -Syu before installing anything, and avoid pacman -Sy <package> (a partial upgrade).
Manjaro ARM
Manjaro ARM, an Arch-based distro. Only available on arm64 and x86_64.
sudo doesn't work on Manjaro ARM in Andronix yet. For admin tasks such as installing packages, open a root shell from Termux with andronix start manjaro --root.| Install | andronix install manjaro --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-manjaro.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove manjaro |
| Browser | Firefox |
Alpine
Alpine 3.24, a very small distro. The smallest download of all.
| Install | andronix install alpine --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-alpine.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove alpine |
| Browser | Firefox |
Void Linux
Void Linux (glibc), an independent rolling distro with its own package manager, xbps.
| Install | andronix install void --de xfce |
| Start | ./start-void.sh |
| Remove | andronix remove void |
| Browser | Firefox |
Installing software
Inside the distro, use its package manager with sudo (on Manjaro, use a root shell from andronix start manjaro --root and leave out sudo):
| Distro | Update everything | Install a program |
|---|---|---|
| Debian, Ubuntu, Kali | sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade | sudo apt install <name> |
| Fedora | sudo dnf upgrade | sudo dnf install <name> |
| Arch, Manjaro | sudo pacman -Syu | sudo pacman -S <name> |
| Alpine | sudo apk upgrade | sudo apk add <name> |
| Void | sudo xbps-install -Su | sudo xbps-install <name> |
Next steps
- Installing a Distro: the step-by-step guide with the app.
- Desktop Environments: compare XFCE, LXQt and MATE.
- VNC: connect to your desktop.
- The andronix command: every command and option.
The andronix Command
Reference for the andronix command in Termux - install, start, desktop, update, backup, restore, tune, dev packs, doctor, report, remove - and the commands inside a distro.
Desktop Environments
Learn what a desktop environment is, which ones Andronix offers for each distro, and which one to pick if you're just getting started.