The Desktop Is Black, Slow or Closes

This page is for Andronix with Termux, on phones that can't run Linux in the app (Android 7, or no 64-bit ARM processor), or if you use the command-line installer. For Linux in the app, see Black screen and safe mode.

This page covers problems with the desktop, over Termux:X11 or VNC.

Termux:X11 doesn't open, or a box covers the desktopCopy Anchor Link

• A "send you notifications?" box (Android 13 and newer, the first time): tap Allow. Your desktop is behind it.
• Termux says "Desktop is running" but the app doesn't come to the front: open Termux:X11 from your app drawer.
• The extra-keys bar is missing, or covers the bottom panel: Andronix hides Termux:X11's extra-keys bar the first time you start a desktop so the bottom panel shows. Swipe down with three fingers in Termux:X11 to bring it back (or turn it on in Termux:X11 settings).
• "Termux:X11 isn't installed": download termux-x11-universal-debug.apk from the Termux:X11 nightly release and install it. See Start the desktop.

The desktop disappears and Termux says "signal 9"Copy Anchor Link

If Termux shows [Process completed (signal 9) - press Enter], Android 12 or newer stopped your distro because it started many processes. A desktop does that quickly. Turn it off once: see Process completed (signal 9).

The screen stays blackCopy Anchor Link

• Termux:X11: some phones' graphics drivers need a different drawing mode. Stop the desktop (andronix desktop stop), then open it with:

  Copy Text

  ANDRONIX_X11_ARGS=-legacy-drawing andronix desktop

  If the colours look swapped, use -force-bgra instead.

• Old kernels: on kernels older than 4.8 (run uname -r in Termux to check), the desktop may stay black. Try andronix desktop --legacy-drawing, then VNC; the command line always works. See The installer warns about an old kernel.

• Installed before an update: run andronix update in Termux. It applies Andronix's latest fixes to the desktop session.

The desktop didn't start (VNC)Copy Anchor Link

If vncserver-start says The desktop didn't start, stop it and start it again:

vncserver-stop 1
vncserver-start

If it still fails, the error box shows the path of a log file (for example /tmp/andronix-vnc-1.log). Share it when you ask for help.

The desktop closes when I leave TermuxCopy Anchor Link

The desktop runs inside your Termux session. Closing that session, or typing exit in the distro, stops the desktop too.

Fix: keep the Termux session open while you use the desktop. Switch to your VNC viewer with the app switcher instead of closing Termux. For a second command line, open a new Termux session from the sidebar.

The desktop is slowCopy Anchor Link

Switch the distro to the light profile from Termux, then restart the desktop:

andronix tune debian --profile light

It turns off desktop effects, thumbnails and some background apps, and uses 16-bit colour. Phones with less than 3 GB of RAM get it automatically. On phones with less than 4 GB of RAM, pick XFCE or LXQt rather than KDE Plasma. See Making a desktop lighter.

Firefox opens in a small windowCopy Anchor Link

Firefox opens in a smaller window the first time; double-tap its title bar to maximize, and it remembers.

I can't connect from my computerCopy Anchor Link

By default, the desktop only accepts connections from the phone itself. Start it with vncserver-start --lan to allow other devices on your network. See VNC on other devices.

Still stuck?Copy Anchor Link

• Every install, remove, backup and restore writes a log to ~/.andronix/logs/ in Termux. Include the latest one when you ask for help.
• Report a problem from the Andronix app. It attaches your phone's details and gives you a report ID.
• Ask on our Discord, or email support@andronix.app.