Installing a Distro

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.

Docs for Andronix app 8.x (Classic)

You are reading docs for Andronix app 8.x. Update to app 10 for the new installer: Start here.

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, and starting your new system. Prefer video? Watch the walkthrough below, then follow the steps.

These instructions assume you have Andronix version 7.0 or newer installed on your device.

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

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.

Selection

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

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.

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.

Window Manager GUI

Choose a Window Manager if you want to manage windows and other OS-level tasks mostly with your keyboard. Window Managers are light and fast, but they take some practice before you're productive. Learn more about Window Managers.

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.

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. If you want to compare them first, read the Desktop Environments page, then tap the one you want.

Window Manager

Select the Window Manager you'd like to install. For details on each option, see the Window Managers page.

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.

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 download and installation will take a while. Keep the Termux app running until it finishes.

Disable battery optimization for Termux so that processes running inside it don't get terminated at random.

If the installation seems stuck on one step for an unusually long time, press the Enter key to resume it.

Update the Andronix app

Back in Andronix, tap the Command Executed button at the bottom of the screen. This tells the app the command has been run.

Finish the Process

Once the script has finished successfully, tap the Execution Finished button at the bottom.

4. Starting Distribution ⚡️

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

Start the Distro

Start the distro by running the command for your distro in Termux:

Ubuntu 18
```
./start-ubuntu.sh
```
Ubuntu 20
```
./start-ubuntu20.sh
```
Debian
```
./start-debian.sh
```
Manjaro
```
./start-manjaro.sh
```
Arch Linux
```
./start-arch.sh
```
Fedora
```
./start-fedora.sh
```
Void
```
./start-void.sh
```
Alpine
```
./start-alpine.sh
```
Kali Linux
```
./start-kali.sh
```

VNC Basics: connect to your distro's desktop with a VNC viewer.
XSDL Basics: use an X11 server as a faster alternative to VNC.
Desktop Environments and Window Managers: learn more about the interface you installed.
Fixing Sound: get audio working in your distro.
Uninstalling a Distro: remove a distro you no longer need.
FAQ: answers to common questions and errors.

Installing a Distro