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To download and install Android Studio Emulator, download Android Studio from Google, complete the Setup Wizard, install the required SDK system image, and create an Android Virtual Device in Device Manager. The Android Emulator is included with Android Studio, so you normally do not install a separate emulator application.
The exact installation steps depend on Windows, macOS, Linux, or ChromeOS. Before starting, check the computer’s operating-system support, RAM, free storage, CPU virtualization, and processor architecture.
Key takeaways
- Android Studio is the download; the Android Emulator is included with Android Studio and normally does not require a separate installer.
- Google lists 16 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free disk space as the minimum for Android Studio plus the Emulator, with 32 GB of each recommended.
- An Android Virtual Device (AVD) combines a hardware profile, system image, storage, and other settings into the virtual device that the Emulator runs.
- Google Play, Google APIs, and AOSP system images serve different testing needs, so the correct image depends on whether the app needs the Play Store, Google services, or elevated control.
- Windows and Linux require CPU virtualization support such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V, while Windows ARM and Linux ARM machines are currently unsupported according to Google’s requirements.
What do you download for the Android Studio Emulator?
To download and install Android Studio Emulator, download Android Studio from Google’s official Android Developers website. The Android Emulator is included with Android Studio, so there is normally no separate “Android Studio Emulator” installer. After Android Studio’s Setup Wizard installs the SDK components, Device Manager lets you create an Android Virtual Device (AVD) and launch the Emulator.
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Can your computer run Android Studio and the Emulator?
Google’s current requirements distinguish between running Android Studio alone and running Android Studio together with the Emulator. According to Android Developers / Google (2026), Android Studio plus the Emulator requires at least 16 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free disk space; Google recommends 32 GB of RAM and at least 32 GB of free space on an SSD.
| Requirement | Minimum listed by Google | Recommended or additional guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 16 GB RAM for Android Studio plus the Emulator | 32 GB RAM recommended |
| Storage | 16 GB free disk space for Android Studio plus the Emulator | 32 GB or more on an SSD recommended |
| Additional AVD storage | Not a fixed minimum | Up to 6 GB may be needed for each additional AVD |
| Multiple running AVDs | Depends on the computer | Approximately 4 GB of memory may be required per simultaneously running AVD |
| Windows | 64-bit Windows 10 or later | CPU virtualization must be available and enabled |
| macOS | macOS 12 or later | Apple Silicon is the recommended CPU direction; Intel Mac support is being phased out |
| Linux | 64-bit distribution supporting GNOME, KDE, or Unity and glibc 2.31 or later | CPU virtualization must be available and enabled |
Windows and Linux computers need hardware virtualization support, such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V, enabled in the BIOS or UEFI firmware. RAM, SSD speed, graphics capability, CPU virtualization, and the number of AVDs running at once affect Emulator performance. Windows ARM machines and Linux ARM machines are currently unsupported in Google’s listed requirements.
ChromeOS follows a different path. Android Studio is installed through the Linux environment and a DEB package, but Google’s current ChromeOS documentation says Android Studio on ChromeOS supports deploying to a connected hardware device only. Do not assume that the complete local Emulator workflow described for Windows, macOS, and Linux is available on ChromeOS.
How do you download and install Android Studio on Windows?
On Windows, the recommended method is to download the EXE installer from Google, run it, and let the Setup Wizard install the recommended SDK packages.
- Open Google’s Android Studio download and installation page.
- Download the recommended Windows EXE installer.
- Double-click the downloaded EXE file.
- Follow the Android Studio Setup Wizard.
- Accept the recommended SDK components when the wizard asks which packages to install.
- Allow the wizard to download and configure the Android SDK.
The Setup Wizard is important because Android Studio is the development environment, while the SDK packages provide the tools and platform components used to build and test Android apps. The wizard may not install every Android platform or every system image that a particular project later requires.
What if you downloaded the Windows ZIP distribution?
The ZIP distribution does not use the normal EXE installation flow. Unpack the ZIP archive, place the resulting android-studio folder in the location you want to use, open its bin directory, and launch studio64.exe for a 64-bit installation. Complete the Setup Wizard after Android Studio opens.
How do you install Android Studio on macOS?
On macOS, open the Android Studio DMG, move Android Studio to Applications, launch it, and complete the Setup Wizard.
- Download the correct Android Studio package from Google’s official macOS installation page.
- Open the downloaded DMG file.
- Drag Android Studio into the Applications folder.
- Open Android Studio from Applications.
- Choose whether to import settings from an earlier Android Studio installation.
- Complete the Setup Wizard and allow it to download the Android SDK components required for development.
Choose the package appropriate for the Mac’s processor when Google offers processor-specific downloads. Google’s current requirements list macOS 12 or later and identify Apple Silicon as the recommended CPU direction while Intel Mac support is being phased out.
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How do you install Android Studio on Linux?
On Linux, unpack Google’s .tar.gz archive into an application directory, install any required 64-bit libraries, start Android Studio from its bin directory, and complete the Setup Wizard.
- Download the Linux archive from Google’s Android Studio installation documentation.
- Unpack the archive into an application directory such as
/usr/local/,/opt/, or a user application directory. - Install the libraries required by your distribution if Android Studio reports missing dependencies.
- Open a terminal and change to the extracted
android-studio/bin/directory. - Run
studio. - Choose whether to import previous settings, then complete the Setup Wizard.
Google documents the following dependency commands for 64-bit Ubuntu and Fedora systems. Package names can change between distribution releases, so check your current distribution’s documentation before running either command.
sudo apt-get install libc6:i386 libncurses5:i386 libstdc++6 lib32z1 libbz2-1.0:i386sudo yum install zlib.i686 ncurses-libs.i686 bzip2-libs.i686Linux ARM machines are currently unsupported in Google’s listed Android Studio requirements. Linux systems that can run the Emulator also need CPU virtualization enabled.
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ChromeOS uses the Linux development environment and a DEB package rather than the Windows, macOS, or standard Linux archive workflow.
- Enable the Linux environment in ChromeOS.
- Download the ChromeOS DEB package for Android Studio.
- Move the package into Linux Files.
- Install it from the Linux terminal using a command in this form:
sudo apt install ./android-studio-<version>-cros.debLaunch Android Studio from the ChromeOS Launcher or with /opt/android-studio/bin/studio. Google’s current note says Android Studio on ChromeOS supports deploying to a connected hardware device only, so a physical Android device may be required instead of a local AVD.
Which SDK components do you need after installation?
Use Tools > SDK Manager in Android Studio to install or update SDK tools, Android platforms, and system images. The official SDK Manager documentation explains which components belong in each tab.
| SDK Manager area | What it contains | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SDK Tools | Android SDK Build Tools | Provides tools used to build Android apps. |
| SDK Tools | Android SDK Platform Tools | Includes adb, which communicates with Android devices and running virtual devices. |
| SDK Tools | Android SDK Command-Line Tools | Provides command-line SDK management and development utilities. |
| SDK Platforms | Android platform packages | Provides the Android API platform used to compile against a selected version. |
| SDK Platforms or system-image selection | System images | Provides the Android operating-system image that an AVD runs. |
At least one Android platform is needed to compile an app. An Emulator also needs a compatible system image. System images can be available for different processor architectures, including x86_64 and ARM 64 v8a. System images can receive updates separately from Android Studio, including updates intended to resolve Emulator bugs, so keep installed images current.
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Create an Android Virtual Device from Device Manager by selecting a hardware profile, choosing a compatible system image, reviewing the configuration, and finishing the wizard. An AVD is not a second emulator application; an AVD is the configuration the Android Emulator uses, including a hardware profile, system image, storage area, skin, and other properties.
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From the Android Studio Welcome screen, open More Actions > Virtual Device Manager. From an open project, open View > Tool Windows > Device Manager, click the plus sign, and choose Create Virtual Device.
- Click Create Device.
- Select a hardware profile, such as a Pixel profile, and click Next.
- Select the system image for the Android API level you need to test.
- Click the download icon beside an image that is not installed, download it, and remain connected to the internet during the download.
- Click Next.
- Review or change the AVD configuration.
- Click Finish.
Which Android Emulator system image should you choose?
Choose a Google Play image when the test requires the Play Store or a device profile intended to include Google Play services. Choose a Google APIs image when the app needs Google Play services but does not specifically need the Play Store. Choose an AOSP image when the test should run without Google apps and services or when elevated troubleshooting privileges are important.
| System image | Choose it when | Important limitation or capability |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play | The app needs the Play Store or a device configuration intended to include Google Play services. | Google Play images are signed with a release key and cannot be rooted. |
| Google APIs | The app needs Google Play services but does not specifically need the Play Store. | Provides Google services without making the Play Store the specific test requirement. |
| AOSP | You need an environment without Google apps or services, or need elevated troubleshooting control. | AOSP images can support adb root and adb unroot. |
Match the image’s API level to the app’s requirements. An app cannot run on a system image with an API level lower than the API level required by the app’s minSdk setting. A higher API level may still be useful for compatibility testing, but the test image must not be below the app’s minimum supported API level.
How do you start the Android Emulator?
After creating an AVD, select the AVD from Android Studio’s target-device menu and click Run. Google’s Emulator documentation notes that the first launch may take about a minute; later launches can use a snapshot and start faster.
To launch an AVD from a terminal, use the Emulator command-line tool:
emulator -avd avd_nameGoogle also documents this equivalent form:
emulator @avd_nameTo see the AVD names available on the computer, run:
emulator -list-avdsThe official Emulator command-line reference covers additional launch options and command-line behavior.
What can you manage in Device Manager?
Device Manager lets you edit, delete, launch, stop, inspect, and wipe an AVD. Device Manager can also show the AVD’s files on disk and configuration details.
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Wiping an AVD’s data clears its user data and settings, returning the virtual device to a state similar to a new device. The AVD storage area contains user data, installed apps, settings, and emulated SD-card data. Wipe data when an app or virtual device has become corrupted, but remember that wiping removes installed apps and saved virtual-device state.
How do you install an APK on the Emulator?
Drag an APK file onto the running Emulator window. Google’s APK installation workflow displays an APK Installer dialog; after installation completes, the app appears in the virtual device’s app list.
An APK that targets an incompatible API level, processor architecture, or device configuration may still fail to install or run. If the app depends on Google Play services, use a Google APIs or Google Play image rather than assuming that every AOSP image provides those services.
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Why is the Android Studio Emulator not starting?
The Android Studio Emulator most often fails to start because virtualization is unavailable, the required system image is missing, the computer is short on memory or storage, or the selected AVD has an unsuitable configuration.
Virtualization is unavailable
Windows and Linux require CPU virtualization support such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V. Restart the computer, open its BIOS or UEFI settings, enable the available virtualization option, save the change, and try the AVD again. The exact firmware label varies by computer manufacturer.
The system image is missing
A download icon beside a system image in Device Manager means that the image is not installed locally. Select the image and download it while connected to the internet, then return to the AVD creation process.
The Emulator is slow or stops responding
Check available RAM and disk space first. Google’s current figures call for 16 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free storage at minimum for Android Studio plus the Emulator, while 32 GB of RAM and 32 GB or more on an SSD are recommended. Running several AVDs can require approximately 4 GB of memory per AVD, and each additional AVD may require up to 6 GB of storage.
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Close unnecessary applications, avoid running more AVDs than the computer can support, use an SSD when possible, and confirm that the computer’s graphics capability and virtualization support meet Google’s current requirements. If the computer is an unsupported Windows ARM or Linux ARM system, changing AVD settings will not provide a supported local-Emulator configuration.
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The app opens but behaves incorrectly
Confirm that the AVD uses the correct API level and image type. An AOSP image does not reproduce a Google Play environment, and a Google Play image cannot be rooted. An app that requires Google Play services should be tested on a Google APIs or Google Play image, while root-dependent troubleshooting may require an AOSP image.
Do you need a physical Android phone?
You do not need a physical Android phone to install Android Studio or create a local AVD. A physical device, Android Device Streaming, and cloud device testing are alternatives or complements when a local Emulator is unsuitable. Google documents running apps on a hardware device, while Google also recommends Firebase Test Lab for testing across a broad range of real devices hosted in the cloud.
| Testing option | Setup effort | Hardware burden | Coverage and fidelity | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Android Emulator | Install Android Studio, SDK components, and one or more AVDs. | Uses local RAM, storage, graphics resources, and CPU virtualization. | Selected virtual hardware profiles and API levels; convenient local control. | Frequent development and repeatable local testing. |
| Physical Android device | Connect and configure a modern Android device for development. | Requires access to compatible hardware. | Real-device behavior for the connected model. | Hardware-specific behavior and final device checks. |
| Android Device Streaming | Uses a cloud-hosted Android device rather than creating a local AVD. | Reduces local RAM, storage, graphics, and virtualization demands. | Remote device access; availability and current terms should be checked before use. | Computers that cannot comfortably run a local Emulator. |
| Firebase Test Lab | Uses Google-hosted devices through a cloud testing workflow. | Reduces the need to maintain a large local device fleet. | Broader real-device coverage than one local AVD; service access and terms may vary. | Compatibility testing across many real devices. |
Android Device Streaming is an optional alternative for users whose computers lack sufficient RAM, storage, graphics capability, or supported virtualization. Android Device Streaming is not required to download Android Studio, install the SDK, create an AVD, or run the local Emulator. Availability, pricing, account requirements, and program terms can change, so verify the current service details before relying on it.
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A current Android development book can be useful for learning beyond installation, but a book is not required for Android Studio or the Emulator and may become outdated as Android Studio versions, API levels, and system images change. The official Android documentation is the better source for the installation steps and current interface labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Android Emulator included with Android Studio?
No. Android Emulator is included with Android Studio, so you normally download and install Android Studio rather than searching for a separate Android Studio Emulator installer. You still need to download a compatible SDK system image when creating an AVD if the required image is not already installed.
How much RAM does Android Studio Emulator need?
Android Studio plus the Android Emulator requires at least 16 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free disk space according to Google’s 2026 requirements. Google recommends 32 GB of RAM and 32 GB or more of free space on an SSD for a more suitable setup.
Do I need Google APIs or Google Play for the Emulator?
Choose Google Play when the test requires the Play Store, Google APIs when the app needs Google Play services without specifically needing the Play Store, and AOSP when the test should exclude Google services or requires root-capable troubleshooting. Google Play images cannot be rooted, while AOSP images can support adb root and adb unroot.
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No. A physical Android phone is not required because Android Studio includes a local Emulator. A real Android device, Android Device Streaming, or cloud testing such as Firebase Test Lab can be used when the local Emulator is unsupported or too demanding for the computer.
The Bottom Line
Download Android Studio—not a separate emulator installer—then let the Setup Wizard install the SDK, create an AVD in Device Manager, choose the system image that matches the app’s needs, and launch the AVD. Check virtualization, RAM, storage, and operating-system support before troubleshooting a failed or slow Emulator.
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