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The practical way to run Linux on an Android phone is to keep Android as the operating system and add a Linux userland inside Termux. Termux’s proot-distro provides a command-line distribution; Andronix offers a guided installer. You can optionally add a graphical desktop through Termux:X11 or a VNC viewer. This does not replace Android, boot a separate Linux kernel, or provide unrestricted desktop-PC hardware access.
Choose the setup that matches what you want to do
Decide whether you need a shell or a desktop before installing anything. A terminal-only environment uses less storage and memory and is the most reliable choice for command-line tools. A desktop environment adds a graphical session, a display server or VNC connection, and more overhead.
| Goal | Recommended path | What you get | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux shell, scripts and packages | Termux plus proot-distro |
Manual control over the distribution and login process | You must enter the commands and configure the environment yourself |
| Guided installation | Andronix running in Termux | Menu-based distribution and desktop choices, with generated install commands | You are following the installer’s supported choices rather than building every component manually |
| Linux graphical applications | Either route plus Termux:X11 or VNC | A desktop such as XFCE, LXQt or MATE on the phone screen | Higher RAM and storage use, slower graphics and more compatibility limits |
Both routes use a PRoot-based userland. The Termux project describes proot-distro as working “without root, without a kernel module, and without a Docker daemon” (project README). That convenience is also the source of important limitations explained later.
Check your phone before installing
Android version and installation source
Andronix lists Android 7 or newer for both command-line and desktop use. If you install Termux from Google Play, the Andronix guide says that version requires Android 11 or newer. Termux can also be obtained from F-Droid or GitHub; use one source consistently rather than mixing builds from different sources.
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Open Termux once after installation and let its base packages finish setting up before running a Linux installer. A first launch that has not completed this initialization can make later commands appear to fail.
Storage and RAM requirements
The following are Andronix’s currently published requirements, not independent benchmarks or guarantees. Leave additional free space for downloaded packages, desktop caches and your own files.
| Use case | Free storage listed by Andronix | RAM listed by Andronix |
|---|---|---|
| Command line only | Approximately 0.5 GB | 2 GB |
| Desktop environment | Approximately 1.5–2 GB | 3 GB or more is comfortable |
| KDE Plasma desktop | Approximately 3 GB | 4 GB or more |
These figures describe the initial environment. A full development toolchain, language runtimes, source trees or large package sets can consume substantially more space.
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The installer checks whether your CPU is supported. Most current phones use arm64, but distribution support varies by architecture. A distribution or package built for a different architecture may not install or may lack packages even when Termux itself works.
Android 12 and newer may stop long-running background applications. That can terminate a compiler, server or desktop session when Termux is not in the foreground. Older kernels can also produce a black screen in a desktop session even though the command line works; Andronix specifically calls out some Android 9 phones with a 4.4 kernel. Treat these as compatibility warnings, not a guarantee that every phone on a particular Android release will behave identically.
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Install Termux and prepare the phone
- Install Termux from F-Droid, GitHub or Google Play. If you choose Google Play, confirm that the phone runs Android 11 or newer.
- Launch Termux and wait for its initial package setup to complete.
- Keep the phone connected to power during a distribution download or desktop installation. A failed download can leave a partial environment that needs to be removed and installed again.
- Check that the available storage and RAM meet the figures in the table above, especially if you plan to run a desktop.
Do not treat a USB drive, hub or external storage as a required part of this process. PRoot environments cannot mount or read every drive and adapter, and Andronix documents that Linux cannot be installed on external storage in this setup.
Option 1: Install Linux with Termux manually
The manual route is the most direct way to create a terminal-only Linux userland. Termux’s proot-distro documentation gives this sequence:
- Install the manager in Termux:
pkg install proot-distro - Install the documented Ubuntu 24.04 image:
proot-distro install ubuntu:24.04 - Enter the new environment:
proot-distro login ubuntu
The last command opens a shell inside the Ubuntu userland. From there, Linux commands operate within that distribution while Android and the Termux host remain underneath it. The image tags available in the project can change, so consult the current README before substituting another tag.
Remove a manual installation
If an installation is incomplete or you no longer need it, leave the Linux shell and run:
proot-distro remove ubuntuRemoval deletes that distribution’s userland; it does not uninstall Termux or alter Android.
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Option 2: Use the guided Andronix installer
Andronix is useful when you want a guided choice of distribution and desktop rather than assembling the pieces manually. Its current project documentation lists Debian 13, Ubuntu 26.04, Ubuntu 24.04, Kali rolling, Fedora 44, Arch Linux ARM rolling, Manjaro ARM stable, Alpine 3.24 and Void rolling. These are source-listed versions and can change as the project updates its installer.
- Open Andronix and select a distribution.
- Choose a desktop environment or select “No desktop” for a terminal-only installation.
- Copy the generated command into Termux. The setup page’s example for Ubuntu with XFCE is:
curl -fsSL https://dl.andronix.app/get.sh -o $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh && sh $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh install ubuntu --de xfce - Wait for the installer to download and unpack the distribution and, if selected, the desktop environment. Keep Termux open until it finishes.
- For a graphical installation, start the desktop with:
andronix desktop - Use the installer’s documented update path when needed:
andronix update
The exact options exposed by the installer can change. If a command generated by the current Andronix interface differs from the example above, use the generated command rather than editing the example manually. The step-by-step guide is available at Andronix’s Termux installation tutorial.
Add a Linux desktop and display it
A Linux distribution by itself is not a graphical desktop. You need a desktop environment and a way to display its windows. Andronix lists XFCE, LXQt and MATE for all of its listed distributions. KDE Plasma is listed for Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and Kali and calls for 4 GB of RAM.
| Desktop choice | Availability stated by Andronix | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| XFCE | Listed for all listed distributions | A comparatively light general-purpose desktop |
| LXQt | Listed for all listed distributions | A light graphical session when memory is limited |
| MATE | Listed for all listed distributions | A traditional desktop layout |
| KDE Plasma | Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and Kali; 4 GB RAM called for | Only on a phone with sufficient memory and storage |
Termux:X11
The documented Andronix desktop path uses Termux:X11. After the desktop components are installed, run andronix desktop and open the session through Termux:X11. This keeps Android running while the Linux desktop is rendered in a separate display path.
VNC
A VNC viewer is another documented display option. It can be useful when Termux:X11 is not suitable for your phone, but it adds a separate viewer connection and may feel less integrated. In either case, expect more battery use and slower interaction than on a native desktop computer.
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A Bluetooth keyboard is optional equipment, not an installation requirement. It can make a desktop session or terminal considerably easier to use on a phone-sized screen.
What this Linux environment can and cannot do
It is a Linux userland on Android’s kernel
PRoot supplies the distribution’s filesystem, libraries and user-space tools, but it does not replace the Android kernel. Android remains responsible for the phone’s kernel, process scheduling, security model and most hardware interfaces. Consequently, a successful shell login does not mean that every Linux application will run.
Kernel- and hardware-dependent software may fail
Applications that expect a particular kernel feature, direct device access, hardware acceleration or a conventional Linux boot environment can fail or behave differently. Andronix warns that large compilation projects may not work reliably. Do not promise a full desktop-PC replacement, GPU acceleration or unrestricted access to the phone’s hardware.
Container runtimes and package formats are restricted
Andronix documents that PRoot environments do not support Docker, Snap or Flatpak. A Linux application distributed only through one of those mechanisms is therefore not a dependable target for this setup. A package that works in a normal x86-64 Linux installation may also be unavailable for your phone’s ARM architecture.
Storage, networking and adapters are constrained
PRoot cannot provide unrestricted mounting or reading of drives and adapters. Linux cannot be installed on external storage through this method. Network properties cannot be changed from inside the container, and using a VPN from inside the PRoot environment is not supported as a general replacement for an Android-level VPN. Hardware acceleration is also limited.
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Background execution is not guaranteed
On Android 12 and newer, the operating system may stop long-running apps. A server or build job that must continue unattended may be killed when Termux is backgrounded. This is an Android process-management issue, not evidence that the Linux distribution itself was deleted.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the common failure modes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
proot-distro is not found |
The manager was not installed in the Termux host | Exit any Linux shell and run pkg install proot-distro in Termux, then retry the install command. |
| The distribution download stops or reports an incomplete install | Insufficient storage, interrupted network or Termux being stopped | Free space, keep Termux in the foreground during installation and repeat the install. Remove a broken environment with proot-distro remove ubuntu before starting over if necessary. |
| Desktop opens to a black screen | Kernel/display compatibility issue | Confirm that the command-line login works, then check the phone’s Android version and kernel. Some Android 9 devices with a 4.4 kernel are a documented black-screen case. |
| Desktop becomes unresponsive | Limited RAM, storage pressure or Android killing the host app | Try XFCE, LXQt or MATE instead of KDE, close other Android apps, keep free storage available and avoid backgrounding Termux on Android 12 or newer. |
| A Linux app cannot access a drive, adapter or accelerated graphics | PRoot hardware and mount limitations | Use Android’s native access path where possible; do not assume a USB device, external installation or GPU acceleration is available inside the userland. |
| A package or runtime refuses to install | Architecture or unsupported runtime requirement | Check whether the package supports the phone’s CPU architecture and whether it requires Docker, Snap, Flatpak, kernel modules or other unavailable features. |
Select a distribution without overpromising compatibility
There is no single universally best distribution for every phone. Choose from the versions currently exposed by the installer and match the choice to the packages you actually need. The list below reflects Andronix’s published options; availability and version labels may change.
| Distribution | Version or release style currently listed | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Debian | 13 | Also one of the distributions listed for KDE Plasma |
| Ubuntu | 26.04 and 24.04 | Ubuntu 26.04 is listed for KDE Plasma; the manual README example uses Ubuntu 24.04 |
| Kali | Rolling | Listed for KDE Plasma; specialized tools can still require unavailable kernel or hardware access |
| Fedora | 44 | Desktop availability follows the installer’s current choices |
| Arch Linux ARM | Rolling | Packages and architecture support can change quickly |
| Manjaro ARM | Stable | Use the installer’s current ARM image and desktop selection |
| Alpine | 3.24 | A compact option, but package names and conventions differ from Debian-based systems |
| Void | Rolling | Use only if its package ecosystem and architecture support fit your task |
For a first installation, prioritize a distribution whose packages and documentation match your workload, then choose the lightest desktop that meets your needs. A more prestigious or feature-rich desktop does not remove PRoot’s kernel and hardware limits.
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- Record which Termux source, distribution and desktop you installed so you can reproduce the setup after a reset.
- Keep free storage available; package caches and project files grow after the initial install.
- Use
andronix updatefor an Andronix-managed installation and the currentproot-distrodocumentation for image-management changes. - Remove unused distributions instead of keeping several large root filesystems on a phone with limited storage.
- Back up important files outside the PRoot userland. Reinstalling or removing a distribution can delete files stored inside it.
Once configured, the environment is best treated as a portable Linux workspace for shell tools and light desktop tasks—not as a replacement for Android, a rooted phone or a conventional Linux computer.
Further documentation
- Andronix project README for current distributions, requirements and desktop workflow.
- Termux proot-distro README for manual installation and removal commands.
- Andronix: Install Linux with Termux for the guided setup sequence.
- Andronix limitations of Linux on Android without root for PRoot’s documented hardware, networking and runtime restrictions.
Bottom line
Install Termux, then use proot-distro for a controlled command-line setup or Andronix for a guided distribution and desktop install. Check Android version, architecture, RAM, storage and kernel behavior first. A desktop through Termux:X11 or VNC is possible, but PRoot remains a Linux userland on Android’s kernel, with real limits on hardware, networking, container runtimes and long-running background work.
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