While there are several ways by which you can run Android apps on Linux, the easiest way to do so is with WayDroid, especially if you are using the Wayland display server. WayDroid allows you to run the entire Android OS inside a container on your Linux system using Linux namespaces, which allow you to run different components independently.

  1. Open the terminal on your Linux system and type sudo apt install curl ca-certificates -y. Then press Enter to install the required dependencies.
  1. Next, type curl https://repo.waydro.id | sudo bash and press Enter to add the WayDroid repository.
  1. Now, you need to install the WayDroid app using the sudo apt-get install waydroid -y command and pressing Enter.
  1. Once WayDroid is installed on your system, launch it from the menu.
  1. When WayDroid launches, click on the 'Android Type' dropdown menu and select 'GAPPS'. If you choose 'Vanilla', you will not be able to access Google Play Services and will therefore be unable to install apps using the Play Store.
  1. Click on the 'Download' button and wait for the download to complete, which can take some time.
  1. Once the download is complete, WayDroid will automatically close. Relaunch it from the menu and you will see your screen resembling an Android home screen.
  1. Before you can use the Google Play Store to install Android apps and games, you need to register the device using your Android ID. Switch to the terminal window and type sudo waydroid shell before pressing Enter.
  1. This will show you a random string of numbers which is your Android ID on your device. You need to provide it to Google for identity verification, so copy it.
  2. Once you have the code, visit this page and sign in using your Google account.
  3. Paste the code containing your Android ID to complete the verification process.
  4. Go back to the terminal, type waydroid session stop , and then press Enter to stop the app.
  1. Then type waydroid session start and you will see the Android OS on your Linux system. You can now log in to the Play Store and start installing apps and games from there.

Things to know

  • WayDroid is compatible with a wide selection of Linux distros but you should check and make sure that it works with your distro before proceeding.
  • You can also use Android emulators like Genymotion to run Android apps on your Linux system. Such emulators let you simulate Android devices and even install apps via APKs.
  • Anbox was one of the most popular tools that let you run Android apps on Linux but it has now been deprecated, so it is best to avoid using it.
  • Another option is to run Android within a virtual machine on your Linux system, which will require downloading the Android ISO image from its website.