How to install an Android Virtual Device (AVD) — step-by-step guide
Learn how to install and run an Android Virtual Device (AVD) using Android Studio. Step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting.Create an AVD (GUI method)
1.In Android Studio, open AVD Manager: Tools → Device Manager (or AVD Manager in older versions).
3.Select a hardware profile (e.g., Pixel 5,Pixel 8 Pro,Pixel 9,Pixel 9 Pro) → Next.
4.Choose a System Image select the android version to download like Oreo,Tiramisu,Upside Down Cake,Vanilla Ice Cream etc.
5.Configure AVD settings:
AVD Name: friendly name like Pixel_5_API_33.
Graphics: Automatic (or Hardware for better performance).
Startup: Quick boot enabled (snapshot) or cold boot.
Scale and Memory: default typically fine, lower if host low on RAM.
6.Click Finish.
7.Start the emulator by clicking the green ► (Play) icon next to the AVD.
Troubleshooting (common problems & fixes)
- Emulator won’t start / shows virtualization error: Enable virtualization in BIOS/UEFI. Check Task Manager (Windows) or run egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo (Linux).
- HAXM installer fails on Windows because Hyper-V is enabled: Disable Hyper-V or use WHPX. To use HAXM, turn off Hyper-V and Windows Hypervisor Platform from Windows Features.
- AVD very slow: Use x86_64 images, enable hardware graphics, install hardware acceleration (HAXM/WHPX), and allocate sufficient RAM. Avoid using ARM images on Intel hosts.
- Emulator: PANIC: Missing HAXM driver — install HAXM or enable alternate hypervisor (WHPX).
- On Apple M1/M2 the x86 images won’t run: Use arm64-v8a system images built for ARM.
- ADB not detected: Ensure platform-tools installed and ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/platform-tools is in your PATH. Restart adb server: adb kill-server && adb start-server.
FAQ
Q: Where are AVD files stored?A: Typically in ~/.android/avd/ (Linux/macOS) or %USERPROFILE%\.android\avd\ (Windows).
Q: Can I run multiple AVDs at once?
A: Yes, but it’s CPU/RAM intensive. Ensure sufficient host resources.
Q: Do I need Android Studio to use AVD?
A: No — you can use SDK command-line tools (sdkmanager, avdmanager, emulator) but Android Studio simplifies the process.
Q: Which system image should I choose?
A: For development: x86_64 with Google APIs (best for Intel/AMD). For Apple Silicon: arm64-v8a images.
){kind=link}
0 Comments