New Andronix 2.0 is here: new installer, Termux:X11 desktops, Modded OS 2.0. Early bird: last days, until Oct 11 Read what's new

Andronix Get it on Google Play

Guide

How to run Linux on Android without root (2026)

The easiest way to run Linux on an unrooted Android phone is to install Termux and Termux:X11, then use Andronix: pick a distro in the app, tap Copy and open Termux, and paste once. It installs the distro, a desktop, sound, Firefox and your user, and andronix desktop opens it full screen. If you'd rather build it yourself, use proot-distro.

Updated . Checked against each project's GitHub repository on October 8, 2026.

AndronixTermux proot-distroUserLAndAnLinux
Root neededNoNoNoNo
Needs TermuxYes (from Google Play, F-Droid or GitHub); running Linux inside the app is in betaYes, it's a Termux packageNo, it's a standalone appYes
What you doPick a distro and a desktop in the app, tap Copy and open Termux, paste once; then andronix desktoppkg install proot-distro, proot-distro install <image>, then install and set up the desktop, display, sound and your user yourselfPick a distro in the app, then connect over SSH or VNCPaste the commands the app gives you into Termux, then connect with a VNC viewer
Desktop set up for youXFCE, LXQt or MATE; KDE Plasma on Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and KaliNo, you set it up yourselfA graphical session over VNCXFCE, MATE, LXQt, LXDE or KDE, from its scripts
How you see the desktopFull screen with Termux:X11, or VNCYour choice (it can share Termux's X11 socket)VNC (or SSH for the command line)VNC
SoundSet up for youSet up yourself-Listed as a to-do in its README
Normal user with sudoYes, created when the install finishesUp to you--
Distros9 free: Debian 13, Ubuntu 26.04 and 24.04 LTS, Kali, Fedora 44, Arch, Manjaro ARM, Alpine 3.24, VoidAny Docker/OCI image, for example ubuntu:24.04Several, including Debian, Ubuntu, Kali and ArchUbuntu, Debian, Kali, Parrot, BackBox, Fedora, CentOS, openSUSE, Arch, BlackArch, Alpine, Void
Latest releaseAndronix 2.0, October 2026v5.9.0, September 2026v2.8.3, October 2021 (GitHub)v6.77, September 2026
CostFree; optional paid Modded OS and PremiumFree, open sourceFree, open sourceFree, open source (Apache 2.0)

"-" means the project's own docs don't say, so we don't either. More detail: Andronix vs UserLAnd vs AnLinux vs proot-distro.

Step by step with Andronix

  1. Install Termux and Termux:X11

    Get Termux from F-Droid, GitHub or Google Play (Android 11 or newer), and open it once. For the desktop, also install Termux:X11. Both are free.

  2. Pick a distro and a desktop

    In the Andronix app, tap Linux distros, then pick a distro and a desktop (XFCE, LXQt, MATE or KDE Plasma), or the command line only.

    The Andronix app's Home screen, with the Linux distros card

  3. Tap Copy and open Termux, and paste once

    The app copies the install command and opens Termux. In Termux, long-press, tap Paste, then press Enter. The installer ticks off each step as it goes.

    The Termux step in the Andronix app: the install command and the Copy and open Termux button

  4. Create your user

    When the install finishes, it asks for a username, a password (for sudo) and a desktop password. Then you're in your distro.

  5. Open the desktop

    In Termux, run andronix desktop. Your desktop opens full screen in Termux:X11, with sound through the phone's speakers.

    Debian with XFCE, full screen in Termux:X11 on a phone

No app? The same install is one command in Termux (this one installs Debian with XFCE):

(curl -fsSL --retry 4 --retry-delay 3 https://dl.andronix.app/get.sh -o $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh || curl -4 -fsSL --retry 2 --retry-delay 3 https://dl.andronix.app/get.sh -o $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh) && sh $PREFIX/tmp/get.sh install debian --de xfce

The full walkthrough is in the docs: Install with the app, or Install without the app.

Step by step with proot-distro

proot-distro is the official Termux tool for Linux containers. It gives you the distro; the rest is up to you:

  1. Install it in Termux: pkg install proot-distro.
  2. Install a distro from a Docker/OCI image, for example proot-distro install ubuntu:24.04.
  3. Log in with proot-distro login ubuntu.
  4. Inside the distro, install a desktop and create a user with sudo.
  5. Set up a display (Termux:X11, shared with --shared-x11, or a VNC server) and start PulseAudio in Termux for sound.

It's a good choice if you want full control, or containers from any Docker image.

What doesn't work without root

Every method here runs Linux with proot, on Android's own kernel, so the same limits apply: no Docker, Snap or Flatpak, no GPU acceleration in Termux, and no USB hardware. On Android 12 and newer, Android's phantom process killer can stop the distro with "Process completed (signal 9)" until you turn it off: how to fix signal 9. The full list: Limitations.

Which distro and desktop to pick

Debian with XFCE is a good first choice: Debian runs on every CPU type Andronix supports, and XFCE is light on a phone. Ubuntu 26.04 has newer packages, and Kali has security tools. How they compare: Choose a distro and desktop.

Coming next: Linux inside the Andronix app, no Termux needed

The next version of the app, Andronix 10.1, can run Linux and its desktop inside the app itself, with sound. There's no Termux to install and no command to paste. Termux still works, as the alternative.

Testers talk with us on Discord: tap a tester button in #start-here to get access.

Common questions

Can I run Linux on Android without root?

Yes. Tools like Andronix and proot-distro run a Linux distribution with proot inside Termux, as an ordinary app. Nothing on Android is changed and no root is needed.

What is the easiest way to get a Linux desktop on Android?

With Andronix: pick a distro in the app, tap Copy and open Termux, and paste once. The installer sets up the distro, a desktop, sound, Firefox and your user; andronix desktop opens it full screen with Termux:X11.

What is the difference between Andronix and proot-distro?

Both use proot in Termux. proot-distro installs the distribution; you set up the desktop, display, sound and users yourself. Andronix does those steps for you and adds updates, backups and developer packs.

Is Andronix free?

Yes. The app, the installer and all nine distros are free. Modded OS (themed, pre-configured desktops) and Premium are optional one-time purchases.

Do I need Termux?

Yes, from F-Droid, GitHub or Google Play (Android 11 or newer). Andronix 10.1, in open beta, can also run Linux inside the app, without Termux.

Can Andronix run Linux without Termux?

Yes, in the beta. Andronix 10.1 can run Linux and its desktop inside the app, without Termux. It is in open beta on Google Play, needs an arm64 device with Android 8 or newer, and has no release date yet.

Which Android version do I need?

Android 7 or newer. The Google Play build of Termux needs Android 11 or newer; on older versions, get Termux from F-Droid or GitHub.

Can I run Docker on Android without root?

No. Docker, Snap and Flatpak need kernel features that proot cannot provide. In Termux, GPU acceleration and USB hardware don't work either.

Sources

Get Andronix on Google Play Read the install guide