This App Lets You Run Linux Distros on Android Without Root

This App Lets You Run Linux Distros on Android Without Root

Ever wanted to run Linux distros on Android? Well, this app will let you distro-hop right from your Android smartphone running Android Lollipop and above without root.

Named Andronix, the app offers some of the popular Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Manjaro, Kali Linux, Debian, Parrot OS, Fedora, and Arch Linux. All you need is a smartphone with ARMv7, ARM64, or x64 device architecture.

Notably, this is not yet another command-line tool for running commands supported by a specific distribution. You can install desktop environments on top of it for a user-friendly interface. The supported desktop environments are KDE, LXDE, LXQT, MATE, and XFCE.

I tried installing Ubuntu 19 along with XFCE DE on a OnePlus 7T Pro and it worked flawlessly. To get started, make sure you have Termux (free) or any Terminal emulator app for Android installed on your smartphone. Choose your favorite Linux distribution from Andronix, copy its command and paste it on Termux.

After Termux completes downloading the required files, start the Linux distribution with the command displayed in the console. In my case, it was ./start-ubuntu19.sh. The command may vary based on the distribution you choose.

Now, choose the desktop environment you prefer from Andronix and paste the command on Termux. After the installation process is complete, Termux will ask you to set a VNC password. Set the password and do not forget to note the port on which the VNC server has been invoked.

You can use the commands vncserver-start and vncserver-stop to control the VNC. Enter the port number along with localhost address on the VNC Viewer app. You will now be prompted to enter the VNC password that you had set earlier. In case you’re feeling confused to choose a VNC, the developer of Andronix suggests using VNC Viewer by RealVNC.

This App Lets You Run Linux Distros on Android Without Root

This should be good news for Samsung users who are disappointed with the South Korean tech giant’s decision to discontinue the Linux on Dex project. Now, even they can run Linux Distros on their Android devices. Check out the app from the link below and let us know if you found this helpful in the comments.

Download AndroNix | Download Termux | Download VNC Viewer

comment Comments 1
  • Jeffrey Dennis says:

    Very cool app. The article says it offers ParrotOS, but you need AnLinux to run that. Still a great article. I have ran every distro they have, except for the modded OS’s that are fee based. If you have a Samsung with DEX, don’t use the VNCviewer that they recommend. There isn’t anything wrong with it per se, but it is not compatible with DEX. So if you want to hook your phone to a monitor or 4K TV, you need MultiVNC. Im using a Note 9 and it awesome. I have it hooked up to a monitor, but can also cast it wireless to my giant 4k tv. All of my bluetooth periperals work with it. My USB hub works with it. I have a wired and wireless keyboard/mouse, both work great. MultiVNC works perfectly with DEX, and you can just hop back and for between DEX and Linux, which I love. Im not a Linux expert, and I’ve been able to use my old phone as a desktop. Termux brings it all together, and allows you to install the Andronix Packages. You get to choose your distro and desktop environment. Andronix automates this by populating your clipboard with all code, so you don’t have to do anything by paste it into the Termux Command Line. No Root required.

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