Andy Walker / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Android Linux Terminal app is now broadly obtainable for Pixel customers working the March 2025 replace.
- The Debian-based surroundings permits customers to hold a totally fledged Linux occasion with them, though it nonetheless lacks a number of creature comforts.
Late final 12 months, we reported that Google is making ready a local Linux terminal utility that might permit smartphone customers to hold a transportable model of a desktop distro with them. Since then, we’ve seen that very app roll out with Android 15 beta builds. Now, with the March 2025 Pixel replace, a secure model of that app is obtainable extra broadly for Google cellphone customers working the newest secure model of Android.
The Linux Terminal app icon robotically seems when you toggle on the Linux growth surroundings in Settings > System > Developer choices. As soon as I activated it and tapped this icon, I used to be requested to permit a 567MB obtain.
Though the primary time I attempted to run the terminal on my Pixel 8 failed, it labored the second time. After cresting this pace bump, I used to be capable of open the terminal by tapping the shortcut in my apps record and working primary instructions like assist, df, and free-m. In fact, you may concern way more superior instructions than this if you happen to like.
Notably, the Linux surroundings relies on Debian, probably the most established Linux distributions obtainable. In contrast to a local terminal app like Termux, Linux Terminal runs in a digital machine through the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF).
Notably, the Linux Terminal app is devoid of some options. GUI app assist is maybe the largest shortcoming, however as our highly-entertaining Doom demo suggests, this performance is deliberate for Android 16.
The provision of a Linux Terminal app on Android is probably not terribly thrilling or life-changing for the plenty, however it’s an enormous step ahead for builders and energy customers who need to run desktop-level Linux purposes on their units for numerous functions.
