UserLAnd
Linux on Android

How to run Linux on Android

Install UserLAnd, a free app from Google Play. Open it, tap a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, choose a username and password, and pick Terminal or Graphical. A few minutes later you have a real Linux system on your phone or tablet, with no root required.

Get it on Google PlayUserLAnd

Step by step

  1. Install UserLAnd from Google Play

    UserLAnd is free, and no root is needed.

  2. Tap Ubuntu

    Open UserLAnd. On the Apps tab, tap Ubuntu.

  3. Create your Linux user

    Enter a username and password for Linux. If you want a graphical desktop, also set a VNC password (6 to 8 characters).

  4. Choose Terminal or Graphical

    Terminal opens a command line. Graphical opens a desktop through UserLAnd's built-in VNC viewer, and asks which desktop environment you want.

  5. Wait for the download

    UserLAnd downloads and sets up the filesystem. This takes a few minutes the first time; stay on Wi-Fi.

  6. Start using Linux

    You land in a shell (or a desktop). Install software with the distribution's package manager, for example sudo apt update && sudo apt install git on Ubuntu or Debian.

What you get

  • Six distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Arch, Alpine and Fedora
  • Thousands of Linux programs, such as GIMP, LibreOffice, Firefox and Thunderbird, installed with your distribution's package manager
  • Terminal with your favorite shells, plus SSH access
  • Graphical desktops through a built-in VNC viewer
  • No root: install and uninstall UserLAnd like any other app
  • Free, with an optional Pro upgrade

What you need

  • An Android phone or tablet
  • Free storage space for the Linux filesystem (a few hundred MB to several GB, depending on what you install)
  • Wi-Fi for the first download

Three ways to run Linux in UserLAnd

Mode What it is Needs
Standard Linux userland on Android’s own kernel (proot). Fast to set up, works almost everywhere. Nothing extra, free
Virtual machine A full Linux VM with its own kernel, using Android’s Virtualization Framework (AVF). Runs Docker and other tools that need a real kernel. UserLAnd Pro and a supported device
QEMU emulation A fully emulated machine for devices without AVF. UserLAnd Pro

You pick the mode per filesystem when you set it up. Most people start with Standard.

Sessions and filesystems

UserLAnd has three tabs. Apps is where you pick a distribution to install. Sessions lists running Linux servers you can reconnect to. Filesystems holds your Linux installs; you can keep several side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to root my phone to run Linux?

No. UserLAnd's standard mode runs Linux distributions without root. The optional virtual machine mode doesn't need root either; it uses Android's own Virtualization Framework on supported devices.

Which Linux distributions can I run on Android?

UserLAnd offers Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Arch, Alpine and Fedora.

Is UserLAnd free?

Yes. UserLAnd is free. An optional Pro upgrade adds virtual machine sessions, LXDE and XFCE desktops, sound and microphone, access to your phone's files (/sdcard), and backup and restore.

Can I run a full Linux desktop?

Yes. Choose Graphical when you start a distribution, and UserLAnd opens the desktop in its built-in VNC viewer. See Linux desktop on Android.

Can I run Docker on Android?

With UserLAnd Pro, on devices that support Android's Virtualization Framework, virtual machine sessions run a full Linux kernel, which lets you run Docker. See Linux VMs on Android.

What happened to GNURoot Debian?

UserLAnd is made by the team behind GNURoot Debian and replaces it.

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