nstall Android apps on Linux

The arrival of Windows 11 has made it fashionable to use Android apps on PC natively (without emulators involved). And we understand it. The Android application catalog is so immense and varied that surely you want to have some installed on your PC to use it without depending on your mobile or an emulator.

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Here we have already explained how to install Android apps on Windows 11 without third-party apps. But if you are a Linux user, don’t worry, because in this article we will teach you step by step how to use Android applications in Linux with Anbox. Let’s go there…

Anbox: the easiest way to install Android apps on Linux

Android apps on Linux

Sure you already know, but it is necessary to remember that Android is an operating system based on the Linux kernel. So, in theory, running Android apps on Linux should be easier to do than on Windows.

However, installing an Android app on Linux without third-party apps is very difficult for someone who is not a developer. If you want to keep things simple without complicating your life, we recommend using the Anbox application. This app, whose name comes from the combination of “Android” and “Box”, allows you to have a functional version of Android within it.

But make no mistake, Anbox is not an emulator. The app runs Android, albeit in a container in a way that it can’t directly access your hardware or data.

And since it is Android, any Android app should work on Anbox. However, if the app or game requires access to the GPS, accelerometers, or other data sources of the smartphone, you will not be able to use the application as its developer designed it.

Steps to install and use Anbox on Linux

Steps to install and use Anbox on Linux

Now that you know what Anbox is and what it is for, follow the steps below to install it on your Linux PC:

  • First, install Snapd (if you don’t already have it) with one of the following commands:
    • On Fedora: sudo dnf install snapd.
    • On Debian: sudo apt install snapd.
    • In Manjaro: sudo pacman -Sy snapd | sudo systemctl enable –now snapd.socket.
  • Now, install Anbox with this command: snap install –devmode –beta anbox .
  • When the installation is finished, start Anbox :
    • Press the Super key (it’s between the left Ctrl and Shift keys).
    • Type “anbox” in the GNOME search field.
    • When you see the Anbox icon, click on it.
  • Anbox comes with several pre-installed Android apps. By clicking on one of them you will simulate touch and you will be able to open it. That easy!
  • By clicking on the Settings icon, you can see the Android settings contained in Anbox.
  • Scroll vertically using the mouse scroll wheel. In apps that support side-scrolling, left click and hold to then move the mouse to the side you want to go to.

Now, to install the Android apps you want, you will have to install an application store where you can easily download themAnd what is the best of all? Of course: Google Play Store. The problem is that this store requires Google services to work, so you have to follow the tutorial in the next section to install it correctly.

How to install Google Play Store on Linux with Anbox

Google Play Store on Linux with Anbox

To install the Google app store on Linux, you just have to do this:

  • Install the Linux tools that will be needed during the installation:
    • On Ubuntu: sudo apt install wget curl lzip tar unzip squashfs-tools.
    • In Manjaro or Arch: sudo pacman -Sy wget curl lzip tar unzip squashfs-tools.
    • On Fedora: sudo dnf install wget curl lzip tar unzip squashfs-tools.
  • Download the installation script from GitHub :
    • In any distro, paste this into the terminal window: wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/geeks-r-us/anbox-playstore-installer/master/install-playstore.sh.
  • Run the script :
    • sudo chmod + x install-playstore.sh.
    • ./install-playstore.sh.
  • When the installation is complete (it takes a while), open Anbox. You will see that the Google Play Store icon has been added to the list of applications. But don’t click on it just yet.
  • Inside Anbox, go to Settings> Applications.
  • Select Google Play Services, enter Permissions and give all the permissions to the app.
  • Go back to the Applications section, press on Google Play Store, and tap on Permissions. Give it all the permissions.
  • Now exit the Settings, press the Google Play Store icon and log in with your Google account .

Ready! Now you can search for any application you want in the Play Store and install it on Linux, just like you do on your Android mobile. Installed apps will appear in the main Anbox window.