Android Emulator — Virtual Phone Setup
Test an Android app on a virtual phone on your computer, even without a physical phone.
Beginner guide · official links · software runs on your computer
Download & quick guide for beginners
Before downloading, check whether your computer uses Windows, macOS, or Linux. The button opens the official page, where you can choose the right installer. ToolsKo does not install the software for you.
Get Android Studio (includes Emulator setup) ↗
- Where does it work?
- Windows, macOS, and Linux computers. Choose the compatible installer on the official page. This software is installed on your computer, not on your Android phone.
- What do you need?
- Android Studio and a computer that meets the Emulator requirements. You will also download an Android system image.
- How do you know it works?
- A virtual phone opens with an Android home screen and appears in the Run device list.
- If something goes wrong
- If it will not start, read the acceleration or virtualization message. If your computer has limited RAM or storage, try a real phone instead.
Official instructions ↗ · Links checked November 10, 2026
New to Android? Start with the Android starter guide →How to use it (step by step)
- 1Install Android Studio first. It manages the Android Emulator; a separate gaming emulator is not needed.
- 2In Android Studio, open Tools → Device Manager and choose Create Virtual Device or the + button.
- 3Choose a phone model, then download a compatible Android system image recommended for your computer.
- 4Finish setup and press Play beside the virtual phone. Once it starts, select it in your project and press Run.
Words to know
- Emulator
- A virtual Android phone that runs on your computer.
- System image
- The Android operating system downloaded for the virtual phone.
Android tools: choose what you need
Start with Android Studio for native Android apps, or Flutter and VS Code for Flutter projects. The other tools help with testing, finding errors, and saving code history.
- Android Developer Starter Guide
Not sure where to start? Follow this simple setup to build and test your first Android app.
- Android Studio — Download & Beginner Guide
The main workspace for building, running, and fixing Android apps. Start here if you are new.
- ADB / Android Platform Tools — Download & Guide
Connect an Android phone to your computer to test apps and check its connection status.
- Android Logcat — Find App Errors
Read your app’s activity diary to find out what happened before an error or sudden shutdown.
- Android Profiler — Check Slow Apps
Check whether your app uses too much processing power or memory while it runs.
- Android APK Analyzer — Inspect App Size
Look inside an APK or Android App Bundle to find which files make your app large.
- scrcpy — Mirror & Control Android on PC
Display and control your Android screen on a computer for app demonstrations and testing.
- Android USB Driver — Windows Phone Connection
Windows cannot find your test phone? Find the correct official USB driver for its brand.
- Flutter — Android App Setup for Beginners
Build Android apps with Flutter, a framework that also supports other platforms.
- VS Code — Editor for Flutter & Android Projects
A lightweight code editor for Flutter and other app projects. Android build tools are still required.
- Git — Save Android Project History
Save a clear history of your code so you can compare changes and return to earlier versions.
- Postman — Test APIs for Android Apps
Test your backend’s response before connecting it to an Android app, using a simple request screen.