In November 2024, Google embarked on the development of a native Linux terminal application for the Android system, enabling users to execute Linux commands directly within Android. However, this functionality operates within a Debian-based virtual machine rather than running natively.
You may wonder—doesn’t Android itself already function as a Linux system? Why introduce a virtual machine for this purpose? The answer is straightforward: Google would never allow users to execute Linux commands directly on Android’s core system, let alone grant root privileges.
Once activated, the new Linux terminal application requires the installation of a Debian system, which runs in an isolated virtualized environment, separate from Android itself. Within this sandboxed environment, users are granted root access, allowing them to perform a variety of tasks. For instance, users can install additional Linux applications (restricted to the virtual machine), connect to remote servers via SSH, or swiftly download files using terminal commands.
This new terminal application will be rolled out to Pixel devices as part of the March 2025 feature update, empowering professional users, developers, and security researchers with expanded capabilities. However, it remains uncertain whether devices from other Android manufacturers will support this functionality.
Developers using Pixel devices can update to the latest system version and then navigate to Settings → About Phone, rapidly tap the Build Number seven times to unlock Developer Options.
Once Developer Options are enabled, users must manually activate the Linux Development Environment. Upon activation, the new terminal application will appear on the home screen, and on first launch, it will prompt the user to download approximately 500MB of Debian system files to configure the virtual machine.
Additionally, developers can fine-tune the virtual environment by adjusting disk size allocations for the Linux VM, configuring port settings to facilitate external communication, and more. Moving forward, Google plans to enhance the terminal application with hardware acceleration and a fully integrated graphical environment, paving the way for seamless execution of Linux software on Android.
Related Posts:
- Google Enables Linux Terminal on Android, Running Debian in a Virtual Machine
- Chrome OS terminal app implies that it will support Linux applications
