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Android Emulator Mac M1 Preview
This guide explains how to prepare the Android Emulator for testing your app.
This is a preview of some basic Android emulation functionality on the M1. There are still many issues, but apps work at a basic level. To be updated soon with more fixes. Then, change directory using cd Sample.Android/bin/Debug to find the the signed APK file, Using ADB(Android Debug Bridge), install it to your device/emulator with this command adb install com.tfp.sample-Signed.apk, explained here. Steps to Build & Deploy to iOS Simulator with VS Code.
- The emulator can be used to run ARM64-based Android apps on a Mac. The native hardware virtualization of the M1 SoCs is used via Qemu. This is the same tool that is also used to virtualize Windows on the M1. ARM32 applications do not work - the list of restrictions is quite long overall. Google emphasizes that the emulator is a first preview.
- The team behind the Dolphin emulator has developed a native version for Apple’s M1 Macs. Expect major performance gains over Intel-based Macbook Pro models and Dolphin under Rosetta.
Overview
The Android Emulator can be run in a variety of configurationsto simulate different devices. Each configuration is called a virtualdevice. When you deploy and test your app on the emulator, you selecta pre-configured or custom virtual device that simulates a physicalAndroid device such as a Nexus or Pixel phone.
The sections listed below describe how to accelerate the Androidemulator for maximum performance, how to use the Android Device Managerto create and customize virtual devices, and how to customize theprofile properties of a virtual device. In addition, a troubleshootingsection explains common emulator problems and workarounds.
Sections
Hardware Acceleration for Emulator Performance
How to prepare your computer for maximum Android Emulator performanceby using either Hyper-V or HAXM virtualization technology. Because theAndroid Emulator can be prohibitively slow without hardwareacceleration, we recommend that you enable hardware acceleration onyour computer before you use the emulator.
Managing Virtual Devices with the Android Device Manager
How to use the Android Device Manager to create and customize virtualdevices.
Editing Android Virtual Device Properties
How to use the Android Device Manager to edit the profile properties of avirtual device.
Android Emulator Troubleshooting
In this article, the most common warning messages and issues that occurwhile running the Android Emulator are described, along withworkarounds and tips.
Note
If you are using a Mac with an Apple chip, such as the M1, you will need to install the Android Emulator for M1 preview from GitHub.
Visual Studio Mac M1 Android Emulator
After you have configured the Android Emulator, seeDebugging on the Android Emulatorfor information about how to launch the emulator and use it for testingand debugging your app.
Note
Apple M1 Android Simulator
As of Android SDK Tools version 26.0.1 and later, Google has removed support for existing AVD/SDK managers in favor of their new CLI (Command Line Interface) tools. Because of this deprecation change, Xamarin SDK/Device Managers are now used instead of Google SDK/Device Managers for Android Tools 26.0.1 and later. For more information about the Xamarin SDK Manager, see Setting up the Android SDK for Xamarin.Android.