This guide will show you how to run Linux GUI apps on your Android device using chrooted Ubuntu 22.04, Magisk and Termux. GPU hardware acceleration configuration using virgl.
Please note that you need a rooted device with Magisk installed to follow this guide.
You will find how to create a Termux shortcut to run this fast, at the end.
Tested on Xiaomi Mi 6, Snapdragon 835 - Adreno 540 GPU, Android 13 - LineageOS 20.0 - Kernel 4.4.302.
- Rooted Android device with Magisk installed;
- Magisk modules: lhroot and BuiltIn-BusyBox;
- Device /data - /userdata - is not encrypted;
- If you are on Android 12+, apply these adb commands to fix Phantom Processes Kill - issues thread. You can use adb over Wi-Fi inside Termux. Video tutorial. There's a Magisk module which does this automatically at every bot. Note: Skip on custom ROM: I didn't need to do this for the LineageOS;
You can install Magisk modules using Fox's Magisk Module Manager.
Device encryption can be disabled using the flashable zip from this XDA thread.
If you don't want to disable encryption, then you can use a loop device but set up the chroot manually.
Make sure Termux packages are updated:
pkg update -y && pkg upgrade -y
Optional: If you want, you can use ssh on your PC, port 8022:
pkg install sshd
passwd
sshd
ifconfig
Install required packages in Termux:
pkg install root-repo x11-repo
pkg update
pkg install tsu pulseaudio virglrenderer-android
Optional: Set SELinux to permissive:
sudo setenforce 0
Create an Ubuntu Linux chroot:
sudo lhroot
Start virgl server for GPU hardware acceleration:
virgl_test_server_android &
Chroot into the created Ubuntu distro:
sudo bootlinux
Do some basic settings inside chroot:
echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" >> /etc/resolv.conf
echo "127.0.0.1 localhost" > /etc/hosts
groupadd -g 3003 aid_inet
groupadd -g 3004 aid_net_raw
groupadd -g 1003 aid_graphics
usermod -g 3003 -G 3003,3004 -a _apt
usermod -G 3003 -a root
add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
apt update -y && apt upgrade -y
Fix the debconf errors:
apt install -y dialog apt-utils
Install necessary packages to run XFCE4, etc.:
apt install -y psmisc htop software-properties-common wget dbus-x11 xfce4 xfce4-terminal mesa-utils mesa-vulkan-drivers
Optional: If you want to use Xserver XSDL app, then open app and inside chroot:
export DISPLAY=:0 PULSE_SERVER=tcp:127.0.0.1:4713
dbus-launch --exit-with-session startxfce4 &
If you want to use Termux:X11, exit chroot:
exit
Unpack Termux:X11 latest zip from termux-x11 builds (click on a build and check Artifacts section) to a directory, e.g. Download/termux-x11, and install the .apk. Note: enable Termux:X11 notification from the phone apps settings.
Install Termux:X11 package inside Termux:
termux-setup-storage
pkg install -y xwayland
dpkg -i ~/storage/downloads/termux-x11/termux-x11*.deb
sed '/allow-external-apps/s/^# //' -i ~/.termux/termux.properties
termux-reload-settings
Open Termux:X11 app and, inside Termux:
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=${TMPDIR} termux-x11 :0 -ac &
Mount Termux /tmp to the chroot, for X11 access:
Note: you need this for having access to termux-x11 wayland socket inside chroot.
export CHROOT_DIR=/data/ubuntu
sudo busybox mount --bind $PREFIX/tmp $CHROOT_DIR/tmp
Start PulseAudio server:
pulseaudio --start --load="module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=127.0.0.1 auth-anonymous=1" --exit-idle-time=-1
pacmd load-module module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=127.0.0.1 auth-anonymous=1
Go back to chroot and launch XFCE4:
sudo bootlinux
chmod -R 777 /tmp
export DISPLAY=:0 PULSE_SERVER=tcp:127.0.0.1:4713
dbus-launch --exit-with-session startxfce4 &
As the installed mesa already support virgl, you should be able to run apps using virgl.
Using mesa-utils to check for the actual rendering performance, llvmpipe, CPU:
export DISPLAY=:0
glxgears
Snapdragon 835, Adreno 540: 191 FPS
For some apps, you need to specify MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE version, with GPU:
GALLIUM_DRIVER=virpipe glxgears
250 FPS
Sadly, I think there's something wrong with the Kernel or Android 13 on this phone, as Termux and chroot can't use GPU and CPU at 100%.
Create a startup script compatible with Termux:Widget app:
Note: install Termux:API and pkg install termux-api if you want toast message.
mkdir .shortcuts
echo '#!/bin/sh
export CHROOT_DIR=/data/ubuntu
killall -9 termux-x11 Xwayland pulseaudio virgl_test_server_android
termux-wake-lock; termux-toast "Starting X11"
am start --user 0 -n com.termux.x11/com.termux.x11.MainActivity
sudo busybox mount --bind $PREFIX/tmp $CHROOT_DIR/tmp
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=${TMPDIR} termux-x11 :0 -ac &
sleep 3
pulseaudio --start --load="module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=127.0.0.1 auth-anonymous=1" --exit-idle-time=-1
pacmd load-module module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=127.0.0.1 auth-anonymous=1
virgl_test_server_android &
su -c "(source bootlinux_env $CHROOT_DIR &&$busybox chroot $CHROOT_DIR /usr/bin/env su -l -c\
\"export DISPLAY=:0 PULSE_SERVER=tcp:127.0.0.1:4713 && dbus-launch --exit-with-session startxfce4 &\")"' > ~/.shortcuts/LaunchXFCE_lhroot
Create a kill script compatible with Termux:Widget app:
echo '#!/bin/sh
export CHROOT_DIR=/data/ubuntu
killall -9 termux-x11 Xwayland pulseaudio virgl_test_server_android
termux-wake-unlock; termux-toast "Stopping X11, chroot, etc."
sudo busybox umount $CHROOT_DIR/tmp
sudo killlinux $CHROOT_DIR' > ~/.shortcuts/KillXFCE_lhroot
Optional: Create a start script for ssh server:
echo '#!/bin/sh
termux-wake-lock; sshd &
echo "Connect using device IP, 8022 port"' > ~/.shortcuts/StartSSHD
Add the Termux widget on your screen, from launcher widgets, so you can start everything with one touch.
Check the Hardware Acceleration Resources.