Setting Up Your First Android Emulator

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In the previous guide, we introduced you to Android Studio. Now, let’s move forward by setting up your first Android emulator. Emulators are essential for testing your applications without needing a physical device.

What is an Android Emulator?

An Android emulator is a virtual device that mimics the hardware and software of a real Android device. It allows you to test your applications on various configurations and Android versions.

Open Android Studio

First things first, let’s make sure Android Studio is up and running on your Mac.

Launch the Virtual Device Manager

Now that Android Studio is up and running, there are a couple ways you can create or launch a virtual device. Pick a method that best fits your current setup.

Welcome Screen

On the welcome screen click More Actions Virtual Device Manager

Project View

In project view, navigate to the menu bar and click on Tools Device Manager .

Creating a New Virtual Device

Now that the AVD Manager is launched, you may see a list of existing virtual devices, if others were previously created. To create a new one, click on the + button to create a virtual device.

Choose a Device Definition

Next on the Select Hardware screen, you can choose the type device you want to emulate. If you’re not sure about which one to build, you can’t go wrong with a Pixel. In this example I’m going to choose the Pixel 7 and then click Next .

Select a System Image

Next, you’ll need to choose a system image. This is essentially the version of Android you want to run on your virtual device. Pick the latest version available, or select an older version if your app requires it. If the version you want to use is grayed out, click the download icon to download that version.

Configure Your Virtual Device

Now it’s time to configure your virtual device. For your AVD Name, you can choose to keep the default name but better command line readability, use this style pixel-7-api-34. Ensure the startup orientation is in Portrait and check the box to Enable device frame.

Finish and Launch

Once you’ve configured your virtual device to your liking, click on the Finish button. Android Studio will then create your virtual device. Once it’s done, click on the play button to launch your emulator.

Emulator Running

Depending on your Mac’s performance, it might take a little while for the emulator to start up.

Conclusion

With your emulator set up, you can now test your applications in a virtual environment. The next step involves installing APK apps on your emulator for testing purposes. Proceed to Installing an APK app on an Android Emulator to continue your journey.

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Android Studio