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Waydroid is a container-based compatibility layer that enables Android to run in a containerized environment on Linux systems. By using Linux namespaces, Waydroid keeps Android isolated but allows it to access the host system's hardware. Built on a customized version of LineageOS, it enables Android applications to function alongside Linux applications on desktops and Linux-based mobile devices. [1]
Waydroid was created to facilitate the use of Android apps on Linux-based platforms. It is based on ideas from previous projects, such as Anbox, which also aimed to run Android using containerization techniques. Although primarily developed for Halium-based Linux phones, Waydroid is compatible with any device using a Linux kernel. [2] [3] [4]
Waydroid utilizes Linux namespaces and a system image based on LineageOS. [5] The software requires use of the Wayland display protocol. [4] Waydroid does not include a processor emulation layer, meaning it can only run software that was compiled for the CPU architecture of the host device. [3]
In 2024, it was reported that Valve Corporation had been using Waydroid as a component of a future Steam component similar to Proton on 64-bit ARM architecture. [6] The following year, Valve unveiled its new SteamOS-based virtual reality headset Steam Frame, which includes an Android runtime environment to target VR software developed for headsets such as Meta Quest. [7] [8] The layer was later revealed to be named "Lepton", [9]