Waydroid

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Waydroid is a container-based compatibility layer that enables Android to run in a containerized environment on non-Android Linux-based operating 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 desktop Linux applications on conventional desktop and laptop personal computers and other non-Android Linux-based mobile devices. [1]

Contents

Overview

Waydroid utilizes Linux namespaces and a system image based on LineageOS. [2] The software requires use of the Wayland display protocol. [3] 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. [4]

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. [5] [4] [3]

Forks

In 2024, it was reported that Valve Corporation had been using Waydroid as part of a future Steam component similar to its Proton layer for Windows games, running 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]

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ "Waydroid".
  2. ↑ waydroid/waydroid, WayDroid, 2024-11-06, retrieved 2024-11-07
  3. 1 2 Smith, Jesse (2021-11-15). "DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 943: First impressions of Waydroid". DistroWatch . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  4. 1 2 Davenport, Corbin (2021-07-29). "WayDroid can run Android apps on Linux without slowdowns". XDA. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  5. ↑ Diener, Derrik (2024-03-19). "WayDroid is the Easiest Way to Run Android Apps on Linux". How-To Geek. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  6. ↑ "Valve appear to be testing ARM64 and Android support for Steam on Linux". GamingOnLinux. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  7. ↑ Hollister, Sean (2025-11-12). "Valve is welcoming Android games into Steam". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  8. ↑ Hamilton, Ian; Heaney, David (2025-11-12). "Steam Frame Hands-On: UploadVR's Impressions Of Valve's New Headset". UploadVR. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Valve's version of Android on Linux (based on Waydroid) is now called Lepton". GamingOnLinux. 2025-12-02. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
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