android-emulator

Android Emulator Setup for Mac OS X

This guide shows you how to use the Android SDK to create a virtual android device.

Installation of SDK command line tools

Use homebrew (recommended)

• Execute brew install android-sdk

Install manually

• Go to the Download Page
• Download the Command Line Tools
• Install them on your own

Install emulator requirements

• Run android in your Terminal to start the UI
• In the following screen, select the tools that you need and install them
• What do you need?
  • Android SDK
  • At least one Android OS version
  • Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (under Extras)

Note: The emulator accelerator HAXM may not be installed right away (you may notice later, when you try to start the device.) Install HAXM manually from the "Extra" folder where it has been downloaded. You find the path of the folder on the top of the SDK manager window:

Create an Android Virtual Device (AVD)

• In the menu bar, go to Tools -> Manage AVDs...
• Switch to the tabulator Device Definitions
• Select the device definition you need and click Create AVD... on the right
• Here is what my example device definition looks like:
• Confirm your setup
• You can start your device by going to the tabulator Android Virtual Devices, selecting your device and click on Start...

Nice to know

How to install an app from an apk file

• List all device names with adb devices
• Install app by using adb -s <device name> install XXXXXXX.apk

Start Android Virtual Device from command line

• Type android list avd into the shell, which lists you all the device's names
• Use emulator -avd <device name> to start a device

Tip: Read more about the Android Debug Bridge (adb) command

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This guide was created by Benedikt Roßgardt in January of 2017