How to Run a Virtual Machine on Android (and What to Avoid)

Have you ever used a virtual machine on your Windows laptop?

You might have used apps like VMware or VirtualBox to run a second operating system inside a window. What if you could do the same thing on your Android phone?

In short: yes, on a supported Pixel, Google's own Linux terminal runs a real virtual machine on your phone. Virtual Android apps are a different story, and I'd keep them off your main phone.

In 2019, I came across an app that did exactly that. It was called VMOS, and it ran a whole second Android system inside one app, without root.

When I first tried it, I thought it was a gimmick. It turned out to be terrific, and I loved its features.

A lot has changed since then. Android now has its own virtual machine feature built in, and I've become a lot more careful about apps like VMOS.

Below, I'll show you what actually works now, and what to watch out for.

Also Read: How to Install One App Twice on Android Without Root

TL;DR

• Supported Pixel: use the experimental Terminal app to run a Debian Linux virtual machine. No third-party app needed.
• Separate apps or accounts: use Private space, a work profile or a second user instead of a virtual Android app.
• Testing your own apps: use the official Android Emulator on a computer.
• VMOS and similar apps: keep them off your main phone. They run an older Android, ask for a lot of trust, and running root apps inside them isn't a safe shortcut.

What Is a Virtual Android Machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a computer running inside another computer.

On a phone, a "virtual Android" app runs a second copy of Android inside a window. It has its own apps, its own settings and its own Google account, separate from your real phone.

Back in 2019, people used VMOS to:

• Try apps that need root, without rooting the real phone.
• Run a second account of a game or app.
• Test an app they didn't trust, away from their personal data.

Virtual Android Options at a Glance

Option 1: Run Linux on Your Pixel With Android's Built-In Terminal

This is the biggest change since 2019.

Android now has a built-in system for running virtual machines, called the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF).

Starting with Android 15 QPR1, Google added an experimental Terminal app on select Pixel phones. It uses AVF to run a Debian Linux virtual machine right on your phone.

This runs Linux, not a second Android. But it's a real virtual machine, made by Google, with no third-party app involved.

Requirements

• A supported Pixel phone. In its release notes, Google listed the Pixel 7 and 7a, the Pixel 8, 8a and 8 Pro, and the Pixel 9 series.
• An internet connection for the first launch.

How to Turn On the Linux Terminal

1. Open "Settings" → "About phone" and tap "Build number" seven times, until you see "You are now a developer!"
2. Go back and open "System" → "Developer options".
3. Tap "Linux development environment" and turn it on.
4. Open your app drawer and launch the new Terminal app.

On first launch, the app downloads the Linux image by itself. After that, you have a Linux terminal running in a virtual machine on your phone.

Google calls it experimental, so expect rough edges. It's meant for developers and tinkerers, not everyday use.

Option 2: Keep Apps and Accounts Separate Without a Virtual Machine

Most people used VMOS to keep some apps separate from the rest of their phone. Android can do that by itself now:

• Private space (Android 15 and newer) is a locked, separate area with its own copies of apps.
• A work profile keeps a set of apps apart from your personal ones.
• Multiple users give someone, or a second you, their own apps and accounts.

I explain all three step by step in this guide.

They aren't virtual machines, but they're built into Android, and you don't have to trust an extra app with your data.

Option 3: The Android Emulator for Developers

If you want to test how an app runs on different Android versions, use the official Android Emulator.

It comes free with Android Studio and runs on your computer, not your phone.

Google recommends at least 16 GB of RAM and a 64-bit Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer, Linux or ChromeOS computer.

If you want a full Android desktop on your computer rather than an emulator, see How to Run Android on Your PC Now That Remix OS Is Gone.

What Happened to VMOS?

VMOS is still around, but things have changed.

• The Play Store link from my 2019 post no longer works.
• The company's website now lists a new Play Store app called "VMOS - Android virtual machine", plus a direct APK download.
• Its site advertises root mode, multi-instance apps and a "privacy sandbox".
• It also says that on some Android 12 or newer phones, you need to turn on Wireless debugging and pair it before the virtual machine runs properly.

In 2019, VMOS ran Android 5.1. Today, its website lists an "Android 9 Pure Edition".

That's still years behind the Android version on your phone.

I'm not linking to it or giving you the steps this time. Here's why.

What to Watch Out for With Virtual Android Apps

A "virtual Android" app asks for a lot of trust. Be careful with these apps.

• You're running someone else's Android. The whole system inside the app was built by the app's developer, not by Google or your phone's maker.
• You sign in there. If you add your Google account inside the VM, you're typing your password into that system.
• Old Android, old security. The Android inside these apps is often far older than your phone's. VMOS lists Android 9, while phones today run Android 16 or 17. So the VM lacks the security features and fixes Android has added since.
• Broad permissions. My 2019 steps asked you to allow display over other apps, plus call, media, audio and location access.
• Wireless debugging is a big deal. It's a developer tool that lets a paired app or computer talk to your phone over adb, with much deeper access than a normal app. Only pair with tools you fully trust, and turn it off when you're done.

If you still want to try an app like this:

1. Use a spare phone if you can.
2. Never sign in with your main Google account inside it.
3. Never use banking, payment or work apps inside it.
4. Say no to any permission that doesn't make sense for what you're doing.
5. Uninstall it when you're done.

Also Read: Worst Apps for Android: 6 Types of Apps You Should Avoid

Can You Run Root Apps Without Rooting Your Phone?

This was the main reason people used VMOS in 2019.

The honest answer today: not safely.

A root app inside a virtual machine only controls the virtual machine, not your real phone. So it can't tweak your real system anyway.

If you really need root, it's better to understand the risks first.

Also Read: Does Rooting Brick Your Phone? The Honest Answer

Final Thoughts

So, can you run a virtual machine on Android? Yes.

If you have a supported Pixel, Google's own Linux terminal is the safest way to try a real virtual machine on your phone.

If you want a separate space for apps and accounts, use Private space, a work profile or a second user. Developers should reach for the Android Emulator.

As for virtual Android apps like VMOS, I'd stay away from them on your main phone. Since Google's Linux terminal is still experimental, expect rough edges and possible changes.

FAQs

Can I run a virtual machine on my Android phone?

Yes, on a supported Pixel. Google's built-in Terminal app runs a Debian Linux virtual machine, with no third-party app needed.

Can I run a second Android inside my Android phone?

Google's built-in tool runs Linux, not Android. Virtual Android apps like VMOS are the third-party option, with the trade-offs covered above.

Is VMOS safe to use on my main phone?

I'd avoid it: the Android inside is often older than yours, and it's built by the app's developer. If you still try it, use a spare phone and never sign in with your main Google account.

Can I run root apps without rooting my phone?

Not safely. A root app inside a virtual Android app only controls that virtual machine, so it can't change your real phone's system.

Which Pixel phones can run Google's Linux terminal?

Google's release notes list the Pixel 7 and 7a, the Pixel 8, 8a and 8 Pro, and the Pixel 9 series. Check your own phone's Developer options for the "Linux development environment" setting.

Still stuck? Tell me through the contact page.