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Android Build a Simple Android App (retired 2014) Getting Started with Android Initial Layout

Masum Bergmann
PLUS
Masum Bergmann
Courses Plus Student 4,129 Points

Speeding up the Emulator with HAXM (an alternative to Genymotion)

Note: the following will only work if you have a recent model Intel CPU and you have turned on the virtualization option in your BIOS.

1.) Run SDK Manager.exe (located in android_dev_environment)

2.) under Extras, tick the Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM) option

3.) under Android 4.4.2 (API 19), tick the Intel x86 Atom System Image option

4.) Download and install

5.) Navigate to android_dev_environment/sdk/extras/intel/Hardware_Accelerated_Execution_Manager/ and execute intelhaxm.exe

6.) At this point it may be a good idea to restart your system, although technically not required.

7.) Start eclipse and click on AVD Manager (can be found under Windows)

8.) Click on New... and make sure to choose Intel Atom (x86) under CPU and tick the Use Host GPU option.

All done... this turned my tortoise emulater into speedy Gonzales, I hope it will do the same for you.

Best, Masum

Ps: lowering the resolution to say 800x600 may further speed things up!

Masum Bergmann
Masum Bergmann
Courses Plus Student 4,129 Points

Am new here and not sure if this was posted in the right place. Please feel free to move this post...

2 Answers

Ben Jakuben
STAFF
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Thanks for sharing! This works very well as you've indicated. I think Genymotion is easier to get up and running for beginners, but I would like to include these instructions on the site somewhere. I just need to fit it in.

There is a known issue (and workaround) running it on OS X Maverics: http://stackoverflow.com/a/19809408/475217

Masum Bergmann
PLUS
Masum Bergmann
Courses Plus Student 4,129 Points

Thanks Ben! You're absolutely right, Genymotion is definitely easier to set-up... I just love having options! ;-)