Android on Raspberry Pi

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Android for Raspberry Pi isn’t 100% stable (but neither is anything Micro$oft). Android also isn't optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware, meaning the performance you see won't be nearly as good as other operating systems on the Pi. Android on Raspberry Pi will install and be moderately usable on models starting with Raspberry Pi 3 or 3B+ models and higher/newer. None of the current Android builds support any version of Pi Zero because support for ARMv6 architecture was removed from Android years ago. If you are not using a touchscreen display you will be able to use the mouse and keyboard with many Android apps.

You will need the Android image for the Raspberry Pi. You will also need disk image writing software to write the Android image to the flash drive.

There are a few different Android images / Android versions for the Raspberry Pi. The two most popular at the time of this writing:

  • emteria.OS
  • LineageOS

The Google Play Store doesn't work well on the Raspberry Pi, some report it working while others say it doesn't work at all.

Installation Tools

There is a well known disk imager that Android for Pi enthusiasts seem to prefer, called Etcher. It’s a free disk writing tool that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. With the latest or preferred Android build for the Raspberry Pi in hand, use Etcher to write it to the MicroSD flash media.

Etcher is portable, it runs without being installed. In the first Etcher column, locate your Android image file and select it. Your MicroSD should be listed in the middle column. Etcher will write the Android image to your MicroSD card.

F-Droid is a tool that will install with Emteria.OS (and maybe others) which allows you to install some apps (as an alternative to Google Play.) F-Droid works very similarly to the usual Play Store on normal Android devices. There are categories you can look for apps in, and you can also search for something you like.

Emteria.OS

Emteria OS is not free. There are full licences for purchase on emteria.com, including a cheaper ‘personal’ option and one suited for business. Emteria.OS is a full build of Android available for Raspberry Pi. While you can get it for free and use it as an individual, it’s aimed more towards industry. Emteria OS has a good development group and its on forums if you have any trouble.

LineageOS

Lineage OS is free. Lineage OS works, is free and appears to comply with Google licensing requirements. LineageOS builds are free, open source, and available online. Lineage OS for Android 7 Nougat and Android 8 Oreo is available for Raspberry Pi 3. You can also install Google Play and other apps from Google (also known as GApps) on Lineage OS

Lineage OS official website is at https://konstakang.com/devices/rpi3/

RaspAnd

Another Raspberry Pi OS that is not free. This one has a bad reputation. It appears to be, for the most part, Lineage OS with some bundled apps included that you could have just added manually yourself after installing LineageOS.

RTAndroid

RTAndroid project is dead. But you can still find RTAndroid images online. Individuals previously using RTAndroid are now asked to try LineageOS.

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