Android Studio

Android Studio Installation Guide

Written by: Alex | Last updated on September 6, 2024
Android Studio
android-studio-installation-guide
Source: Walkagainsttraffick.org

Prerequisites

Before starting the installation process, ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for running Android Studio:

  • Operating System: Supports 64-bit versions of Windows (8, 10, or 11), macOS (10.14 Mojave or later), and Linux.
  • CPU: Must support a Windows Hypervisor on Windows or the Hypervisor Framework on macOS.
  • RAM: Minimum of 8 GB RAM required, with 16 GB or more recommended.
  • Disk Space: Minimum of 8 GB available disk space required, with 16 GB or more recommended for a solid-state drive.
  • Screen Resolution: At least 1280 x 800 pixels, with 1920 x 1080 pixels recommended.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Windows Installation

1. Verify System Requirements

  1. Open Settings:
    • Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
    • Click on System.
    • At the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane, click About.
    • Ensure the Windows specifications meet or exceed the requirements.
    • Select Device specifications. Ensure the installed RAM is at least as much as required, and that the system type is the 64-bit version of the operating system.
    • In the navigation pane, click Display. Ensure the Resolution is the same or better than what's required.

2. Download and Install Android Studio

  1. Download the Installer:

    • Go to the official Android Developers website and download the latest version of Android Studio.
    • The recommended download is the .exe file, simplifying the installation process.

  2. Launch the Installer:

    • Locate the downloaded file in your default downloads folder or wherever you choose to save it.
    • Double-click the installer to begin the installation process.

  3. User Account Control Dialog:

    • If you see a User Account Control dialog about allowing the installation to make changes to your computer, click Yes to confirm.

  4. Welcome to Android Studio Setup Dialog:

    • The Welcome to Android Studio Setup dialog will display. Click Next to start the installation.

  5. Choose Components:

    • You’ll see a brief description of the Android Virtual Device component and the required disk space (approximately 3.6 GB).
    • For a standard Android development environment, it’s recommended to install the Android Virtual Device component. This will allow you to create and manage virtual devices, essential for testing and debugging your Android apps.

  6. Choose the Installation Location:

    • Specify the installation location for Android Studio. This is where the Android Studio IDE will be installed on your system.
    • The installation wizard will suggest a default installation location, and you can either choose that or specify a different location on your system.
    • Ensure the selected location has enough disk space available.

  7. Choose the Start Menu Folder and Install:

    • Specify the Start Menu Folder where you want to create shortcuts for Android Studio.
    • Below the Start Menu Folder input field, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Do not create shortcuts. If you check this box, the installer will not create any shortcuts for Android Studio in your Start Menu or on your desktop.
    • Once you’ve specified the Start Menu Folder and made your selection regarding shortcuts, click the Install button to begin the installation process.

  8. Complete the Installation:

    • The installer will now copy the necessary files and configure Android Studio on your system.
    • At the bottom of the window, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Start Android Studio. If you check this box, Android Studio will launch automatically once the installation is complete.

  9. Import Android Studio Settings:

    • After clicking the Finish button, a new window will appear asking you to Import Android Studio settings.
    • This step allows you to customize your Android Studio experience by importing settings from a previous installation or skipping the import process altogether.
    • If you choose not to import settings, you’ll need to set up Android Studio from scratch. While this may take some time, it ensures a clean and customized installation tailored to your specific needs.

  10. Choose Settings:

    • In this screen, you’ll see two different settings options: Standard Settings and Custom Settings.
    • The Standard Settings option sets up Android Studio with a default configuration that includes the most commonly used settings and plugins. This is a good choice if you’re new to Android Studio or want a straightforward setup process.
    • The Custom Settings option allows you to customize your Android Studio installation by selecting specific settings and plugins that meet your specific needs. This is a good choice if you have specific requirements or prefer a more tailored setup.

  11. Accept License Agreement:

    • Before you can complete the installation process, you’ll need to agree to the Android Studio License Agreement.
    • This agreement outlines the terms and conditions of using Android Studio, including intellectual property rights, warranties, and limitations of liability.
    • Take a moment to read through the license agreement carefully. It’s essential to understand the terms and conditions of using Android Studio, especially if you plan to use it for commercial purposes.

  12. Launch Android Studio:

    • Once you’ve completed all the previous steps, you can launch Android Studio.
    • Choose your preference of light or dark theme when Android Studio first launches. Screenshots in this course use the light theme, but choose whichever one you prefer.
    • During the installation, the setup wizard downloads and installs additional components and tools needed for Android app development. This may take some time depending on your internet speed.
    • You may see a User Account Control dialog for Windows Command Processor. Click Yes to accept the dialog.
    • You may also receive a Windows Security Alert about adb.exe. Click Allow Access, if needed, to continue the installation.

  13. Final Steps:

    • When the download and installation complete, click Finish.
    • The Welcome to Android Studio window will display, and you’re ready to start creating apps!

macOS Installation

1. Verify System Requirements

  1. Check System Requirements:
    • The following are the system requirements for Android Studio on macOS:
      • MacOS 10.14 (Mojave) or higher
      • ARM-based chips, or 2nd generation Intel Core or newer with support for Hypervisor Framework
      • 8 GB RAM or more
      • 8 GB of available disk space minimum (IDE + Android SDK + Android Emulator)
      • 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution

2. Download and Install Android Studio

  1. Download the Installer:

    • Go to the official Android Developers website and download the latest version of Android Studio.

  2. Launch the Installer:

    • Locate the downloaded file in your default downloads folder or wherever you choose to save it.
    • Double-click the installer to begin the installation process.

  3. Open the Folder:

    • Open the folder where you downloaded and saved the Android Studio installation file.

  4. Run the Installer:

    • Double-click the downloaded file.

  5. User Account Control Dialog:

    • If you see a dialog about allowing the installation to make changes to your computer, click Open.

  6. Welcome to Android Studio Setup Dialog:

    • The Welcome to Android Studio Setup dialog will display. Click Next to start the installation.

  7. Choose Components:

    • You’ll see a brief description of the Android Virtual Device component and the required disk space (approximately 3.6 GB).
    • For a standard Android development environment, it’s recommended to install the Android Virtual Device component. This will allow you to create and manage virtual devices, essential for testing and debugging your Android apps.

  8. Choose the Installation Location:

    • Specify the installation location for Android Studio. This is where the Android Studio IDE will be installed on your system.
    • The installation wizard will suggest a default installation location, and you can either choose that or specify a different location on your system.
    • Ensure the selected location has enough disk space available.

  9. Choose the Start Menu Folder and Install:

    • Specify the Start Menu Folder where you want to create shortcuts for Android Studio.
    • Below the Start Menu Folder input field, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Do not create shortcuts. If you check this box, the installer will not create any shortcuts for Android Studio in your Start Menu or on your desktop.
    • Once you’ve specified the Start Menu Folder and made your selection regarding shortcuts, click the Install button to begin the installation process.

  10. Complete the Installation:

    • The installer will now copy the necessary files and configure Android Studio on your system.
    • At the bottom of the window, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Start Android Studio. If you check this box, Android Studio will launch automatically once the installation is complete.

  11. Import Android Studio Settings:

    • After clicking the Finish button, a new window will appear asking you to Import Android Studio settings.
    • This step allows you to customize your Android Studio experience by importing settings from a previous installation or skipping the import process altogether.
    • If you choose not to import settings, you’ll need to set up Android Studio from scratch. While this may take some time, it ensures a clean and customized installation tailored to your specific needs.

  12. Choose Settings:

    • In this screen, you’ll see two different settings options: Standard Settings and Custom Settings.
    • The Standard Settings option sets up Android Studio with a default configuration that includes the most commonly used settings and plugins. This is a good choice if you’re new to Android Studio or want a straightforward setup process.
    • The Custom Settings option allows you to customize your Android Studio installation by selecting specific settings and plugins that meet your specific needs. This is a good choice if you have specific requirements or prefer a more tailored setup.

  13. Accept License Agreement:

    • Before you can complete the installation process, you’ll need to agree to the Android Studio License Agreement.
    • This agreement outlines the terms and conditions of using Android Studio, including intellectual property rights, warranties, and limitations of liability.
    • Take a moment to read through the license agreement carefully. It’s essential to understand the terms and conditions of using Android Studio, especially if you plan to use it for commercial purposes.

  14. Launch Android Studio:

    • Once you’ve completed all the previous steps, you can launch Android Studio.
    • Choose your preference of light or dark theme when Android Studio first launches. Screenshots in this course use the light theme, but choose whichever one you prefer.
    • During the installation, the setup wizard downloads and installs additional components and tools needed for Android app development. This may take some time depending on your internet speed.

Linux Installation

1. Verify System Requirements

  1. Check System Requirements:
    • The following are the system requirements for Android Studio on Linux:
      • 64-bit version of Ubuntu or other supported distributions
      • x86_64 CPU architecture
      • 8 GB RAM or more
      • 8 GB of available disk space minimum (IDE + Android SDK + Android Emulator)
      • 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution

2. Download and Install Android Studio

  1. Download the Installer:

    • Go to the official Android Developers website and download the latest version of Android Studio.

  2. Extract the Archive:

    • If you downloaded a .zip file, unpack it.

  3. Copy the Folder:

    • Copy the android-studio folder into your /opt directory.

  4. Launch Android Studio:

    • Open the android-studio > bin folder.
    • Launch studio64.exe (for 64-bit machines) or studio.exe (for 32-bit machines).

  5. Follow Setup Wizard:

    • Follow the setup wizard in Android Studio and install any recommended SDK packages.

  6. Set Environment Variables:

    • Set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable to point to the SDK location, and include the bin folder path in the PATH variable.

  7. Configure SDK:

    • Open Android Studio and configure the SDK.

  8. Accept License Agreement:

    • Before you can complete the setup process, you’ll need to agree to the Android Studio License Agreement.

  9. Launch AVD Manager:

    • Launch the AVD Manager to create a virtual emulator as per desired specifications and details.

  10. Choose Hardware:

    • Once the AVD Manager launches, select the desired hardware from the window.

  11. Choose Android Operating System Version:

    • Choose the Android operating system version.

  12. Give a Name to Your Virtual AVD:

    • Give a name to your virtual AVD.

  13. Launch Emulator:

    • Launch the emulator by clicking on the Action Launch button in the AVD Manager.

  14. Test Emulator:

    • You can test whether the emulator is working by launching it from the command line using the emulator -add emulator-5554 command.

Setting Up Environment Variables

After installing Android Studio, set up environment variables to ensure your system recognizes the installed components. Here’s how you can set up environment variables on different operating systems:

Windows

  1. Open System Properties:

    • Right-click on This PC or Computer and select Properties.
    • Click on Advanced system settings on the left side.
    • Click on Environment Variables.

  2. Add New Variable:

    • Under System variables, click New.
    • In the Variable name field, enter ANDROID_HOME.
    • In the Variable value field, enter the path to your Android SDK directory (e.g., C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk).
    • Click OK to close all windows.

  3. Add Path Variable:

    • Under System variables, find the Path variable and click Edit.
    • Click New and enter the path to the bin folder of your Android SDK directory (e.g., C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\bin).
    • Click OK to close all windows.

macOS

  1. Open Terminal:

    • Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

  2. Set Environment Variable:

    • Run the following command to set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable:
      bash
      export ANDROID_HOME=/path/to/your/android/sdk

    • Replace /path/to/your/android/sdk with the actual path to your Android SDK directory.

  3. Add Path Variable:

    • Run the following command to add the bin folder path to the PATH variable:
      bash
      export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/your/android/sdk/bin

    • Replace /path/to/your/android/sdk/bin with the actual path to the bin folder of your Android SDK directory.

  4. Permanent Environment Variables:

    • To make these changes permanent, add them to your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc):
      bash
      export ANDROID_HOME=/path/to/your/android/sdk
      export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/your/android/sdk/bin

Linux

  1. Open Terminal:

    • Open Terminal from your distribution’s terminal application.

  2. Set Environment Variable:

    • Run the following command to set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable:
      bash
      export ANDROID_HOME=/path/to/your/android/sdk

    • Replace /path/to/your/android/sdk with the actual path to your Android SDK directory.

  3. Add Path Variable:

    • Run the following command to add the bin folder path to the PATH variable:
      bash
      export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/your/android/sdk/bin

    • Replace /path/to/your/android/sdk/bin with the actual path to the bin folder of your Android SDK directory.

  4. Permanent Environment Variables:

    • To make these changes permanent, add them to your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc):
      bash
      export ANDROID_HOME=/path/to/your/android/sdk
      export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/your/android/sdk/bin

By following this guide, you can ensure that your development environment is properly configured for creating and testing Android applications. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, understanding these steps will help you get started with Android app development using the official IDE from Google.

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