🟢 Getting Started · Lesson 02
Install Android Studio & SDK
System requirements
| Minimum | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more |
| Disk | 16 GB free (SSD strongly recommended) | 30 GB+ SSD |
| CPU | 64-bit, virtualization enabled | Recent Intel/AMD or Apple Silicon |
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS, or 64-bit Linux | |
Install Android Studio
- 1Open developer.android.com/studio and download the latest stable version
- 2Windows: run the .exe and keep "Android Virtual Device" checked · Mac: drag to Applications
- 3Start Android Studio → choose "Do not import settings"
- 4Pick "Standard" install type and a light or dark theme
- 5Accept all licences and click Finish — the SDK downloads (1–3 GB)
Setup wizard and SDK
SDK Manager: what to install
More Actions → SDK Manager (or Settings → Android SDK):
- SDK Platforms: the latest Android version (API 35) — needed for
compileSdk. - SDK Tools: Android SDK Build-Tools, Platform-Tools (adb), Android Emulator, Google USB Driver (Windows only).
Create an emulator (AVD)
- 1More Actions → Virtual Device Manager → Create device
- 2Choose a phone like Pixel 8 → Next
- 3Select a system image (latest API, x86_64 or arm64 on Apple Silicon) → download
- 4Finish → press ▶ to start the emulator
Use a real phone (USB debugging)
- 1Settings → About phone → tap "Build number" 7 times → "You are now a developer"
- 2Settings → System → Developer options → turn on USB debugging
- 3Connect the USB cable → allow "Allow USB debugging?" on the phone
- 4Your phone appears in the device dropdown next to ▶ in Android Studio
Terminal – check the device
# Android Studio Terminal (bottom bar) – list connected devices adb devices List of devices attached R58N12ABCDE device ← your phone emulator-5554 device ← the emulator
Wireless debugging
On Android 11+, you can debug without a cable (phone and laptop on the same Wi-Fi). In Android Studio use Device Manager → Pair devices using Wi-Fi and scan the QR code, or use adb:
Terminal
# Phone: Developer options → Wireless debugging → Pair device with pairing code adb pair 192.168.1.23:37155 # enter the 6-digit code shown on the phone adb connect 192.168.1.23:41733 # the IP:port shown on the Wireless debugging screen
Common setup errors
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
| "HAXM / hypervisor not installed" / emulator will not start | Enable virtualization (Intel VT-x / AMD-V) in BIOS; on Windows turn on "Windows Hypervisor Platform". |
| Gradle sync takes forever | First sync downloads libraries — keep internet on. Later syncs are fast. |
| Phone not shown in device list | Use a data cable (not charge-only), install Google USB Driver on Windows, accept the RSA prompt. |
| Disk full | Delete unused system images in SDK Manager and old AVDs. |
Summary
- Install Android Studio (Standard setup) — it brings the SDK and a JDK.
- SDK Manager: latest platform + platform-tools + emulator.
- Test on an AVD or on a phone with USB/wireless debugging.
✅ Practice
Create one emulator and connect your own phone. Run adb devices and confirm both appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run Android Studio on 8 GB RAM?
Yes, but the emulator will be slow. Close other apps and test on a real phone with USB debugging instead of the emulator.
Do I need to install Java separately?
No. Android Studio includes its own JDK (JetBrains Runtime) which Gradle uses by default.
Where is the Android SDK installed?
On Windows usually C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk, on macOS ~/Library/Android/sdk. You can see it in Settings → Languages & Frameworks → Android SDK.
