Ika
Ika is a free, open-source Android desktop for Linux hosts.
What Ika is
Ika is a free, open-source Android desktop for Linux hosts. It runs an Android 16 build based on LineageOS 23.2 inside a Cuttlefish virtual machine. Android applications can open in separate resizable windows, appear in the host desktop’s app menu, and resize while preserving DPI settings. GPU acceleration uses OpenGL ES and Vulkan. Game mode can launch games fullscreen with gamepad passthrough, while keyboard, mouse, and touch input options are documented. Builds may include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store. The project provides Fedora RPM, Debian or Ubuntu DEB, and Arch packages, with ARM64 availability varying by distribution. Source builds require at least 16 GB RAM and 300 GB storage, and may take three to six hours or longer. Debian and Ubuntu hosts require Mesa 26.1 or newer.
Good
- Runs Android 16 in a virtual machine
- Resizable app windows and desktop menu entries
- OpenGL ES and Vulkan acceleration
- Gamepad, keyboard, and mouse input options
- Google, microG, or de-Googled builds
Watch out
- Linux hosts only
- Source builds need 16 GB RAM
- Source builds need 300 GB storage
- Debian and Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1+
Who it suits
Ika is for Linux users who want Android applications in desktop windows, including Apple Silicon systems running Asahi Linux and x86-64 systems. It also targets users who want selectable Google or de-Googled Android images.
Verdict
Ika provides an Android desktop environment with flexible app, gaming, and image choices on Linux. Hardware, storage, build time, and Mesa requirements matter before installation.
The facts
Each one read from Ika's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Android image options
- Build options include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store.checked 8 Oct 2026
- App windows
- Android apps can run in separate resizable desktop windows and appear in the host desktop’s app menu.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop apps
- Android apps can run in their own resizable desktop windows and can be added to the desktop app menu.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Desktop platforms
- Linuxchecked 19 Sep 2026
What it does
- Build options
- Builds can include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- Building from source requires at least 16 GB RAM and 300 GB storage, and the initial build can take 3–6 hours or more.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Game input
- Games can run fullscreen with gamepad passthrough, and Ika also documents keyboard, mouse, and touch input options.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Games
- Game mode can start games fullscreen with gamepad, keyboard and mouse input passthrough.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- Ika supports GPU acceleration with OpenGL ES and Vulkan.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- A successful source build requires at least 16 GB of RAM and 300 GB of storage, and the initial build may take 3–6 hours or more.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Host graphics requirement
- Debian and Ubuntu hosts require Mesa 26.1 or newer to install or build Ika.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Host support
- The maker lists native builds for Apple Silicon and x86-64 systems running Fedora, Debian or Ubuntu, and Arch Linux.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The maker provides Fedora RPM, Debian or Ubuntu DEB, and Arch Linux packages, with ARM64 package availability varying by distribution.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes itself as an Android desktop for Linux hosts, including Apple Silicon systems running Asahi Linux and x86-64 systems.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository license page includes components under multiple licenses, including MIT and Apache License 2.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Limits
- Debian and Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1 or newer to use Ika.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Networking
- Ethernet is enabled by default in the guest, while Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, UWB, GNSS, and the modem simulator are off unless explicitly enabled.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Packages
- Ika is distributed as separate host application and Android disk image packages, with prebuilt downloads listed for supported Linux distributions and architectures.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Ika is a desktop focused Android 16 build based on LineageOS 23.2 and runs in a Cuttlefish virtual machine.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Resizable display
- Its display can be resized dynamically while preserving DPI settings.checked 8 Oct 2026
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