Proot-distro of Termux allows you to install Linux distributions on your Android phone. No root required. Proot-distros are containers, which are limited but still possible to run some dekstop appliations in it.
In this article, I will guide you to install Proot Arch Linux ARM with a Desktop Environment from scratch (kind of) in Termux.
You would have to install the whole system from command lines.
1. Prerequisites
Make sure your device has 10GB+ storage and 4GB+ RAM.
Install Termux
Install Termux X11
Install virglrenderer
2. Install Proot Arch Linux base system
Scroll down the top menu, press ACQUIRE WAKELOCK
to keep Termux running in the background.
- Install proot-distro, pulseaudio, vim
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- Install Proot Arch Linux (base system)
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- Login to Arch Linux
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3. Switch mirrors and update system pacakges
(Optional) Go to mirror list to pick a fastest mirror in your country. Then edit
/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
withvi
. Replace every link before$repo
to the mirror link.Update system
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4. Add a normal user
- Change password of root
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- Add a new user
user
. Then add him to groupwheel
and change his password.
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- Add user
user
to sudoers. Edit/etc/sudoers
withvi
, add following lines beneath"root ALL=(ALL) ALL"
:
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- Make sure you login to Arch as a normal user. Never login as root.
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5. Install a Desktop Environment and common tools
- Install Firefox, Noto Fonts, SSH, TigerVNC and other common tools
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- Install yay - the AUR helper:
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Edit
/etc/makepkg.conf
with vim. UncommentMAKEFLAGS="-j2"
. Change-j2
to-j
+ (2 x phone processor cores). This could speed up AUR compiling time.Install XFCE4 Desktop environment
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6. Timezone & hostname & locales
- Setup timezone
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Edit ``/etc/hostname
and
/etc/hosts` to rename your machine.Edit
/etc/locale.gen
, uncomment your language, for exampleen_US.UTF-8
Generating locales
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7. Start desktop enviornment manually
Congrats! Now you have installed Arch Linux on your Android phone! Read below to learn how to desktop enviornment manully.
Relaunch Termux
Launch Termux X11 app, keep it opening in the background. Go back to Termux and type the following commands to run Termux X11.
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- Login to Arch Linux as a normal user.
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- Start desktop environment
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- You shall see XFCE4 desktop showing at Termux X11. Tap flaoting window and revoke permission to make it go full screen.
8. Start desktop environment in one-click
We can use Termux Widget to start everything automatically. Thanks to Korean developers’ tutorial!
Install Termux API and Termux Widget
Go to system settings β all apps, turn on “Permit Drawing Over Other Apps” for Termux.
Restart Termux. Create a shortcut in Termux (not in proot-distro)
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- Type these
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- Make it executable.
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Go to your home screen, long press and add widgets β select “Termux Widget”. You would see the shortcut we made is on the list.
Click “startproot_arch.sh” then the XFCE desktop would opened automatically.
Swipe down the notification bar, click
Preferences
of Termux X11. Then you can switch touch screen mode to simulating touchpad.To use soft keyboard of phone in Termux X11, swipe the bar at the bottom and you will see a field for inputing texts.
If the fonts are too small in Termux X11, click Settings Manager at top-left β Appearance and change font size or select 2x window scaling.
To stop the XFCE session, press CTRL+C in Termux. Then logout of proot Arch Linux.
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