Ika
What it 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, including on Apple Silicon systems running Asahi Linux and x86-64 systems. Android apps can appear in separate resizable desktop windows and in the host app menu, while display resizing preserves DPI settings. GPU acceleration uses OpenGL ES and Vulkan. Game mode can run games fullscreen with gamepad passthrough, with keyboard, mouse, and touch input options documented. Builds may include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store. Ika distributes host-application and Android-disk-image packages separately, with Fedora RPM, Debian or Ubuntu DEB, and Arch packages; ARM64 availability varies by distribution. Guest networking defaults to Ethernet, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, UWB, GNSS, and modem simulation disabled unless enabled. Source builds require at least 16 GB RAM and 300 GB storage, and may take three to six hours or longer. Debian and Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1 or newer.
For and against
For
- Runs Android 16 in a virtual machine
- Resizable Android app windows
- OpenGL ES and Vulkan acceleration
- Optional de-Googled ROM
- Packages for major Linux distributions
Against
- Linux hosts only
- Source builds need 16 GB RAM
- Source builds need 300 GB storage
- Debian and Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1 or newer
The verdict
Ika brings Android applications and game input options to Linux desktops through a virtualized Android build. Check host hardware, Mesa version, package availability, and networking defaults before installation.
Who it suits
It suits Linux users who want Android applications in desktop windows or fullscreen game sessions. It also targets Apple Silicon and x86-64 hosts.
On the record
- Android image options
- Build options include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- App windows
- Android apps can run in separate resizable desktop windows and appear in the host desktop’s app menu.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Build options
- Builds can include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop apps
- Android apps can run in their own resizable desktop windows and can be added to the desktop app menu.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Desktop platforms
- Linuxgithub.com · read 19 Sep 2026
- Game input
- Games can run fullscreen with gamepad passthrough, and Ika also documents keyboard, mouse, and touch input options.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Games
- Game mode can start games fullscreen with gamepad, keyboard and mouse input passthrough.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- Ika supports GPU acceleration with OpenGL ES and Vulkan.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Host graphics requirement
- Debian and Ubuntu hosts require Mesa 26.1 or newer to install or build Ika.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The maker provides Fedora RPM, Debian or Ubuntu DEB, and Arch Linux packages, with ARM64 package availability varying by distribution.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository license page includes components under multiple licenses, including MIT and Apache License 2.0.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Limits
- Debian and Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1 or newer to use Ika.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
