Creating AVDs, hardware acceleration, ADB essentials.
What Is an AVD?
An Android Virtual Device (AVD) emulates real Android hardware in software. It runs the full Android OS, letting you test your app on different screen sizes, API levels, and device configurations without owning physical hardware.
Creating an AVD
- Open Tools → Android → Android Device Manager.
- Click + New Device.
- Choose a hardware profile (e.g. Pixel 8 Pro) and an Android version (e.g. API 35 — Android 15).
- Set RAM to 2048 MB minimum and enable GPU acceleration.
- Click Create. The system image will download if needed.
ℹ️Test on at least two API levels: the minimum you support (API 26 recommended) and the latest stable release.
Emulator Controls Sidebar
- Power — Lock / unlock screen
- Rotate — Switch portrait / landscape
- Volume — Media and notification volume
- Back / Home / Recents — Standard Android navigation gestures
ADB — Android Debug Bridge
# List all connected devices and emulators
adb devices
# Install an APK manually
adb install myapp.apk
# Stream only your app's logs
adb logcat -s MyApp
# Push a file to the device
adb push data.json /sdcard/data.json
# Open a shell session on the device
adb shell
⚠️Hardware acceleration is essential. Without it the emulator can take several minutes to boot and will be far too slow to use effectively.
Key Takeaways
AVDs emulate real Android devices in software — free and configurable
Create AVDs in Android Device Manager with any screen size and API level
Test on the oldest supported API and the latest stable release
ADB provides CLI access for installs, logs, file transfers, and shells