Play store on Linux

AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre -  
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   -

Hello everyone, some time ago, I asked myself a question: can I use the Google Play Store on my computer, which runs Garuda Linux, a derivative of Arch Linux.

While researching online, I found that it could be done via an application called "Anbox." I installed this application, but it displays a white window with the green Android robot, and below it, it says "start...". So far, no problem, but the window closes after a few moments without launching the application. I've restarted the application several times but to no avail. After searching for solutions online, but without success, I turned to you, who surely know what to do to successfully launch Anbox.

(I've also heard about a more or less equivalent application: "Waydroid." Do you know it? Would you recommend it?)

Thank you in advance.

4 réponses

mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927
 

Hello,

I have never used this application, but I think the starting point is to do some research because you are probably not the only person experiencing the problem. It seems to be a common issue (see the results here). I went through the first few but did not see any convincing answers. This link seems quite promising, though, and will allow you to check if you installed anbox correctly.

As for waydroid, I suggest setting it aside in this discussion, and if you encounter problems with this application, feel free to open a new topic specifically for it.

Good luck

1
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Thanks for the links, I will check them out right away :)

I also heard about a kernel module called binder and ashmem. Do you know what it is? I read that they are essential for the functioning of Anbox...

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927
 

Here is a link that介绍binder and ashmem.

Do you have the answers to your questions regarding the initial topic?

1
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre > mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention  
 

I am doing my research but I can't find much. Otherwise, I think I understood that I need to implement ashmem and binder to make anbox work, but I don't know much else, not even how to implement them...

But well, I will find it :) It's by searching that we find things.

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927 > AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Since they seem to be kernel modules, you should normally just load them (if they are not already loaded). On Linux, you would use the modprobe command. Can you try, as mentioned in this discussion:

sudo modprobe ashmem_linux binder_linux
0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre > mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention  
 

I attempted the command but the only feedback I got is:

"modprobe: FATAL: Module ashmem_linux not found in directory /lib/modules/6.1.7-zen1-1-zen"

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927 > AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

How did you install Anbox (link to a tutorial or documentation page)?

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927
 

Hello,

Concerning binder and ashmem, their installation is documented here. The corresponding modules are indeed binder_linux and ashmem_linux and load correctly with modprobe, as I suspected (#12). I imagine you need to run:

sudo pacman -S anbox-modules-dkms sudo modprobe binder_linux devices=binder,hwbinder,vndbinder,anbox-binder,anbox-hwbinder,anbox-vndbinder sudo modprobe ashmem_linux

Check that the modules have been loaded with:

lsmod

If it works, move on to the section 2 of the documentation. Otherwise, let me know the error messages.

Good luck

0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

OK, I'm trying it right away. For the moment, I'm looking on GitHub to see if there are any installation files. It looks promising.

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927 > AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

It's always better to prioritize installations via your package manager (pacman in your case). This way, what you install is consistent with the rest of your system and you are sure to have all the necessary dependencies.

In this case, you can install anbox-modules-dkms via pacman and I assume the same goes for anbox-git.

Manual installations by retrieving the sources (git clone ...) are only of interest when you cannot find the appropriate package with your package manager. Their main disadvantage is that they are not updated with the system (with pacman), since the installation was not done with the package manager.

0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Hello, excuse me for my delay, I had a breakdown on my PC and I haven’t had the chance to respond to you. I switched to Ubuntu but I will soon have a powerful enough computer to run a virtual machine. I will set up an Arch Linux on VirtualBox or VMware, and we will see the commands you sent me.

Thanks again,

Appstore Geek

0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Apparently I have the same problem on Ubuntu...

0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

I read on a website that installing Anbox would be impossible if my processor was too old, but my PC is still relatively old (at least 12 years). Could that be the problem?

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927 > AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Where did you read that? Why install anbox on Archlinux in a VM under Ubuntu... when you can directly install andbox on Ubuntu? See this page.

0
AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre > mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention  
 

I read this on the Internet and it is just as impossible for me to install anbox on Ubuntu as it is on Arch.

Furthermore, the purpose of a forum is not just to solve our personal problem, but also to help others who are in the same difficulty as us. So by creating a VM, I hope to still find the solution. Because even if I don't do anything with it, others in the same situation will at least have the solution.

Solidarity above all :)

0
mamiemando Posted messages 33537 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 927 > AppstoreGeek Posted messages 58 Status Membre
 

Let's say that strictly speaking, since the issue has changed from "how to install anbox on Archlinux" to "how to install anbox on Ubuntu," it would be best to just open a new thread ;-)

But hey, if you want to deal with a VM, it's up to you ;-)

0