How to run a super-fast Android emulator with Intel x86 system images

Note: I did this on my MacBook Pro, and saw a major difference between the x86 emulator, and the old ARM emulator. I guess I should thank the CPU my MacBook uses, which supports Intel® HAXM*. If yours doesn’t, you’re out of luck! * Intel® HAXM requires an Intel® processor with support for Intel® VT-x, Intel® EM64T (Intel® 64), and Execute Disable (XD) Bit functionality.

Procedure

  1. Install Intel® HAXM
  2. In Eclipse (or not), run the Android SDK Manager, and install the latest “Intel x86 Atom System Image”. The latest one I see right now is in the Android 4.2.2 (API 17) section. There’s also images for 4.1, 4.0 and 2.3 if you want to run those emulators. Also, you might already have it installed.
  3. Next, start the Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager, and either create a new AVD, or edit an existing one.
  4. Choose a Target for one of the Intel system image you downloaded. The CPU/ABI field will allow you to select “Intel Atom (x86)”. Yay!
  5. In the Emulation Options section, select the Use Host GPU option. Step 6 is to marvel at the speed at which your AVDs now run!
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