Droidspaces APK

Droidspaces is a lightweight container runtime that runs full Linux distributions on a rooted Android phone or a Linux PC. Instead of emulating anything, it boots a distro's own init system (systemd, OpenRC, etc.) directly on your device's kernel, so programs run at native speed.

Developer: ravindu644 · License: GPL-3.0 (open source) · Price: Free

Before you start: your Android device must be rooted (KernelSU is recommended; Magisk and APatch also work) and running a kernel built with the options Droidspaces needs, since most stock kernels lack them – check the kernel configuration guide or the community-supported devices list for a ready-made kernel. You also need kernel version 3.10 or newer (4.9+ recommended for best distro support). After installing the APK, grant root, open the app, let it install the backend, and reboot when asked.

Key features

• Boots real distros – Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, NixOS, OpenWrt and more – with their own init as PID 1
• Networking out of the box: NAT, Gateway mode with an OpenWrt container doing DHCP/DNS, or Macvlan straight on your LAN
• Desktop on your phone using Anland or Termux:X11 for display, VirGL or Turnip for GPU, and PulseAudio for sound
• One-toggle hardware access to GPU, USB, sensors and block devices; Docker and Podman run inside containers
• Containers can start at boot and keep running for months, even if the app is closed or uninstalled
• Same static binary (under 400 KB) and CLI works on Linux PCs across aarch64, armhf, x86_64, x86 and riscv64

Why isn’t Droidspaces on Google Play?

It is published by its developer on GitHub, not on Google Play, likely because it is a privileged, root-only container runtime rather than a typical consumer app.

Is Droidspaces safe?

Droidspaces is open source under the GPL-3.0 license, and this page links to the official APK from the developer's GitHub releases. Note that it is a privileged container runtime requiring root: a hostile root process inside a container can reach the host, so only run code you trust and treat it like a real Linux machine when it comes to security. Droidspaces comes straight from its developer rather than through Google Play, so it hasn’t gone through Google’s app review. As with any app, check the permissions it asks for and install it if you’re comfortable with them.

How to install

1. Tap the download button above: the APK file downloads straight to your phone.
2. When Android asks, allow your browser to install unknown apps.
3. Open the file and tap Install.

FAQ

Is Droidspaces free?

Yes, it is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.

How do I install a Linux distro after setting up the app?

Open the Containers tab, tap +, then Repository, pick a distribution, tap Download, then Install, and follow the setup. Then tap Start and use the Panel tab's Terminal button to get a shell.

Does Droidspaces use a virtual machine or emulation?

No. Containers run directly on the host's own kernel with no emulation and no VM, so programs run at native speed.

More free apps you won’t find on Google Play: Open Source Apps · Best Android apps not on the Google Play Store.