How to Install and Use Genymotion on Ubuntu

Installing the Genymotion android emulator is not hard, but is not easy too. Before installing this useful software in your machine you need to sign up for an account on the genymotion.com website, but first let me introduce you guys to some features of the Genymotion software.

Note: If you haven't our tutorial about Genymotion testing you should check it out before going any further.

For thus that don't want to read our previous article and go straight to the installation, Genymotion is a multiplatform android emulator software which is being created to help users and developers run android applications in their machines without the need of a physical device. There is a free version of Genymotion software for personal usage, but if you plan to use it in commercial projects you should go for the paid version. All you need is a free account, sign up for free and download this amazing emulator.

Genymotion features include:

1. More than 10 virtual devices available
2. Powerful sensors
3. Commandline tools
4. Support for the Eclpise plugin
5. Simultaneously testing
6. Display:Open GL acceleration, multiscreen, full screen display
7. Perfectly integration within your development workflow

So let's create a free account on Genymotion website and install the android emulator software in our linux machine. I think that the best way to explain something which is tech related is by providing screenshots to the reader.

1. Go to the Sign up page

Fill it with your information like shown in the following screenshot.

2. Registration email

After completing the sign up you will receive an email that will help to activate your account on Genymotion website.

3. Activate your account

4. Download Genymotion software for your platform

5. Save Genymotion in your favourite location

6. Download genymotion binary file

After the download is finished open a new terminal (CTRL+ALT+T in Ubuntu) and run the following command to make the genymotion's binary file executeable.

# chmod +x genymotion-2.0.1_x86.bin

7. Run the binary file

Run the binary file with the following command

# ./genymotion-2.0.1_x86.bin

8. Installation

Install the Genymotion software in the specified directory

9. Change Directory

Use cd command to change to the genymotion directory and run the Genymotion tool

./genymotion

10. Open the player

The Genymotion player will appear after you run the software

11. Create a new virtual device

12. Virtual device deployment

13. Download files and deploy the Genymotion virtual device

14. Your virtual devices

Select the android device you want to play and click the Play button. The Genymotion player will ask you for ADB connection but ignore it for the moment.

You now have an android device now, enjoy it!