How to Fix Android Emulator Not Showing in Android Studio

If you are having issues with the Android emulator, like it not showing up on screen, then this guide will help you to fix it up.

Suppose you are developing an Android application, and when you run the application, it shows your Android app is successfully installed on a virtual device.

However, the emulator didn’t show up on screen, but the pop-up shows the app was installed successfully.

But where is it? No idea.

And let me guess: If you are here, then you are also facing a similar kind of issue, aren’t you? If yes, then let me take you through the steps that helped me bring back the Android Emulator from the shadows to the spotlight.

How to Fix the Issue?

When you try to check whether the emulator is running or not? Then the Android Studio screen will show the error “No emulators are currently running.

Fix No Android emulator is currently running
Fix No Android emulator is currently running

To launch an emulator, use the AVD Manager or run your app while targeting a virtual device,” despite the Android emulator being running.

This error sometimes occurs when the emulator is not closed forcefully because you are in a hurry to watch your favorite show…Oops!

Anyway, to avoid this, please power off the emulator properly.

Now that you have already committed a sin, then let me show you a way to fix this issue with the below guide, which will only work on the Linux platform for sure.

I can’t vouch for other OSes.

Steps to resolve Emulator Issue

Step 01 First, go to the Tools menu. In the tool menu, select AVD Manager.

Fix No Android emulator is currently running: Go to AVD Manager
Tool menu click on AVD Manger

Step 2 The Android Virtual Manager screen will be shown on your screen. Click on the play button start button which will be below the Actions tab.

Step 3 Once you click on the play button, a pop-up will show up, and it will show you how to delete all the locked files in the specified directory.

A lock file is used to prevent applications from crashing during concurrent usage.

Fix No Android emulator is currently running: Emulator error message
Android Virtual Device Manager

Step 4Open the terminal and pass the following command to remove the following locked file from your system, but make sure to replace the filename and path with the correct ones.

$ rm -rf /home/shen/.android/avd/Pixel_2_API_29.avd/*.lock

If you are not sure about the path and device name, you can follow the directory name from the pop-up dialog.

Step 5 Now try to install and run the application, and I’m sure this time the emulator will show up.

 fix android emulator: Emulator run after deleting *.lock
Emulator run after deleting *.lock

Read this: How to show emulator inside the android studio?

That’s all for this article, where I share with you a simple way to fix the Android emulator issue on a Linux-based system. For any reason, if you are still facing issues, then do let me know in the comment section.fix android emulator

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Solar Steinn

    My Android Emulator was not showing when running because its window was reduced down to the size of a dot on the Virtual Device Manager window. I happened to notice it and enlarged it by dragging on it. This was likely due to just shutting down android studio without shutting down the emulator first

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