Linux on Android: Google clarifies the new Terminal app’s purpose

Google has recently clarified the purpose of its new Linux Terminal app for Android, dispelling some of the speculation surrounding its release. While the ability to run a full Linux distribution on a Pixel phone has excited many, Google’s intentions are less about creating a new desktop environment and more about expanding the Android app ecosystem.

The Linux terminal app on Android officially arrived with the March 2025 Pixel Drop and can be enabled via the Developer options. This app offers users a text-based command-line interface, allowing for the creation and management of a Debian virtual machine directly on their Pixel devices.

The app even provides granular control over the Linux environment, including the ability to allocate storage space, configure port forwarding, and even recover the virtual machine’s storage partition. One Redditor managed to even run a desktop instance on their Pixel 9 Pro XL. All of this naturally sparked questions about its intended purpose and Google’s broader vision.

While the potential for developers, security professionals, and users needing access to Linux-exclusive applications is evident, a Google employee has stepped in and clarified that the app is not intended to serve as a gateway to multiple desktop environments. In a statement provided to Android Authority, a Google employee said:

We usually don’t share our feature plan, but I have seen some expectations that I feel like should be corrected before they go wild.

The main purpose of this Linux terminal feature is to bring more apps (Linux apps/tools/games) into Android, but NOT to bring yet another desktop environment. Android, as speculated by the public, will have better desktop-class windowing system. We think it would in general be bad to present multiple options for the window management on a single device. Ideally, when in the desktop window mode, Linux apps shall be rendered on windows just like with other native Android apps.

This however doesn’t mean that we prohibit the installation of any Linux desktop management system (xfce, gnome, etc.) in the VM. I just mean that those won’t be provided as the default experience as you would expect. But, because Android is an open-source project, I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be any device maker who ships such a Linux desktop management system by default.

And GPU acceleration is something we are preparing for the next release. Stay tuned! 🙂

Linux on Android: Why it matters

While this statement makes it clear that Google doesn’t intend to offer another desktop environment on Android through Linux, the arrival of this fairly robust Linux terminal fuels the ongoing discussion about the convergence of Android and ChromeOS. While I continue to believe that ChromeOS isn’t being fully replaced with Android, the lines between the two operating systems are undeniably blurring.  

The ability to run a full Linux environment – and even desktop environments like XFCE – directly on Android devices speaks to a growing capability that was once a key differentiator for ChromeOS. ChromeOS’s Linux (Crostini) support has long been a major selling point for users needing access to development tools or Linux applications. But now with Android gaining similar functionality, it raises questions for me about the future of ChromeOS’s unique value proposition.  

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the differences that remain. ChromeOS is still optimized for desktop-centric, productivity workflows. Android, on the other hand, excels in mobile and touch-first experiences. While the Linux terminal on Android adds a powerful new dimension, it doesn’t necessarily mean Android is ready to fully replace the desktop-like experience of ChromeOS, especially when considering the hardware differences that are still present between a phone and a laptop.  

Instead, this development points to a future where the strengths of both Android and ChromeOS are shared in some way, offering users a more flexible and versatile computing experience. Google’s focus on improving Android’s desktop-class windowing system in Android 16 further reinforces this vision, suggesting that the company is actively working to use the strengths of each team to provide a more cohesive and powerful ecosystem.