Can I create an x86 based Android Virtual Device (AVD) on a 64 bit Windows 10? If so how?

Question

I'm new to using Xamarin 2017 to make an Android app. My VisualStudio_android-23_arm_phone (Android 6.0 - API 23) AVD runs very slowly, and I get a popup saying,

"Running an x86 based Android Virtual Device (AVD) is 10x faster. We strongly recommend creating a new AVD."

I have a 64 bit Windows 10 laptop, and I've gotten errors running x86 programs on my laptop in the past. I don't see a "Virtual Devices" option in the Window tap of Xamarin 2017.

How do you suggest I get the right fast AVD?

Answer 1

In Visual Studio, in a Xamarin project, open your Android SDK Tools. If you know where the SDK Tools are in the filesystem, you can also do it that way :) You can also type "Android SDK Manager" in the QuickLaunch bar on the top right.

Then, make sure you have the Intel Hardware Acceleration Manager (HAXM) installed, which will speed everything up TREMENDOUSLY. The reason it's so much faster is the x86 instruction set is the same as your Intel processor, and also uses Intel's virtualization hardware acceleration, provided by HAXM. The "ARM" device simulators simulate ARM processors, which can't easily be simulated by your PC's or Mac's x86-based processor, so they're horrifically slow.

Then, when debugging, make sure you only use the x86 device simulators, which you access via the Android Virtual Device Manager, next to the SDK Manager:

Visual Studio does have an Android simulator, but I've found the latest Android simulator much better, and it's officially from Google :)

Remember: ALWAYS test your app on REAL DEVICES. Simulators aren't enough of a test. They're great for development, of course!

Hope that helps!

A few more references:

Xamarin Android Simulator Article: https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/android/deployment,_testing,_and_metrics/debug-on-emulator/android-sdk-emulator/

Xamarin University on Android Player: https://university.xamarin.com/resources/working-with-android-emulators

Intel HAXM: https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-hardware-accelerated-execution-manager-intel-haxm