Alternative Android Simulator for Low end PC/Laptops and working alongside WSL on Windows

Most of the times, you would find that you don't have the high spec device to start you off mobile development. You only have minimum 8GB RAM and 500GB Hard Drive, which they are limiting your workflow and advancements on your learning.

This post is meant for Windows user with minimum requirements to begin their journey in mobile development. Although this could be adapted by anyone with problem in running Android Simulator on their Windows laptop or PC. Reasons could be performance, or just using both Android Simulator with WSL.

Here are the necessary steps to get you started:

Disclamer: The tool used is not sponsoring us or anything. It is free to download from their site.

1. Go to LDPlayer, download LDPlayer 9 installation setup file (Recommended Latest Version). I managed to get the offline version around ~680MB.

1. Make sure to do the necessary configurations and run your LDPlayer simulator.

2. (Optional), If you have WSL installed and you want to use it alongside your mobile development. It will work with the LDPlayer. See below:

I had Virtual Machine Platform Enabled from WSL and both work on the setup.

Note: You will get this prompt before executing the LDPlayer when Virtual Machine Platform is enabled, carefully ignore the Restart PC and just check No more Prompt at the top. Click cancel and wait for the simulator to run.

1. Using the LDPlayer for mobile development via React Native, Android or Flutter, Go to the setting on the mobile simulator. Open the ADB Setting to Open Remote Connection, Optionally Check Root Permissions if would be needed for your development.

You may now run the command in your command prompt (CMD), Remember to have your adb setup files globally. I won't cover the steps to configure mobile development on this post:

C:\>adb devices
emulator-5554 device

With this setup, you can now use your WSL and still be able to do your mobile development. This will reduce the RAM usage if you already have memory limitations.

I hope this helps anyone who has been wanting to learn, or just having problems for their mobile development journey on limited resources on Windows.

1000 more, 1000 to drop.

Likewise, Do the basics. 👻