AndroSH - Run Linux Distributions on Android (No Root, ADB/Shizuku Powered)

Table of Contents

• Quick Start
• Features
• Supported Distributions
• Overview
• Screenshots
• Architecture
• Installation
• Updating
• Usage
• Use Cases
• Security & Privacy
• Components & Sources
• Troubleshooting
• Contributing
• License
• Author
• Support

Quick Start

[!Important] Before you start: install and run Shizuku first. If you're new to AndroSH, read the full Installation section below - it covers Shizuku setup and troubleshooting.

# In Termux
apt update && apt install -y python git
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ahmed-alnassif/AndroSH.git
cd AndroSH
pip install -r requirements.txt
python main.py install

androsh setup demo --distro debian --type stable
androsh launch demo

Features

• Multi-distro: run several Linux distributions side by side (Arch, Fedora, Alpine, Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, Void, Manjaro, Chimera, openSUSE)
• ADB/Shizuku-powered Linux: run full Linux distributions through Android's elevated Shell layer, with direct Android system integration - no root required
• SQLite-backed: fast, reliable tracking of your environments
• Isolated: each Linux environment runs through PRoot with userspace filesystem/process isolation
• GUI support: works with Termux:X11 for a full desktop environment - setup guide

Supported Distributions

Every distribution above ships from a verified rootfs source and runs in an isolated proot environment - no root required.

Overview

AndroSH lets you deploy and manage multiple full Linux distributions on Android by running PRoot through the ADB/Shizuku execution layer. This provides elevated Android-side execution without root while retaining direct Android system integration from inside the Linux environments.

Capability	AndroSH	Typical Alternatives
Multiple distros at once	Yes	Usually one distro only
Environment management	SQLite + CLI	Manual file handling
Android system integration	ADB/Shizuku execution	Varies by solution
Multiple isolated instances	Yes	Single instance
Root required	No (ADB/Shizuku)	Often requires bootloader unlock

Screenshots

Command	Preview	What it shows
androsh launch kali	View	Launching the Kali NetHunter environment
androsh list	View	All available distributions
androsh lsd	View	Environments you've already installed

Architecture

Android Device → ADB/Shizuku Execution Context→ Proot Virtualization → Linux Environment(s)

graph TD
    A[Android Device] --> B[ADB / Shizuku]
    B --> C[Android Shell Execution Context]
    C --> D[PRoot]

    D --> E[Alpine]
    D --> F[Debian]
    D --> G[Ubuntu]
    D --> H[Kali NetHunter]

    E --> I[Android System Integration]
    F --> I
    G --> I
    H --> I

    I --> K[Android Command Execution]
    I --> L[Android Filesystem Access]
    I --> M[Android Network Access]

    style D fill:#FF6B00,color:white
    style I fill:#4CAF50,color:white

From inside any distro, you can reach into the Android system directly:

# List installed Android packages
pm list packages -f

# Kernel info
cat /proc/version

# Android system properties
getprop | grep version

# Network routes
ip route show

Installation

Requirements

• Android device with Shizuku installed and running
• Python 3.8+
• Termux or a compatible terminal emulator
• At least 2 GB free storage

Setup

# Install prerequisites in Termux
apt update && apt install -y python git

# Get AndroSH
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ahmed-alnassif/AndroSH.git
cd AndroSH

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Make the `androsh` command available globally
python main.py install

[!Tip] when you run androsh setup, AndroSH automatically checks whether Shizuku is configured correctly and walks you through fixing it if not.

Updating

cd AndroSH
git pull
pip install -r requirements.txt

Usage

Deploy an environment

androsh setup production --distro debian --type stable

Launch it

androsh launch production
# You're now root inside the Debian environment
root@localhost:~# apt update && apt install python3 git

Manage environments

androsh list                       # See what's available to install
androsh lsd                        # See what's already installed
androsh clean production           # Free up space / remove temp files
androsh remove production --force  # Delete an environment

Manage distributions directly

androsh distro list                                              # List available distros
androsh distro info ubuntu                                       # Get details on a distro
androsh distro download alpine --type alpine-minirootfs --file alpine-edge.tar.gz

Full command reference