How to use Termux X11 - The X Server for Android Phone

infoivonblog.nkfjt@aleeas.com (Ivon Huang) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0800

Termux X11 is an app that can run X servers on Android phones. What does this mean? It means it can be used to execute Linux programs that rely on the X11 display, such as Firefox, Chromium, GIMP, Blender, Visual Studio Code, and more. Although Android is based on the Linux kernel, its graphics protocol differs from that used by most Linux distributions. Most Linux program toolkits are designed for X11 or Wayland, so Android cannot run Linux programs. Termux X11 provides an X server that runs on Android, allowing Termux’s Linux programs to display a graphical interface within it.

In addition, you can also achieve 3D hardware acceleration through the experimental VirGL server (virglrenderer) in Termux.

This is how the X Server works on a GNU/Linux PC.

Termux X11 developers ported the X Server to Android, enabling X11 apps to output screens on Android.

Termux X11 can be used with mouse and keyboard, or with touching gestures. Just setting the appropriate desktop resolution so you could interact with the desktop environment using your phone’s keyboard.

1. Install Termux X11
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Termux X11 was inspired by Sparkle, and was initially implemented using XWayland, but was later replaced by XCB.

Currently, Termux X11 requires devices running Android 8 or later.

Install Termux
Download latest Termux-x11 APK from Github Releases. Download the Termux X11 APK. For most devices, choose the arm64-v8a variant.
Install the Termux-x11 apk.
Launch Termux, install x11-repo. Then install termux-x11-nightly

pkg update

pkg upgrade

pkg install x11-repo

pkg install termux-x11-nightly

2. Usage 1: Run X11 apps in Termux
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Personally, I recommended you to use Termux X11 with proot-distro because Termux has fewer package than proot-distros.

Open Termux X11 APP and you will see this
Go back to Termux. Install XFCE4 and GIMP

pkg install xfce gimp

Launch XFCE4 with dbus-launch

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session xfce4-session"

If you encounter Make sure an X server isn't already running(EE) error, close Termux, then “Force stop” and “Clear cache” Termux and Termux X11 App in Android system settings.

Now you should see XFCE4 running in Termux X11.
You could change Touchscreen input mode in Termux X11 preferences in notification bar.
If the font is too big, open System settings → Appearance → check Cutsom DPI. You can also set display resolution in Preferences of Termux X11 APP.
Press CTRL+C in Termux to stop XFCE4.

3. Usage 2: Run X11 apps in Proot-distro
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Install a proot-distro. For example Debian proot or Arch Linux proot.
Open Termux X11 app. Then go back to Termux.
Log in to the installed Proot-distro using the regular account user. When logging in to proot here, you must add the --shared-tmp parameter, which means mounting the Termux $TMPDIR directory to the proot /tmp directory.

proot-distro login --user user debian --shared-tmp

Launch desktop environment. For example, XFCE4

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session xfce4-session"

While in Termux X11, you can activate phone keyboard by pressing back button. I suggest you to install Hacker’s Keyboard for using desktop shortcuts.

X Server on Ivon's Blog

How to use Termux X11 - The X Server for Android Phone

1. Install Termux X11 #

2. Usage 1: Run X11 apps in Termux #

3. Usage 2: Run X11 apps in Proot-distro #

1. Install Termux X11
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2. Usage 1: Run X11 apps in Termux
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3. Usage 2: Run X11 apps in Proot-distro
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