No root required
Rootless PRoot runs Linux as the app’s Android user — no bootloader unlock.
PocketLinux
Linux on Android · No root
A Linux desktop in your pocket.
Run Linux on Android without root. A full desktop, a real terminal, and a choice of distributions — on the device you already carry.
No root required
Alpine · Debian · Ubuntu+
XFCE · MATE
Rootless PRoot
Features
Real Linux tools — no bootloader unlock required.
Built for people who want real Linux without compromising device security.
Full desktop
Sit down with a desktop session such as XFCE, KDE Plasma or i3 when you need a workspace.
Real terminal
Open a shell for speed: package managers, scripts, and CLI tools.
Pick a distribution
Alpine, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, and Kali Linux.
Phone storage, opt-in
Mount phone storage inside Linux only if you turn it on and grant access.
Private by default
No automatic analytics. Nothing leaves the device unless you tap Send.
How it works
Terminal when you need speed. A desktop when you need a workspace.
PocketLinux uses PRoot to run a full Linux environment on Android. Pick a distribution, choose a desktop such as XFCE, KDE Plasma or i3, and get work done on the device you already carry.
- Launch a GUI desktop or jump straight into a terminal
- Per-distro storage at a glance
- Built-in guides to learn the basics
Make it yours
A terminal that looks the way you like.
Choose terminal colour schemes, fonts, and sizes, and switch the app between system, light, and dark themes.
Open PocketLinux on Play
Distributions & desktops
Pick the Linux you already know.
Nine distributions and ten desktop options, from a bare terminal to KDE Plasma.
Distributions
9 available nowAlpine
LightLightweight
Debian
Stable · Large
Ubuntu
User-friendly
Fedora
dnf · Workstation
Arch Linux
Rolling · experimental
Kali Linux
Rolling · Security
openSUSE
zypper · Leap
Void Linux
xbps · Light
Artix
Arch · no systemd
Desktop environments
Terminal + full desktop, all without rootTerminal only
Rootfs, no desktop
XFCE
StableFast & standard
IceWM
Ultra-light
i3
Tiling · keyboard
Openbox
Light & modern
MATE
Classic & stable
LXQt
Lightweight Qt
KDE Plasma
Feature-rich
Cinnamon
Modern
LXDE
Classic & light
Preview
See PocketLinux in action.
A short preview from the Google Play listing. The video loads from YouTube only after you press play.
Screenshots
Straight from the Play listing.
Screenshots unavailable — open the Play listing to see the latest.
Screenshots sync from Google Play each time the site is built.
FAQ
What to know before you install.
Rootless Linux on Android — the short version. More answers in the PocketLinux FAQ, and step-by-step guides.
Does PocketLinux need root?
No. PocketLinux is rootless. It runs Linux through PRoot as the app’s Android user, so your phone stays as it is: no root and no bootloader unlock.
Which Linux distros does PocketLinux support?
Nine distributions: Alpine, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, Kali Linux, openSUSE, Void Linux and Artix. Desktop environments: XFCE, IceWM, i3, Openbox, MATE, LXQt, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon and LXDE, or terminal only with no desktop.
Can I run a Linux desktop (XFCE) on Android?
Yes. PocketLinux opens a full Linux desktop with windows, menus and a file manager, using XFCE, IceWM, i3, Openbox, MATE, LXQt, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon or LXDE. The display and input stay inside the app, so you don’t need a separate VNC viewer. It works on phones, tablets and desktop modes such as Samsung DeX.
Is PocketLinux free?
PocketLinux is free to download from Google Play. The free version runs one Linux environment at a time with a daily time limit. An optional in-app Premium upgrade removes the time limit, lets you keep and switch between several environments, and adds backup and restore.
PocketLinux vs Termux: what’s the difference?
Termux is a terminal emulator for Android with its own package environment, built specifically for Android. It is excellent for command-line work. PocketLinux installs a regular Linux distribution, such as Debian or Arch, through PRoot. It comes with a built-in terminal and a desktop of your choice (XFCE, KDE Plasma, MATE, i3 and more), and you use that distro’s own package manager (for example apt or pacman). Many Linux-desktop-on-Android setups pair Termux with a separate VNC app. PocketLinux keeps the distro, the display and the input in one app. If you mostly want a lightweight shell, Termux is a great fit. If you want a full distro and a desktop without wiring tools together, try PocketLinux.
How much storage does PocketLinux need?
Plan free space for the first Linux image plus the packages you add. That is often about 1–2 GB, or more once you install tools. The app shows how much storage each distro uses. For desktop sessions, a modern device with roughly 4 GB of RAM or more is more comfortable.
Is my data private?
Yes. There are no automatic analytics, and crash reports and feedback leave the device only when you tap Send. Read the PocketLinux Privacy Policy for details on crash reports, backups and Linux isolation.
Can Linux see my phone storage?
Only if you turn on Mount phone storage and grant All files access. Other apps’ private data stays protected by Android.
Install PocketLinux from Google Play.
Free to try. Package com.sg.linuxgo. Crash reports and feedback leave the device only when you choose to send them — read the Privacy Policy.