Installation

Prepare your Android device, choose a download, and work through your first setup.

Reviewed 2026-09-05

Before you begin

Read the compatibility guide. Both the installer and the current application declare Android 8.0 (API 26) as their minimum. The application contains ARM64 native libraries. The downloadable app is 1.3.33-debug, so treat it as a development build.

Use a reliable connection and keep the device charged. Allow space for the download, installation, extraction, and your future Linux files. The full APK is about 360 MB and the Linux archive about 971 MB; installed storage will be larger. A tested minimum for total free storage has not yet been established.

Choose and verify your download

Start with Kalidroid Installer 1.0 on the downloads page. The installer is a separate Android package from the full Kalidroid application.

Compare its complete SHA-256 with the value on the downloads page when you can. If you are installing manually, choose the full application APK instead. Do not attempt to install the Linux ZIP as an Android app.

Install on Android

1. Open the downloaded APK from your browser or file manager.
2. If Android asks, allow that specific source to install unknown apps. The setting name varies by device.
3. Review the installation prompt and complete installation.
4. Open the installer and follow the setup instructions presented by your build.
5. Review additional permission requests individually. You can turn off the source’s installation permission after setup.

Do not disable device security protections globally. If Android blocks a package, record the exact message and check the file, Android version, and architecture before retrying.

Initial setup and first boot

Keep Kalidroid in the foreground while its setup is working. Follow the installed build’s prompts for downloading or selecting its Linux environment. Avoid starting concurrent setup attempts or clearing app storage while files are being prepared.

When setup completes, start the environment using the app’s provided control. Initial startup can differ from later sessions. Wait for a usable guest terminal or desktop before installing additional software.

Exact screen names and a verified first-boot timing are not available for this build. If your flow differs, follow the app’s own instructions and use the troubleshooting guide to collect details.

Check that you are ready

In the guest terminal, run:

pwd
uname -a
cat /etc/os-release

These inspect your current directory, guest kernel, and distribution metadata. Confirm that commands return normally. Create a small test file in your home directory and check that it remains after a clean shutdown and restart.

Continue with everyday use. If startup fails, inspect boot troubleshooting.

Updating an existing installation

Back up important guest files outside app storage before updating. Prefer the update path offered by the installed application. A package with a different identifier or signing key may not replace an existing installation in place.

The current application’s package identifier is com.excp.kalidroid.debug; the installer is com.nethunter.kalidroid. Do not uninstall an existing app just to get past an update error without first protecting your data.