Table of Contents
Overview
In this chapter you install Android Studio on your computer and complete the initial setup so you are ready to build Android apps. You will go from downloading the installer to seeing Android Studio start for the first time. Later chapters explain the SDK, tools, and emulators in more detail. Here you focus only on getting Android Studio itself up and running.
System requirements and preparation
Before you download anything, make sure your computer meets the basic requirements for a comfortable Android Studio experience.
Android Studio is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. For all systems you should have a 64 bit operating system, at least 8 GB of RAM, and at least 10 to 15 GB of free disk space for Android Studio, the Android SDK, and emulator images. A solid state drive improves performance but is not mandatory. You also need a stable internet connection for the initial download and for installing SDK components.
If your computer is older or has less RAM, Android Studio can still run, but it may feel slow, especially when building projects or running the emulator. In that case, close other heavy applications while you work.
Important rule: Always download Android Studio only from the official Android Developers website. This reduces the risk of installing modified or malicious software.
Downloading Android Studio
Open your web browser and go to:
https://developer.android.com/studio
This is the official Android Studio page. The site usually highlights a large download button for the latest stable version. The page detects your operating system and offers the correct installer.
Before you click the download button, quickly scan the page for the system requirements link and check that your system meets the version and architecture requirements for your platform. Also review the license terms if you wish. Then click the download button and confirm the license acceptance when prompted.
The file you download depends on your platform. On Windows it is usually an .exe installer. On macOS it is a .dmg disk image. On Linux it is a .zip or .tar.gz archive.
Save the installer to a location on your machine that you can easily find again, such as your Downloads folder or your desktop.
Installing on Windows
On Windows, open the folder where the installer .exe file was downloaded and double click it to start the setup wizard. If Windows shows a security or User Account Control dialog, confirm that you want to run the installer from a trusted publisher.
The installer guides you through several steps. On the welcome screen you can usually accept the default configuration. Continue to the components selection screen, which generally includes Android Studio and the Android Virtual Device component. If your disk space and memory allow it, keep both components selected so you can use the emulator later. If you are short on space, you can uncheck the emulator component and install it later from inside Android Studio.
Next you select an installation location. If you are unsure, accept the suggested default path. Avoid paths with special characters or unusual permissions. The installer then copies files and sets up shortcuts in the Start menu and optionally on the desktop.
When the installation completes, you may see an option to start Android Studio immediately. Check this option if you want to continue with the initial configuration right away, then click Finish.
Installing on macOS
On macOS, locate the downloaded .dmg file, then double click to open the disk image. A window appears that usually shows the Android Studio application icon and a shortcut to your Applications folder.
To install, drag the Android Studio icon into the Applications folder icon. This copies Android Studio onto your system. When the copy finishes, you can eject the disk image in Finder and optionally move the .dmg file to the trash if you no longer need it.
Open Launchpad or the Applications folder and locate Android Studio. The first time you open it, macOS may show a warning that this application was downloaded from the internet. Confirm that you want to open it, as long as you downloaded it from the official site.
Android Studio then starts and leads you through its own initial setup steps.
Installing on Linux
On Linux, the installation is usually a manual extraction of the archive. Go to your downloads directory and locate the Android Studio .zip or .tar.gz file. Extract it to a directory where you have write permissions, such as your home directory. You might place it under ~/android-studio.
Inside the extracted directory you can find a bin folder that contains startup scripts. Make the main launcher script executable if needed, then run it from a terminal. For example, you may run studio.sh from the bin directory.
Some Linux distributions also offer Android Studio through package managers or software centers. If you use such a package, follow the distribution specific instructions, but still make sure that the source is trusted and preferably official.
Once you launch Android Studio from the script or from your distribution menu, the first run wizard begins.
First launch and initial configuration
The first time you start Android Studio on any platform, it asks if you want to import settings from a previous installation. If this is your first time, choose the option that means do not import settings.
After this, Android Studio shows a setup wizard that guides you through a few important steps. The wizard may ask you to choose between a Standard and a Custom installation type. For beginners, Standard is usually the best choice. It automatically selects common settings and components. If you already know that you need specific SDK elements, you can choose Custom, but that is not required now.
You are then asked to select a theme for the user interface, commonly a light theme or a dark theme. Pick whichever is more comfortable. You can change this later in the settings if you like.
The wizard then shows a summary of the components to be installed, which often includes the latest Android SDK platform, build tools, and the emulator system image. Review this list and confirm if it looks reasonable. Finally, the wizard downloads and installs these components. This step can take several minutes depending on your internet speed.
During this process, keep the application open and do not shut down your computer. When everything finishes, Android Studio shows a completion message and moves to the Welcome screen.
Verifying the installation
After the first run setup completes, you see the Android Studio Welcome screen. At this point, the basic installation is successful. There are a few simple checks you can do to confirm that everything is ready.
First, confirm that Android Studio recognizes a valid SDK path. From the Welcome screen, open the configuration menu, which may appear as a Configure link or a gear icon, then open the SDK related settings. You should see an SDK location field that points to a directory on your system. You do not need to understand all the details yet, but the path should not be empty and there should be at least one installed platform listed.
Second, check that Android Studio can create a simple project. Use the option to create a new project, accept the default template and settings, and wait for the Gradle sync process to complete. If no critical error appears, your environment is generally functional. You do not need to run the app yet, since that belongs to later chapters.
If Android Studio reports that it cannot find the Java runtime or has difficulty accessing the internet for downloads, read the message it shows and note it. These types of problems are common and usually have straightforward fixes, such as adjusting a proxy setting or installing a supported Java runtime, but this course addresses tools and configuration in other sections.
Keeping Android Studio up to date
Android tools change frequently, and Android Studio receives regular updates. Staying up to date helps you benefit from new features and avoids compatibility problems with recent Android versions.
From the Android Studio Welcome screen or from the main window later, you can open the Help or Android Studio menu and look for a Check for Updates option. Use this periodically. If an update is available, Android Studio can usually download and install it automatically. Some updates may require you to restart the IDE.
Besides the IDE itself, the SDK components and build tools also receive updates. You will learn how to manage those in the chapter about the Android SDK and tools. For now, just know that updating Android Studio is part of keeping your development environment healthy.
Common beginner pitfalls
Many beginners encounter similar issues during installation. One frequent problem is insufficient disk space. If the installer or setup wizard fails or warns about space, free up space by removing unused files or applications before trying again.
Another common issue appears when using corporate or school networks with strict firewalls or proxies. The setup wizard may fail to download SDK components in this case. If this happens, try a different network or speak with your network administrator about proxy configuration.
On Windows, antivirus software can sometimes slow down or interfere with the installation. Generally, it is not necessary to disable antivirus, but if the installation hangs for a very long time, check if your antivirus is scanning the installer repeatedly.
Finally, some users accidentally install very old versions from third party websites or blogs that link outdated installers. This is why it is important to always obtain Android Studio from the official site mentioned earlier.
What you have accomplished
By the end of this chapter you should have Android Studio installed and running on your system with a basic configuration in place. You have seen how to download the correct installer for your platform, follow the installation wizard, run Android Studio for the first time, and confirm that it recognizes an SDK location and can create a new project.
In the next chapters you will explore the Android SDK and tools in more detail, set up emulators, and run your first apps on both virtual and physical devices.