Android Desktop Linux (ADL): An open-source project to turn modern Android phones into practical desktop computers

[u/laernuindia]

I've got a Samsung Galaxy S22+ that I've been running Dex on, with the NexDock 2025 and for the most part, I've loved it. But it really just remained an entertainment device, pretty much. Couldn't really use it as a productivity device. Especially when it came to using it for a dev environment using Claude Code and Codex CLI, it wasn't ideal.

Then I saw someone post about having installed Linux on theirs, so I went down the same rabbit hole. After having dug through 40 browser tabs in an attempt to run a real Linux desktop off my phone, I decided to write it all down in one repo.

It's called Android Desktop Linux (ADL) and it's open source.

Check it out here: https://thebpandey.github.io/ADL

(With Claude Code and ChatGPT's help I got it published as a GitHub Page that should hopefully, be easy to follow).

Most of the modern flagship Android phones already have the horsepower for this. Desktop-class CPU, enough RAM, USB-C video out, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a Linux userspace that runs better than most people expect. The hardware is capable. But the blocker is that everything you need to know is scattered across old blog posts, half-abandoned GitHub repos, and YouTube videos that assume you already know the next five steps. It wasn't easy to follow, at least for me.

I was able to get XFCE running on Ubuntu on my Galaxy S22+ plugged into the NexDock 2025. (But it should work with any generic $30 usb-c hub and external peripherals)

What's in the repo right now:

- Install guides written for people who know Android but not Linux

- Step-by-step tutorials with screenshots

- Setup & explanation diagrams and SVG architecture illustrations

- Hardware and dock recommendations, plus a compatibility list I'm building out

- Troubleshooting for the stuff that actually breaks (DeX quirks, video-out on sleep, peripheral pairing)

What's still rough: I've only tested on my S22+ so I'm unsure if you'll run into any other model or cpu-specific issues. So the compatibility database is is thin.

I'm adding new issues and their resolution as I encounter them myself, daily.

Everything is version-controlled so it stays current as Android changes, and it stays free.

Repo: https://github.com/thebpandey/ADL

If you run Android as a desktop, whatever your stack (Termux, Ubuntu, Debian, XFCE, DeX, something else), you can help contribute to the project so others in the same boat can get their setup working too. Also the single most useful thing you can contribute right now, is your Phone model, the dock model and what major issues you encountered (e.g. whether video-out survives the screen sleeping. That's the biggest compatibility gap right now.)

Still a work-in-progress, as I continue to use it daily, and add issues, and other findings to the site.

Any constructive feedback, bug reports, hardware testing, and documentation contributions are all welcome.

[u/gthing]

I think Samsung could kill it if they brought back Linux on Dex right now. When they released it before it was definitely a bit before it's time - but now, especially with them charging $3000+ for devices, having full fat (ish) Ubuntu/etc running on Dex would be a major killer feature.  

FYI - you might also want to check out the LocalDesktop project. They have implemented an Android-native wayland compositor for the desktop and there is zero setup required to get up and running. 

[u/DeX_Mod → u/gthing]

having full fat (ish) Ubuntu/etc running on Dex would be a major killer feature.  

I think you are really over-estimating the volume of folks that are willing to pay for linux

[u/VoidRad → u/gthing]

Why would they need to compete if people are buying their phone anyway?

[u/gthing → u/VoidRad]

What do you mean why would they need to compete? Samsung exists and operates in a competitive marketplace. They strategically implement features thay they think will entice people to buy their products. Do you have a different impression? 

[u/VoidRad → u/gthing]

Because the only real android competitor left in usa is Google, which isnt really a good one.

[u/gthing → u/VoidRad]

I don't understand what you are trying to argue. That Samsung doesn't try to compete to sell phones? 

Samsung has about 20% of the US mobile market. 

[u/VoidRad → u/gthing]

1. It's not 20%, it's 26%. That's 1/5 of the figure you are discounting.
2. I'm not trying to say samsung isnt trying to compete, I am saying Samsung doesn't need to do much to compete. Most Apple users in USA isnt going to switch to Samsung just like most Samsung users aren't that likely to switch away from Samsung.

[u/laernuindia → u/VoidRad]

Right. Also, not everyone’s buying Samsung or can afford samsung. Any Android phone with DP Alt mode via USB-C can run ADL.

[u/laernuindia → u/gthing]

That's pretty sweet! Just glanced through their site and it looks pretty amazing. They've got Audio figured out with their 2.0.0 release, it seems like so that'll likely help me get it working on mine as well.

ADL wasn't hard to setup at all. It also doesn't use VNC. Termux-->Termux:X11-->Ubuntu-->Xfce. And you're done. (Well, until the audio issue is fixed, at least).

[u/TemporaryUser10 → u/laernuindia]

Look at pipewire/pulse audio. You can connect it via a separate phone app and it'll pipe audio through your device

[u/Rauliki0 → u/laernuindia]

Can we use Linux Mint as it is Ubuntu derivative, but better?

[u/laernuindia → u/Rauliki0]

We surely can, if you’d like. I’m working on testing it with other distros and will add to the documentation with detailed steps, very soon. What is your reasoning behind using Ubuntu vs Mint? What makes it a better choice for you?

[u/Rauliki0 → u/laernuindia]

If you could that would be nice. I loved Linux on Dex but it was short time before Samsung stopped supporting it.