Android - System Requirements
This page lists the minimum and recommended hardware and operating-system requirements for a machine that will be used to develop a Q2 Mobile SDK module.
Android Studio, the Android Emulator, and Gradle are all memory- and disk-intensive. Underspecced machines can technically run the project, but day-to-day development becomes painful — Gradle syncs that should take seconds can take minutes, and the emulator may fail to start. If you are purchasing a new machine for a developer, use the Recommended column.
Operating system
| OS | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | 12 (Monterey) or newer | Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and Intel both fully supported. |
| Windows | Windows 10 64-bit or newer | Windows 11 recommended. |
| Linux | 64-bit distribution with GNU C Library (glibc) 2.31 or later | Any current Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian release satisfies this. |
| ChromeOS | Not supported for Q2 module development. |
The official Android Studio system requirements are maintained by Google and may change over time. The latest list is always at developer.android.com/studio#system-requirements.
Memory (RAM)
| RAM | |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 8 GB |
| Recommended | 16 GB |
| Heavy use (multiple emulators, large modules) | 32 GB |
Android Studio alone can consume 4–6 GB while the emulator typically uses another 2–4 GB. With 8 GB total, expect noticeable slowdowns when both are running.
Disk space
| Component | Approximate size |
|---|---|
| Android Studio + bundled JDK | 4 GB |
| Android SDK + platform tools | 2–4 GB |
| Android Emulator system images | 2–4 GB per image |
| Gradle distribution + dependency cache | 5–10 GB after first builds |
| DevApp repository | < 500 MB |
| Total recommended free disk space | 20 GB minimum, 40 GB comfortable |
A solid-state drive (SSD) is strongly recommended. Spinning hard drives make Gradle sync times noticeably slower.
CPU
| CPU | |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 64-bit dual-core processor |
| Recommended | 64-bit quad-core or better |
| Apple Silicon | M1, M2, M3, M4 — all fully supported. Virtualization is built in (Hypervisor.framework / HVF), so no BIOS toggle is required. |
| Intel/AMD | Hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) required to run the Android Emulator. |
If you are on an Intel or AMD machine and the emulator refuses to start, hardware virtualization is the most likely cause — it usually needs to be enabled in BIOS/UEFI.
Display
| Resolution | |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 1280 × 800 |
| Recommended | 1920 × 1080 or higher |
Android Studio's default layout assumes a wide screen. Smaller displays work but require more frequent panel resizing.
Administrator access
Installation of Android Studio, the JDK, and Git typically requires administrator rights on macOS and Windows. On managed corporate machines, your IT team may need to perform the install for you.
What's next
Hardware confirmed? Move on to Tools and Software to install Android Studio and the JDK.