Android application developers need a platform where they can test and debug their application. This platform can be in the form of a physical Android device or an **Android emulator**. 

Android Studio provides a built-in default emulator for testing and debugging purposes. 

![](/api/edpresso/shot/5394131544178688/image/5161568913326080)

# Pre-requisites

- Install Android Studio 3.0+

- Android Debug Bridge (`adb`)

## 1. Installing Build-Tools
Open Android Studio and navigate to *Preferences -> Appearance & Behavior -> System Settings -> Android SDK*. Click on the *SDK Tools* tab and install one version of the *Android SDK Build-Tools*, if necessary. 

![](/api/edpresso/shot/5394131544178688/image/5196664651382784)



## 2. Set configuration path

Linux or macOS users need to add the *Android SDK Location* path (see the image above) to `PATH` by appending the following line in `~./bash_profile`:

```lol
export ANDROID_SDK=ADD_SDK_LOCATION_PATH_HERE
```

macOS users need to additionally add `platform-tools` to `~./bash_profile`. This can be done by adding the following line: 

```lol
export ANDROID_SDK=ADD_SDK_LOCATION_PATH_HERE/platform-tools:$PATH
```

## 3. Configuring Virtual Emulator

Navigate to *Configure -> AVD Manager* in the Android Studio. Click on the **Create Virtual Device** option and select the relevant device emulator and the OS version to be installed on that emulator. Tweak the settings as required before clicking **Finish**. The virtual emulator will be created and can be used anytime by clicking on the *play* icon in the *AVD Manager Window*. 

Creating an Android Studio emulator

Android developers can test and debug apps using Android Studio's built-in emulator by following specified setup instructions.

Creating an Android Studio emulator

Pre-requisites

Setting up the emulator

1. Installing Build-Tools

2. Set configuration path

3. Configuring Virtual Emulator