Android Studio Emulator on Apple Silicon M1/M2 Macs

Problem

When running Android Studio on macOS with Apple Silicon M1/M2 processors, users encounter emulator issues showing "CPU does not support VT-x" errors, even when using ARM-based system images. This occurs because:

• Legacy emulator components designed for Intel x86 architecture are incompatible with Apple Silicon
• Incorrect system image selection (x86 instead of ARM)
• Outdated Android Studio installations transferred from Intel-based Macs

Solution

Use Native ARM64 Android Studio

Download the official ARM64 version of Android Studio:

1. Visit the Android Studio downloads page
2. Select "Mac with Apple Chip" version
3. Install the ARM64 build (not the universal or Intel version)

TIP

For optimal performance, use Android Studio Arctic Fox (2020.3.1) or newer versions that include native Apple Silicon support.

Install Correct Emulator Version

If you already have Android Studio installed:

1. Open Tools → SDK Manager → SDK Tools tab
2. Deselect 'Android Emulator' and click Apply
3. When prompted to install the emulator, click OK to download the ARM64 version

Create ARM-Compatible Virtual Device

CRITICAL

Always select ARM64 system images for Apple Silicon Macs

1. Open Tools → AVD Manager
2. Click Create Virtual Device
3. Choose a device with Google Play Store support
4. Select Other Images tab
5. Choose an arm64-v8a system image (Android 11/R or newer recommended)
6. Complete setup and launch the emulator

Complete Reinstallation (If Issues Persist)

For users who migrated from Intel Macs, a clean installation may be necessary:

# Remove Android Studio completely
rm -Rf /Applications/Android\ Studio.app
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/AndroidStudio*  
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.android.*  
rm -Rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/AndroidStudio*  
rm -Rf ~/Library/Logs/AndroidStudio*  
rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/AndroidStudio*  
rm -Rf ~/.AndroidStudio*  
rm -Rf ~/.gradle  
rm -Rf ~/.android  
rm -Rf ~/Library/Android*  
rm -Rf /usr/local/var/lib/android-sdk/

After removal, download and install the ARM64 version from the official website.

Additional Troubleshooting

If you encounter NDK errors:

# Unknown host CPU architecture: arm64

Follow NDK-specific solutions for Apple Silicon compatibility.

For adb issues:

# Install Rosetta if needed for compatibility
softwareupdate --install-rosetta

If emulator fails to launch in tool window:

• Go to Android Studio → Preferences → Tools → Emulator
• Uncheck "Launch in a tool window"

Performance Optimization

Apple Silicon Macs provide excellent emulator performance when configured correctly:

• ARM64 emulators run natively without translation layers
• No need for HAXM (Intel Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager)
• Significantly faster than Rosetta-translated x86 emulators

Recommended Configuration

Component	Recommended Version
Android Studio	Arctic Fox (2020.3.1) or newer
System Image	Android 11 (R) or Android 12 (S)
ABI	arm64-v8a
Emulator	Latest ARM64 version

INFO

Google continues to improve Apple Silicon support with each Android Studio release. For the latest updates, check the Android Studio release notes.

Conclusion

The Android Studio emulator works excellently on Apple Silicon Macs when using the correct ARM64 versions of both Android Studio and system images. Avoid Intel-based components and ensure you download the native Apple Silicon version of Android Studio for optimal performance.