Android Emulator Process Has Terminated

Resolving the "emulator process has terminated" error in Android Studio

Problem Overview

The "emulator process has terminated" error is a common issue that occurs when trying to launch Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) in Android Studio. This error can appear after updating Android Studio, changing system configurations, or due to missing dependencies. The emulator either fails to start completely or terminates immediately after launch with various error codes.

Common Error Codes

When troubleshooting, check your Android Studio logs for these common exit codes:

• 0xC0000135: Typically indicates missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages
• 0xC0000005: Often related to Hyper-V conflicts on Windows systems
• -1073741515: May indicate missing DLL files or path configuration issues

Diagnostic Steps

Before applying solutions, identify the root cause by checking the Android Studio logs:

How to access Android Studio logs

1. Open Android Studio
2. Navigate to Help > Show Log in Explorer (or Finder on macOS)
3. Examine the idea.log file for error messages related to the emulator

Solutions

1. Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

CRITICAL FOR WINDOWS

The most common solution is installing the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package.

Download and install both x86 and x64 versions from the official Microsoft website:

Download via command line

# x64 version
curl -L -o vc_redist.x64.exe https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

# x86 version  
curl -L -o vc_redist.x86.exe https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x86.exe

Install via PowerShell

# Run the downloaded installers
Start-Process vc_redist.x64.exe -ArgumentList '/quiet /norestart' -Wait
Start-Process vc_redist.x86.exe -ArgumentList '/quiet /norestart' -Wait

2. Configure System Environment Variables

Add the Android emulator to your system PATH:

1. Open System Properties > Environment Variables
2. Add to PATH: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\emulator
3. Replace <YourUsername> with your actual Windows username

For username with special characters, also set:

ANDROID_AVD_HOME=C:\android_avd

3. Resolve Hyper-V Conflicts

On Windows systems with WSL or Docker installed, Hyper-V may conflict with the emulator:

Disable Hyper-V

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

Re-enable Hyper-V

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

WARNING

Disabling Hyper-V will affect WSL and Docker Desktop functionality. Restart your computer after making this change.

4. Update or Reinstall Emulator Components

Outdated emulator components often cause this issue:

1. Open SDK Manager in Android Studio (Tools > Android > SDK Manager)
2. Navigate to the SDK Tools tab
3. Ensure Android Emulator is checked and updated to the latest version
4. Also check Android Emulator Hypervisor Driver if available

5. Check Disk Space and File Permissions

TIP

Insufficient disk space is a common but overlooked cause of emulator failures.

• Ensure at least 10GB free space on your system drive
• Verify write permissions in the .android and SDK directories
• Delete unnecessary AVDs and temporary files

6. Handle Special Cases

For Vulkan API errors (missing vulkan-1.dll):

• Locate vulkan-1-999-0-0-0.dll in C:\Windows\System32\
• Rename it to vulkan-1.dll

For Linux users with GLIBC issues:

• Update your system or use older emulator versions from the emulator archive

For Visual Studio conflicts:

• Try launching the emulator from Visual Studio's Device Manager first

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the above solutions don't work, try these advanced steps:

1. Clean reinstallation:

   • Uninstall Android Studio
   • Delete AppData\Local\Android and AppData\Local\Google\AndroidStudio* folders
   • Reinstall fresh

2. Command-line emulator testing:

   cd C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\emulator
   emulator -list-avds
   emulator -avd Your_AVD_Name -verbose

3. Check for conflicting processes:

   taskkill /f /im qemu-system-*
   net stop winnat

Platform-Specific Notes

• Windows: Most commonly affected by Visual C++ and Hyper-V issues
• macOS: Generally fewer issues; focus on updating components and checking permissions
• Linux: Watch for library compatibility (GLIBC versions) and use emulator archives if needed
• ChromeOS: Emulators are not currently supported

Prevention

To avoid future issues:

• Disable automatic Android Studio updates until stable versions are confirmed
• Regularly update SDK components through the SDK Manager
• Maintain adequate disk space
• Create system restore points before major updates

When All Else Fails

If none of these solutions work:

1. Check the official Android Emulator documentation
2. Search for your specific error code in the Android Studio issue tracker
3. Consider using physical Android devices for testing
4. Explore cloud-based emulator solutions like Firebase Test Lab

INFO

The Android emulator is constantly evolving, and new versions may introduce temporary compatibility issues. The developer community typically identifies and shares solutions within days of new releases.