Android Emulator 28.0.3 is now available in the Canary and Dev channels.

This update includes the following changes:
  • Snapshots: 
    • Fixed crashes that could occur on snapshot load on boot and from the UI.
    • Optional experimental feature: File-backed Quickboot: To address concerns with slow emulator snapshot saves, we are experimenting with using a mapped file to act as the backing storage for guest RAM, so that saves and loads use the machinery of mmap() on the underlying host. This may improve performance.

      There are two ways to use the feature:

      • Run the emulator from the command line with the -feature QuickbootFileBacked flag.
      • Add the following line to the file ~/.android/advancedFeatures.ini:

        QuickbootFileBacked = on

        Create this file if it doesn't already exist.

    • By default, the Quickboot snapshot is saved on exit and loaded again every time, like suspending and waking a real device. However, if you would like to establish some state in the beginning and repeatedly load from that state, discarding changes in each session, add -no-snapshot-save to the command line, or go to Extended Controls > Snapshots > Settings and switch Auto-save emulator state? to No. (A restart of the emulator is required).
  • Insufficient memory message: If the emulator is unable to start due to insufficient free RAM, an error message is displayed. If you are on Windows and notice that there is RAM free, but you are still unable to start the emulator, the commit charge may have been exceeded. See this troubleshooting page.
  • Graphics: Most modern GPUs should now be able to launch the emulator with OpenGL ES 3.x enabled by default, and not require the activation of a separate GLESDynamicVersion feature flag.