Install Android SDK on Windows Bash (WSL)

setup.sh

cd /home/<user>/
sudo apt-get install unzip
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/sdk-tools-linux-4333796.zip
unzip sdk-tools-linux-4333796.zip -d Android
rm sdk-tools-linux-4333796.zip
sudo apt-get install -y lib32z1 openjdk-8-jdk
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64
export PATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin
printf "\n\nexport JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64\nexport PATH=\$PATH:\$JAVA_HOME/bin" >> ~/.bashrc
cd Android/tools/bin
./sdkmanager "platform-tools" "platforms;android-26" "build-tools;26.0.3"
export ANDROID_HOME=/home/<user>/Android
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
printf "\n\nexport ANDROID_HOME=/home/<user>/Android\nexport PATH=\$PATH:\$ANDROID_HOME/tools\nexport PATH=\$PATH:\$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools" >> ~/.bashrc
android update sdk --no-ui
sudo apt-get install gradle
gradle -v
adb start-server

This is setup guide I used to install headless android studio in wsl2. courtesy: gemini pro

🛠️ Complete WSL2 Android SDK Setup Guide

This guide ensures you have a working sdkmanager, platform tools (adb, fastboot), and the necessary Android platform 36 components installed and accessible from your WSL2 terminal.

1. ⚙️ Prerequisites and Setup

This assumes you have already downloaded and unzipped the Android Command-line Tools (e.g., to $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools).

1.1. Create the Directory Structure

Make sure your directory structure looks like this. If you haven't, run:

mkdir -p $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools

1.2. Correctly Place the cmdline-tools

Move the contents of the unzipped cmdline-tools folder (which should contain a bin, lib, NOTICE.txt, etc. directory/files) into a directory named latest:

# Assuming you unzipped the tools to ~/Downloads/cmdline-tools-linux
mv ~/Downloads/cmdline-tools-linux $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools/latest

(The sdkmanager executable must be in $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/)

2. 📝 Configure Environment Variables

You must add the necessary paths to your shell configuration file (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) so the system can find sdkmanager and adb from anywhere.

Open your shell configuration file:

nano ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

Add the following block to the end of the file:

# --- Android SDK Configuration ---
export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Android
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
# ---------------------------------

2.1. Load the New Configuration

Apply the changes to your current terminal session:

source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

3. 📥 Install SDK Packages

Now that the sdkmanager command is available in your PATH, you can install the required components.

Use the command you initially wanted to run, but without the ./ prefix:

sdkmanager --install "platform-tools" "platforms;android-36" "build-tools;36.0.0"

• "platform-tools": Installs adb, fastboot, etc.
• "platforms;android-36": Installs the Android 36 SDK platform files.
• "build-tools;36.0.0": Installs the necessary build tools (version 36.0.0 is used as a reference).

4. ✅ Accept Licenses

The SDK will not work until you accept the licenses. Use the sdkmanager for this as well:

yes | sdkmanager --licenses

5. 🔬 Verification and ADB Check

Check if everything is installed correctly:

Step 5.1: Verify adb Path

which adb

Expected Output: /home/youruser/Android/platform-tools/adb (or similar)

Step 5.2: Verify SDK Platform

ls $ANDROID_HOME/platforms

Expected Output: You should see a folder like android-36 listed.

Step 5.3: Check for Connected Devices (ADB)

To see devices, remember to use the correct command:

adb devices

Expected Output (if no device is connected):

List of devices attached

If you still get Command 'android' not found, remember that android is obsolete and has been replaced by sdkmanager and avdmanager.

This comprehensive list of steps should serve as a complete reference for your WSL2 Android SDK environment setup.

@qalqi
Thanks.
Here is my setup on WSL2 Arch. I need to change few more settings

React Native + Expo on WSL2 — Arch

Install Android SDK Command-line Tools

1. Install android-sdk-cmdline-tools-latest, jdk and optional dependencies (Arch Linux example):

yay -S android-sdk-cmdline-tools-latest android-sdk-platform-tools jdk-openjdk

Confirm installation:

which sdkmanager
sdkmanager --version

Configure Environment Variables in WSL2

Add the following to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc:

# Android SDK
export ANDROID_HOME=/opt/android-sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

Apply changes:

source ~/.zshrc or source ~/.bashrc

Set permissions for Android SDK directory:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /opt/android-sdk

Accept SDK licenses and install packages

# Install platform-tools, SDK platforms, build-tools
sdkmanager --install "platform-tools" "platforms;android-36" "build-tools;36.0.0"

# Accept all licenses
yes | sdkmanager --licenses

Verify installation:

adb version
ls $ANDROID_HOME/platforms

Connect your phone via USB (initial setup)

Enable Developer Options → USB debugging on your phone.

Connect via USB. Set phone to Transferring files (MTP).

Setup Metro bundler for LAN access

Find Windows host IP on Wi-Fi:

ipconfig

Find WSL2 IP:

ip addr

Forward port 8081 from Windows → WSL2:

netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenaddress=192.168.xxx.xxx listenport=8081 connectaddress=172.18.xxx.xxx connectport=8081

Allow port 8081 through Windows firewall:

• Open Windows Defender Firewall → Advanced Settings → Inbound Rules → New Rule → Port → TCP → 8081 → Allow → Private → Finish

Enable ADB over Wi-Fi

Find your phone’s Wi-Fi IP:

Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → gear icon → Advanced → IP address

Connect via Wi-Fi:

adb tcpip 5555
adb connect 192.168.xxx.xxx:5555
adb devices

Phone is now connected over Wi-Fi.

Create and start a React Native / Expo project

# Create new Expo app
npx create-expo-app@latest

# Start Metro bundler
npm start

Metro should show:

Metro waiting on exp://192.168.xxx.xxx:8081