Develop Reference

Android Studio: AVD options give the error "The skin directory does not point to a valid skin", but only when editing the virtual device

In Android Studio (Arctic Fox | 2020.3.1 Patch 1), the initial creation and subsequent launch of a new virtual device in the emulator completes without any issues and the device frame shows properly. However, when opting to edit the virtual device, an error pops up briefly at the bottom of the window saying, "The skin directory does not point to a valid skin," and the Enable Device Frame option becomes un-ticked. If you cancel out of the Android Device Configuration window, the skin will still load correctly. If you check the Enable Device Frame checkbox and select the Finish button, the emulator will load without a skin. Going back to the device's option page shows that the Enable Device Frame checkbox has once again become un-ticked. Is this a bug and/or is there a workaround to this? I want to boot from a particular snapshot each time the emulator loads, but cannot do that without accessing the option page (whereby the skin will disappear once I finalize my option selection.)

I had this problem, I discovered I didn't have the SDK version downloaded for the version I had selected in AVD.
To solve in Android Studio Select: Tools > SDK Manager
Then check you have downloaded the SDK for the android version you are trying to use in AVD

I had the same issue when creating a new AVD:
Click "Show Advanced Settings"
Set "Custom skin definition" to "No Skin"
Error is gone

I had the same issue.
Create a new device.
Compare the config.ini files between the two.
I found mine in C:\Users\USER\.android\avd\Pixel_4_API_30.avd\
Edit accordingly.
Restart.

Eclipse Android Emulator not working on Microsoft Surface Pro

I cannot get an Android Virtual Device to launch on my Surface Pro. I have had no problems on Windows XP, 7, or OS X.
I have tried launching from the AVD Manager, it opens the option dialog and when I select launch it acts like it is working, however the emulator never shows up.
When I select Run As Android Application from a project it acts like it is starting, once again nothing ever shows up.
Either way I get no error messages in the console.
I have tried disabling UAC.
Thanks for your help.

Right-click the program's icon and choose Properties.
When the Properties dialog box appears, click the Compatibility tab and then click the Run Compatibility Troubleshooter button.
Windows 8 tries to guess what version of Windows your program needs, and then it applies the changes. If the program begins working, you're through.
If the program still has trouble, though, move to Step 3.
In the Compatibility Mode section, select the Run This Program in Compatibility Mode For check box and select the program's desired Windows version from the drop-down list.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/1ael60/surface_pro_and_dj_software_also_android/

Please refer to my question and answer here:
< Android Emulator and AVD will not run on Surface Pro >
As it turns out you can run the Android Emulator and AVD on the Microsoft Windows 8 Surface Pro.
You will need to rollback the graphic drivers:
< http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/latest-graphics-driver-update-makes-bluestacks/1f67d99f-3626-4110-aa22-773856b226cb > Method 1: I would suggest you to roll back to the previous driver.
a) Press Windows key + X on the keyboard.
b) Click Device Manager.
c) Double-click on Display Adapters.
d) Double-click on your Graphic Card Drivers
e) Select the Driver Tab
f) Click on Roll Back Driver.
I still recommend using Bluestacks as an alternative method for Android Emulation.

D'pad Is disabled in emulator

I am using android sdk 4.0.3 ,I have created an Emulator of it.
Now I have a problem that the emulator is showing the Disabled
DPAD Buttons .I have set up the Hardware keyboard present and display skin with buttons option in configuration.
So i just want to enable the Dpad Buttons on emulator

Every emulated device is based on a more or less real device, which you chose as '4.0" WVGA (480x800:hdpi)' this doesnt only concern the resolution of your emulated device bur also its hardware features. In the main screen of the avd-manager enter the tab that says device definitions. there you can edit your chosen device and you will find the dpad under input.

This sounds crazy, but it worked for me:
Launch a fresh emulator from the Android Virtual Device(AVD) Manager.
Note: "DO NOT START THE DEVICE".
Find the configuration file, something like: ~/.android/avd/XXXX.avd/config.ini
Notice that this directory has only one INI file.
Edit config.ini:
change hw.dPad=no to hw.dPad=yes
The AVD Manager will still show dPad=no when you click on Details. It appears to not catch on until the virtual device is started. (Clumsy? yes)
Start the device. It should show DPAD without the complaint about it not being there.
The DETAILS button in AVD Manager should also show hw.dPad=yes
I ran into this while trying to bring up the "Snake" demo. It failed to run, asking to press the UP key -- and the pad didn't respond! After getting DPAD set, the demo can be controlled through the pad.
This appears to be a bug in the AVD Manager. If you get dPad set to 'yes', it can be set to 'no' through the AVD Manager. But changing 'no' to 'yes' requires the above workaround.

The virtual device folder has a config file , just like my Mac OS X and a VM(A17) :
~/.android/avd/A17.avd/config.ini
change
hw.dPad=no
to
hw.dPad=yes

I found this solution in a different file. I am using SDK version revision 20.
Create a fresh AVD from you AVD manager.
There is no option in AVD manager to enable DPAD. I tried even by clicking Edit.
Go to C:\Users\%USERNAME%\.android\avd\YOUR_AVD_NAME folder
Open hardware-qemu.ini file. Here you will get all hw config details.
There you will find hw.dPad = no; Change it to hw.dPad = yes and save the file
Restart your AVD and Voila !!! DPAD is now enabled in Emulator.

Edit config.ini as
hw.dPad=no --> hw.dPad=yes
.
Clone Device Definitions with enable keyboard
Enable Input -> Keyboard.
For your previous AVD, So you wouldn't face this problem anymore in the future.

You have to uncheck the hardware keyboard present option. It would then be enabled. So the option would be
Display a skin with hardware controls - true
Hardware keyboard present - false

how to create a new AVD in eclipse?

I have a problem in creating a new android virtual device in eclipse I have a window with this information needed :
AVD name ,
Device ,
Target ,
CPU/ABI ,
Keyboard ,
Skin ,
Front Camera ,
Back Camera ,
Memory Options ,
Internal Storge ,
SD Card ,
Emulation Options ,
and an OK button .
Instead of the window which I see in the tutorials that needs just this info :
Name ,
Target ,
CPU/ABI ,
SD Card ,
Snapshot ,
Skin ,
Hardware ,
and Create AVD button .
And in my window I don't know what is the device option should I select + what ever I selected the OK button never be available ! what should I do ?
please help me , thank you .

May be the following will help :
Then start the emulator

Try to create an AVD with the monitor.bat in the tools-folder, that worked out for me!

They most probably have changed some AVD settings. As for your second question regarding what options you should select: Don't make a very tiny SD card. Anything above 100mb should work fine. As for target choose the android version you've downloaded a system image for using the SDK.
I don't understand what you mean by "not be available", but if its the OK button its because you have no target platform.
If you mean, that the emulator won't start up, give it some time. You can even put the emulator in snapshot mode so it will open right where it last left off, saving you time.

Try Window -> Android SDK Manager.
update your Android SDK Tools and Android SDK Platform-tools to the latest version

if u cant click the ok button,try running avd manager outside eclipse.it worked for me as i encountered very same problem...later choose that device from avd manager using eclipse.it will run the stimulator

If you want to create an AVD in Eclipse you need to do this:
Go to Window -> Android Virtual Device Manager
Then you need to give a name and select the platform that you want (Target option)
Then the button "Create AVD" activates.
The other options you can let them unmodified.

another alternative is install ARM EABI system image from sdk of your respective android version,then restart eclipse.it will now allow you to click OK button.hope this helps you...

add ADT to your Eclipse Project and click on avd icon in IDE to open avd manager then create a new device and also new virtual devices

For me, the "OK" button was disabled because I had spaces in the AVD name. After removing the spaces from the name, the "OK" button was enabled.

Use same android emulator every time

I have started a new emulator from 'launch new emulator' . But when I run another project later another emulator is getting loaded . Actually I wanted to use the same emulator itself.I there any option to reuse the same emulator and prevent new emulator being launched automatically.

Instead of Run use Run>Run Configurations>Target>Manual and manually select the AVD that is already launched.

I often have this problem when i both have the physical device( a real phone) plugged in the pc and an emulator. You can put the devices list near the console and logcat views, so you can select here the right device to use (install the app and show the logcat).
Go in window -> show view -> other -> devices.
From there you can select which device to use (if nothing is selected, a new emulator is run following the target option you set following Mangusto's answer)

You can select the emulator that you wish to make default from windows->android sdk manager->
edit the virtual device from that you can select skin you want. or set the dimension.
I think this can help you

Go to Run > Edit Configurations, choose your run configuration on the left side, check Use same device for future launches checkbox.