Install Ubuntu

Now that Termux is set up, install a full Ubuntu Linux distribution inside it using proot-distro.

Step 1: Install proot-distro

$pkg install proot-distro

🎯Expected Result

Termux will download and install the proot-distro package. You'll see download progress and a confirmation message. The process takes about 30 seconds.

Step 2: Install Ubuntu

$proot-distro install ubuntu

🎯Expected Result

This downloads the Ubuntu root filesystem (approximately 500MB). You'll see a download progress bar. The entire process takes 3-5 minutes on a typical Wi-Fi connection. When complete, you'll see a message confirming the distribution was installed.

✅💡 Tip

If the download seems slow, make sure you're on Wi-Fi rather than mobile data. The Ubuntu filesystem is a large download.

Step 3: Log into Ubuntu

$proot-distro login ubuntu

🎯Expected Result

Your prompt will change from the Termux $ prompt to a root@localhost:~# prompt. You are now inside a full Ubuntu environment. You can run standard Linux commands like ls, cat, and apt.

Step 4: Update Ubuntu packages

$apt update && apt upgrade -y

🎯Expected Result

Ubuntu will download its package lists and apply any available upgrades. This takes 2-3 minutes. You'll see repository fetching progress and package installation output. When finished, you'll be back at the root prompt with no errors.

⭐Best Practice

Always run apt update && apt upgrade -y after a fresh Ubuntu install to ensure you have the latest security patches and package versions.

ℹ️Learn more

Want to understand how proot works and why you don't need root access? See What is proot? in the Learn track.

ℹ️Learn more

Learn more about why Ubuntu was chosen and what alternatives exist in What is Ubuntu?.

🔧Troubleshooting

"proot-distro: command not found"

Make sure you ran the install command in Termux, not inside another environment. Run pkg install proot-distro again. If it still fails, run pkg update first to refresh your package list, then try the install again.

Download interrupted or incomplete

If the Ubuntu download was interrupted, run proot-distro remove ubuntu to clean up the partial install, then run proot-distro install ubuntu again. Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection before retrying.

apt update fails with connection errors

This usually means DNS resolution is not working inside proot. Exit Ubuntu by typing exit, then log back in with proot-distro login ubuntu. If the problem persists, check that your phone's Wi-Fi connection is active and try again.

Next Step

Ubuntu is running — time to give it a graphical desktop.