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@1nikolas
Last active September 9, 2024 07:18
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Install Android 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 on Genymotion

Install Android 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 on Genymotion

I found a way to install older Android versions (4.x) on latest version of Genymotion. I only tested it on Windows but it should work on Mac and Linux too. So here is what you need to do:

Step 1

Download the required Android image. I've reuploaded the files to Mega and saved them on the WayBack Machine.

Step 2:

Open Genymotion and go to the Genymotion Settings

Step2.1

Then go to Virtualbox tab and copy the Virtual Devices path

Step2.2

Step 3

Close Genymotion and open VirtualBox. Go to File and choose Import Appliance.

Step3.1

Choose the file you downloaded earlier and hit next

Step3.2

On the next screen you need to change the Machine Base Folder to the path you copied on Step 2. You can also change the name to something more distinguishable if you want. Leave everything else as is (VM specs can be changed later via Genymotion).

Step 3.3

Click Import and close out of VirtualBox

Step 3.4

Step 4

Make sure VirtualBox is closed and navigate to the folder from Step 2. On Windows 10 you can paste the path in the Search and hit enter.

Step4.1

Then open the folder named after the name you chose on Step 3. Inside, it should be a {VM Name}.vbox file.

Step4.2

Open that file as a text file (If you are on Windows it's better to use Notepadd++ instead of the normal Notepad).

Step4.3

Go to where it says GuestProperties and add this line above </GuestProperties>:

<GuestProperty name="android_version" value="4.1.1" timestamp="" flags=""/>

⚠️ Make sure to replace the value to the corresponding Android version (4.1.1, 4.2.2 or 4.3). ⚠️

Before:

Step4.4

After:

Step4.5

Save the file and close the editor.

Step 5

Open Genymotion and you should see the device you added.

Step5.1

Optional: Edit Device's settings from the 3 dot menu (eg. Change resolution, Increase RAM and CPU Cores).

Step5.2

Step 6

Run the Device

NOTE: Every time you open the Device, you will see this message. Just click Continue Anyway.

Step6.1

And ENJOY!

Step6.2

It seems that these old VMs run a bit slower and glitch a little bit but that's to be expected since they are discontinued for quite a while. But overall they run very well.

Gapps

To install Google Apps on these Devices you need to Download this file (Mega mirror) and drag-n-drop it into the Device (while it's running). It will ask you if you want to flash it, just say yes. After that, restart the Device and leave the it for a little while to auto update Play Store and Play Sevices and you are done.

Credits

  • Guide by me
  • Gapps by Formula84 (I don't remeber exactly where I found them)
  • OVA files thanks to this old version of a Gist (mirrors provided by me)
@1nikolas
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Does not seem to work for me, it doesn't get detected in Genymotion unless I add a shared/config/device.json, of which I do not have a proper one for 4.2.2

Update: almost got it working... it booted and everything but the screen through genymotion does not work.

You can check from virtualbox if the VM says anything

@BitesizedLion
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Does not seem to work for me, it doesn't get detected in Genymotion unless I add a shared/config/device.json, of which I do not have a proper one for 4.2.2
Update: almost got it working... it booted and everything but the screen through genymotion does not work.

You can check from virtualbox if the VM says anything

The VM itself is on, I can even view it through virtualbox itself, just not via Genymotion

@1nikolas
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Does not seem to work for me, it doesn't get detected in Genymotion unless I add a shared/config/device.json, of which I do not have a proper one for 4.2.2
Update: almost got it working... it booted and everything but the screen through genymotion does not work.

You can check from virtualbox if the VM says anything

The VM itself is on, I can even view it through virtualbox itself, just not via Genymotion

Yes it might say something in the log when you view the vm screen. Or is it black?

@BitesizedLion
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Does not seem to work for me, it doesn't get detected in Genymotion unless I add a shared/config/device.json, of which I do not have a proper one for 4.2.2
Update: almost got it working... it booted and everything but the screen through genymotion does not work.

You can check from virtualbox if the VM says anything

The VM itself is on, I can even view it through virtualbox itself, just not via Genymotion

Yes it might say something in the log when you view the vm screen. Or is it black?

I meant that the VM has fully booted and you can view the actual normal OS through VirtualBox, it's only black via Genymotion's viewer

@BitesizedLion
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image

@1nikolas
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Does not seem to work for me, it doesn't get detected in Genymotion unless I add a shared/config/device.json, of which I do not have a proper one for 4.2.2
Update: almost got it working... it booted and everything but the screen through genymotion does not work.

You can check from virtualbox if the VM says anything

The VM itself is on, I can even view it through virtualbox itself, just not via Genymotion

Yes it might say something in the log when you view the vm screen. Or is it black?

I meant that the VM has fully booted and you can view the actual normal OS through VirtualBox, it's only black via Genymotion's viewer

Thats weird. Normally you cant see the vm from virtualbox. Maybe something changed? Idk

@HafizBeyy
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bro i think i made every step correctly but the vd doesnt show up in genymotion
genymotion

@HafizBeyy
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bro i think i made every step correctly but the vd doesnt show up in genymotion genymotion

might it caused by i used normal notpad? maybe encoding reasing etc. (゜ー゜

@1nikolas
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1nikolas commented Jul 2, 2023

bro i think i made every step correctly but the vd doesnt show up in genymotion genymotion

might it caused by i used normal notpad? maybe encoding reasing etc. (゜ー゜

I think Genymotion now uses qemu instead of VirtualBox by default. Check your settings. This only works with VirtualBox

@HafizBeyy
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HafizBeyy commented Aug 18, 2023 via email

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