Fixing the “Emulator Process for AVD Has Terminated” Error in Android Studio: A Comprehensive Guide

Staring at the “Emulator Process for AVD Has Terminated” error? You’re not alone. Let’s troubleshoot this headache together.

If you’ve ever fired up Android Studio, eager to test your app, only to be greeted by the dreaded “The emulator process for AVD has terminated” error, you know how frustrating this can be. The emulator is a critical tool for Android developers, and when it refuses to launch, your workflow grinds to a halt.

After scouring forums, issue trackers, and developer communities (including this Stack Overflow thread and Google’s official bug report), I’ve compiled a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue. Before following any steps, make sure you know what you are doing. Let’s dive in.

Known Issue

Google’s Issue Tracker confirms this error affects some users with AMD CPUs.

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/404573976#comment4

Workarounds include:

**Updating Drivers: **https://www.amd.com/en/support/download/drivers.html
Updating driver should work if this was an issue for you. If this does not work for you and you need a quick solution to get it work somehow, then for Windows,

In “C:\Users<username>.android\advancedFeatures.ini”, default values might look something like:

Vulkan = on
GLDirectMem = on

Simply **try changing configuration for Vulkan = on to Vulkan = off **as below.

This should be quick solution. Note that if there’s no **advancedFeatures.ini **file in the path **C:\Users<username>.android\advancedFeatures.ini, **create it with following configuration.

Vulkan = off
GLDirectMem = on

Other Workarounds:

If the issue still persists, try following [Referenced from: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/79185816/emulator-not-starting-up-in-android-studio-the-emulator-process-for-avd-has-ter ]:

1. Update Everything

Outdated software is the usual suspect.

Start by ensuring Android Studio, the Android Emulator, and your system OS are up to date. Google frequently releases fixes for emulator bugs, and installing the latest versions might resolve the issue automatically.

Update Android Studio: Go to Help > Check for Updates (Windows/Linux) or Android Studio > Check for Updates (macOS).
Update Emulator: Open the SDK Manager (Tools > SDK Manager), navigate to the SDK Tools tab, and check if the Android Emulator has an update.
Update Your OS: Ensure Windows/macOS/Linux is fully updated.

2. Free Up Disk Space and RAM

The emulator is resource-hungry.

Ensure you have at least 4GB of free RAM and 10GB of disk space.
Close unnecessary apps (Chrome tabs, Docker, etc.).

3. Revert to a Stable Emulator Version

New updates can introduce bugs.

If the issue started after an update, roll back:

In the SDK Manager’s SDK Tools tab, uncheck Android Emulator.
Check Show Package Details and install an older version (e.g., 32.x.x instead of 33.x.x).

4. Run the Emulator from the Command Line

Get detailed error logs.

Open Terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).
Navigate to the emulator directory:

cd ~/Library/Android/sdk/emulator # macOS
cd C:\Users<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\emulator # Windows

./emulator -avd <Your_AVD_Name> -logcat <path_to_logfile.txt>

Replace <Your_AVD_Name> with your AVD’s name (e.g., Pixel_4_API_34). Check logs for any meaningful error in any. You can check AVD name using terminal command avd devices and use one of your choice.

avd devices
Meanwhile, you might be able to start virtual emulator using following terminal command with no GPU for emulator.

./emulator -gpu off -avd <Your_AVD_Name>

Check the logs for clues like “Failed to open /qemu.conf” or GPU errors.

5. Check for Software Conflicts

Hyper-V, antivirus, or Docker might interfere.

Windows Users: Disable Hyper-V and Windows Hypervisor Platform: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on/off and uncheck these options.
Antivirus/Firewall: Temporarily disable them to test if they’re blocking the emulator.
Docker/WSL2: These use virtualization tools that can conflict with the emulator. Try closing them.

6. Tweak Emulator Graphics Settings

Not all GPUs play nice with the emulator.

Switch the emulator’s graphics configuration:

Open AVD Manager (Tools > AVD Manager).
Click the pencil icon to edit your AVD.
Under Emulated Performance > Graphics, try:

Software (slow but reliable)
Automatic (let Android Studio decide)
Hardware (if your GPU drivers are updated)

Still crashing? Update your GPU drivers from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel). Checkout https://stackoverflow.com/a/79188181 .

Final Thoughts

The “Emulator Process Has Terminated” error is a notorious roadblock, but it’s rarely unfixable. Start with updates and driver checks, then move to more niche solutions. If you’ve tried everything and still hit a wall, consider using a physical device for testing temporarily.

Did this guide help? Let me know in the comments! And if you found a different fix, share it — your solution might save someone’s sanity.

Happy coding! 🚀 May your emulators run smoothly!