Can Linux be installed on Android tab instead of Android OS?
In general, you cannot simply wipe Android and install a standard desktop Linux distribution like Lubuntu on a tablet the way you would on a regular PC. Replacing the operating system natively is extremely difficult for most Android devices due to inherent hardware and software restrictions.
Why Native Installation is Difficult
- Locked Bootloaders: Unlike standard computers that use a standard BIOS or UEFI to easily boot from an installation USB, ARM-based Android devices have specialized, often locked bootloaders that prevent the installation of unauthorized operating systems.
- Proprietary Drivers: Tablets rely on highly specific, closed-source drivers for internal hardware like touchscreens, Wi-Fi chips, audio, and graphics. Standard Linux kernels do not have access to these drivers, meaning that even if you managed to force an installation, the tablet’s basic hardware would not function.
The Exceptions: Natively Supported Devices
While standard desktop Lubuntu won’t work, there are specialized mobile Linux distributions designed to completely replace Android, such as postmarketOS and UBports (Ubuntu Touch). However, these projects only work on a very strict, limited list of specific device models that developers have manually reverse-engineered. If your exact tablet model is not officially supported by these projects, a native replacement is simply not possible.
The Alternative: Running Linux Alongside Android
If your goal is to use a Linux desktop environment on your tablet hardware, the most reliable method is to run Linux on top of Android rather than replacing it.
- Apps like UserLAnd: You can download apps like UserLAnd from the Google Play Store, which allow you to install distributions like Ubuntu or Debian and run full graphical desktop environments (like XFCE or LXDE). This requires no rooting or bootloader unlocking. But I am yet to try them out.
- Virtualization: Apps like QEMU or Termux (often combined with a VNC viewer) can also be used to create an isolated Linux environment within the existing Android OS. I am using Termux to run Python in my tab and it runs very well.