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Want to run a full Linux distro on your Android phone? I found the easiest way
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In the name of science and experimentation, I decided to try running a full-blown Linux desktop on an Android tablet. Turns out it's not only possible but also easy -- thanks to an app called UserLAnd.
Before I continue, note that there are two versions of UserLAnd: free and paid. I spent most of the weekend working with the free version, and getting a Linux desktop running on that was an interminable headache. Eventually, I broke down and paid the $4.99 for the Pro version, so I could get this done.
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To be fair, the free version does allow you to run an X server with a terminal app, from which you can install all sorts of applications. Or, you can even run a handful of apps, such as Firefox and GIMP. But if your goal is a full-blown Linux desktop (such as Xfce), your best bet is to pony up for the Pro version.
If you're not interested in running a full-blown Linux desktop on your Android phone, you can always run single Linux apps instead. Or, you can run Android apps on Linux, with Waydroid.
UserLAnd is widely touted as the easiest way to run a Linux distribution on Android, and I agree wholeheartedly. There are other solutions, but most of them end with an Xorg session and a terminal window, after which you have to install the desktop environment. Although the same holds true with the UserLAnd free version, with the UserLAnd Pro version, a Linux desktop is just a few taps away on Android.
The best thing about UserLAnd is that it doesn't require root access to install Linux. If you've ever tried to gain root access on an Android device, you know how much of a pain that can be.
Also: 5 surprisingly productive things you can do with the Linux terminal
UserLAnd is a GUI app that can be installed from the Google Play Store. Open the Google Play Store app on your device, search for UserLAnd, tap the entry, then tap Install. This installs the free version of the app. To access the Pro version, do so within the app (when you go to run an instance of a distribution).