Android 13 (known as "Tiramisu") is a modern release of the Android operating system. While Android 13 is not the biggest update in Android OS history, it's worth trying out to feel some of the feature updates.

If your mobile device hasn't received this update yet, there is no need to worry. You can use Android Studio software to try out Android 13 on a virtual smartphone. Android Studio comes packed with the AVD Manager, which allows you to run multiple virtual Android devices at once.

Keep reading to learn how to install Android 13 using Android Studio's AVD Manager on your computer.

What Is Android Studio and AVD Manager?

Android Studio is a popular Android app development tool. It offers an integrated development environment (IDE) that helps developers code Android apps easily.

On the other hand, AVD Manager, or Android Virtual Device Manager, is a useful utility that comes packed inside Android Studio. AVD Manager allows developers to create a virtual Android smartphone or an Android emulator to test their mobile apps.

As Android Studio is officially a Google-owned software, it gets timely updates with the latest Android OS features. So, you can use AVD Manager to easily install Android 13 on a virtual smartphone.

The System Requirements for Android Studio

Before jumping on to the steps, make sure to check the following system requirements for your Windows PC or laptop once:

  • A 64-bit system running Microsoft Windows OS 8/10/11.
  • 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution
  • x86_64 CPU architecture; 2nd generation Intel Core or newer; or AMD CPU with Hypervisor support.
  • 8 GB of RAM or more12 GB of available disc space are required in total for the IDE, Android SDK, and the Android Emulator.

Check out how to check your computer's specs if you're unsure on what your PC specs are. Once you're sure your computer meets the system requirements, you must install the Android Studio software first.

How to Install Android Studio on Windows

Installing Android Studio for the first time can be confusing. Moreover, if you miss a step in between, Android Studio may crash all at once. Thankfully, we've got a beginner-friendly guide for installing Android Studio on Windows for you. Check that out, and once you're done setting up the software, proceed to the main part.

Also, Android Studio is a resource-intensive program, so ensuring enough RAM for the program is highly recommended. Besides that, check out some common mistakes slowing down your computer for an idea of what not to do after installing Android Studio.

The performance of Android Studio depends upon your computer's RAM, processing power, and disk type. As Android Studio takes a lot of time to load, you can enhance its performance and launch time by installing it on your SSD.

How to the Android 13 Tiramisu Emulator

You can perform almost all the essential functions on the Android emulator, such as installing third-party apps, surfing the internet, watching YouTube videos, and more.

Undoubtedly, other Android emulators, such as Bluestacks or NoxPlayer, are far more efficient than the one created using AVD Manager. However, the only downside of other emulators is that they're not updated with the latest Android OS version. On the other hand, Google ships the latest versions of Android updates with the AVD Manager.

Follow the below-given steps to access the AVD Manager and create a virtual Android emulator:

  1. Open Android Studio and navigate to More Actions > Virtual Device Manager.
  2. On the Device Manager screen, click Create device.
  3. Select any device of your choice from the list and click Next. We've selected the Pixel 6 Pro for this tutorial.
    Hardware List In The AVD Manager
  4. Click the download icon next to the Android 13 codename, i.e., Tiramisu. The installer will then install the necessary components for the emulator.
  5. Select Tiramisu from the system image list and click Next.
    AVD Manager System Images List
  6. Now, you can rename your virtual device and tweak some settings, such as orientation, cores, memory, and storage settings for your emulator.
    AVD Configuration Basic Settings In Android Studio
  7. Click Finish to exit the setup. Now, you can launch your Android emulator by clicking the play icon in Device Manager.
    Devices List In Android Device Manager

The default configuration in the AVD Manager is too low to experience Android 13 properly. Hence, we recommend upgrading the general configuration, such as the RAM and number of cores. You can modify them by clicking the Show Advanced Settings button.

That's it. Now, you can use the emulator as per your wish and experience the Android 13 release of the Android OS. To control the navigation of the emulator, you can either use your mouse or use the buttons provided with the emulator's sidebar.

Troubleshooting the Android 13 Emulator

The first launch may take around five minutes, depending on your computer's specifications. You can customize the emulated device by clicking the three-dot menu and tweaking the Extended Controls thereon.

AVD Manager Android Emulator Overview

However, if the emulator fails to launch or crashes immediately, do check for the following causes:

  • Outdated Android Studio version: You need to keep the Android Studio up-to-date, as every new update comes with bug fixes and other features. To check for the latest updates, navigate to Settings > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Updates and click Check for Updates...
  • Low disk space: If your PC or laptop doesn't have enough space, your Android emulator may lag heavily at times. Thus, it is highly recommended to free up storage space in Windows.
  • Antivirus detection: In case you're using third-party antivirus software, it may hinder the functioning of the Android emulator. So, you must keep the antivirus software disabled and check the issue by re-launching the emulator.
  • Less RAM than required: Suppose you've allocated 4GB of RAM for your emulator (via the configuration settings), and your computer has the same amount of RAM; then it'll indeed lag for obvious reasons. Thus, modify the RAM and core allocations accordingly.
  • Graphics Rendering may not be suitable: If your computer lacks a dedicated graphics card, go to the Virtual Device Manager window, click the pencil icon, and change the Emulated Performance setting to Software - GLES 2.0.

The issues related to the Android emulator crashing or not running at the first launch may all be resolved using the solutions listed above. But always keep in mind that a fresh installation of the entire Android Studio setup would fix this problem if things still go wrong after trying the solutions.

Experience Android 13 With the AVD Manager

While the AVD Manager tool is specifically for Android app developers, you can also use it to experience any significant Android update that arrives.

Though, note that AVD Manager is only a partially functional tool for experiencing the complete Android. It is slow compared to an actual Android device, and only some emulated devices in AVD Manager support the Google Play Store.

Sometimes, you may face trouble running popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook or playing heavy Android games on your virtual emulator. In that case, you must look for alternatives to AVD Manager. For this purpose, an emulator like BlueStacks is perfect.