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Install Termux on Android the Right Way: F-Droid, Not Play Store

Difficulty: Easy ~10–15 min Android 7+ Featured

Termux is a terminal emulator with its own Linux package collection. The Termux project’s wiki says to install from F-Droid—not Google Play. Play builds have been effectively abandoned: outdated repos, no app/add-on updates, and bugs that only F-Droid builds fix. This guide sticks to the official path: https://f-droid.org only.

F-Droid to Termux install pathHTTPS lock on f-droid.org, F-Droid client, then Termux terminal prompt—Play Store crossed out.Play Storeabandonedf-droid.orgHTTPS onlyF-Droid.apkTermux~ $pkg upgradeOFFICIAL PATH · NO PLAY STORE · VERIFY HTTPS
Security // Source

Only f-droid.org over HTTPS

Checklist // Before You Start

What You Need

Walkthrough // Steps 01–08

Install F-Droid → Termux → update

  1. Step 1: Skip Play Store Termux

    Do not install or update Termux from Google Play. If Play Termux is present, uninstall Termux and every Termux:* add-on, then continue here with F-Droid only.

  2. Step 2: Open the official F-Droid site

    In Chrome/Firefox/Brave, go to https://f-droid.org. Check the URL shows https and the host is exactly f-droid.org. Use Get F-Droid → Option 2 (download the official APK)—F-Droid’s recommended path for most users.

  3. Step 3: Download F-Droid.apk

    Tap the official download link for F-Droid.apk. Keep the file on internal storage (not a random SD path that blocks install permissions).

  4. Step 4: Allow Install unknown apps (browser)

    Open the downloaded APK. If Android asks, tap Settings and enable Allow from this source for your browser (or Files). This is the modern per-app “unknown apps” permission—details in Allow a specific app to install APKs. Then tap Install for F-Droid.

    Optional hardening (F-Droid docs): after F-Droid works, you can turn the browser’s install permission off again and leave only F-Droid allowed to install apps.

  5. Step 5: Open F-Droid and install Termux

    Launch F-Droid. Wait for the repository index to finish updating (first launch can take a few minutes). Tap search, type Termux, open the app by the Termux developers (com.termux), and install. When Android prompts, allow F-Droid to install unknown apps.

    Direct package page (still via F-Droid site): f-droid.org/packages/com.termux/—prefer the client’s Install button for updates.

  6. Step 6: First launch

    Open Termux from the launcher. Wait until you see a shell prompt (often ~ $). The first start may download a small bootstrap; stay on Wi‑Fi if you can.

  7. Step 7: Update packages

    The wiki recommends the pkg wrapper (not raw apt). Run:

    pkg update
pkg upgrade

    pkg upgrade refreshes indexes when needed and upgrades installed packages. Confirm prompts with Y when asked. Check for updates about weekly.

  8. Step 8: Storage access (optional but documented)

    Shared storage (/sdcard) is not granted by default. When you need Downloads, Photos, etc., run:

    termux-setup-storage

    Grant the permission dialog, then verify with ls ~/storage/shared. That creates handy symlinks (~/storage/downloads, dcim, …) as documented on the Termux wiki. On Android 11+, if you still get “Permission denied,” revoke Storage for Termux in system Settings and grant it again.

Optional // Termux:API

Termux:API (only if you need it)

Not required for a normal Termux shell. The wiki’s Termux:API page describes an add-on that exposes Android features (clipboard, battery, toast, …) to scripts. If you want that: install Termux:API from the same source—F-Droid—then inside Termux run pkg install termux-api. Never mix Play and F-Droid for Termux and its add-ons.

Pro Tip

One signing source forever

Sources // Verified

Official docs

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