Step #1: Install Android Studio

At the time of this writing, the current production version of Android Studio is 2020.3.1 Arctic Fox and this book covers that version. Android Studio gets updated often, and so you may be on a newer version — there may be some differences between what you have and what is presented here.

You have two major download options. You can get the latest shipping version of Android Studio from the Android Studio download page. Or, you can download Android Studio Arctic Fox directly, for:

Windows users can download a self-installing EXE, which will add suitable launch options for you to be able to start the IDE.

Mac x86 users can download a DMG disk image and install it akin to other Mac software, dragging the Android Studio icon into the Applications folder. M1 users get a ZIP file instead.

Linux users can download a ZIP file, then unZIP it to some likely spot on your hard drive. Android Studio can then be run from the studio batch file or shell script in your Android Studio installation’s bin/ directory.