VSCode Mobile Emulator: How to Run Android and iOS Emulators in VS Code (2026)

One of the most common questions from mobile developers using VS Code: how do I run an Android or iOS emulator directly from my editor?

VS Code doesn't have a built-in mobile emulator — but with the right extensions and a bit of setup, you can launch and switch between Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) and iOS simulators without ever leaving VS Code.

This guide walks through every method, from the simplest extension-based approach to the full Flutter/React Native development setup.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Setting Up Emulators

VS Code can control emulators, but the emulators themselves must be installed through the platform-specific toolchains:

For Android Emulators

• Android Studio (even if you won't use Android Studio as your editor)
• Why: Android Studio installs the Android SDK and the AVD Manager
• Download: developer.android.com/studio

Once Android Studio is installed, create at least one AVD:

1. Android Studio → Device Manager → Create Virtual Device
2. Pick a device profile (e.g., Pixel 8) and system image
3. Finish — VS Code extensions can now detect and launch this AVD

Common Android emulator paths (used in VS Code settings):

• Windows: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\emulator
• Mac: ~/Library/Android/sdk/emulator
• Linux: ~/Android/Sdk/emulator

For iOS Simulators (Mac Only)

• Xcode installed from the Mac App Store
• iOS simulators are part of Xcode — no separate install
• Note: iOS simulators only work on macOS, not Windows or Linux

Method 1: Android iOS Emulator Extension (Simplest Approach)

Extension ID: DiemasMichiels.emulate
Marketplace: Android iOS Emulator
Last updated: February 13, 2026

This is the most popular and straightforward extension for launching emulators from VS Code.

Installation

Ctrl+P → ext install DiemasMichiels.emulate

Or search "Android iOS Emulator" in the Extensions panel.

Configuration

After installing, set your emulator paths in VS Code settings:

1. Open Settings: Ctrl+,
2. Search for "emulator"
3. Set the appropriate path:

// settings.json
{
  "emulator.emulatorPathWindows": "C:\\Users\\<username>\\AppData\\Local\\Android\\Sdk\\emulator",
  "emulator.emulatorPathMac": "~/Library/Android/sdk/emulator",
  "emulator.emulatorPathLinux": "~/Android/Sdk/emulator"
}

Usage

1. Open Command Palette: Ctrl+Shift+P
2. Type "Emulator"
3. Select "Emulator: Launch Android Emulator" or "Emulator: Launch iOS Simulator"
4. Choose from your list of configured AVDs/simulators

The emulator launches in a separate window (or embedded, depending on your setup).

Method 2: Flutter Extension — Integrated Device Management

If you're building Flutter apps, the Flutter extension provides the most seamless emulator experience in all of VS Code.

Extension ID: Dart-Code.flutter

Setup

1. Install Flutter SDK from flutter.dev
2. Install the Flutter extension in VS Code
3. Run flutter doctor in terminal to verify setup

Launching Emulators

Once the Flutter extension is installed and Flutter SDK is configured, you get:

• Status bar device selector (bottom-right of VS Code) — click to see all available devices and simulators
• Command: Ctrl+Shift+P → "Flutter: Launch Emulator" — pick from list
• Automatic detection of all connected physical devices, Android AVDs, and iOS simulators

# Check all available emulators
flutter emulators

# Launch a specific emulator by ID
flutter emulators --launch <emulator_id>

For Flutter developers, this is the best approach — the device context is maintained throughout debugging, hot reload, and builds.

Method 3: Mobile Deck Extension — Full Device Manager in Sidebar

Extension ID: mobilenext.mobiledeck
Marketplace: Mobile Deck
Last updated: December 18, 2025

Mobile Deck adds a full device management sidebar panel to VS Code.

Features:

• View all connected Android devices, AVDs, iOS simulators, physical devices
• Launch/stop emulators from the sidebar panel
• Screen mirroring of physical devices
• Log viewer for device output
• Install APKs directly onto devices

Best for: React Native, Flutter, or native mobile developers who frequently switch between multiple test devices and want a permanent device management panel in their editor.

Method 4: Using VS Code Integrated Terminal Directly

For developers who prefer command-line control, you can launch emulators directly in VS Code's integrated terminal:

Android

# List all available AVDs
emulator -list-avds

# Launch a specific AVD
emulator -avd Pixel_8_API_35

# Or using the full path if emulator isn't in PATH
~/Android/Sdk/emulator/emulator -avd Pixel_8_API_35

iOS (Mac only)

# List available simulators
xcrun simctl list devices

# Boot a simulator by UDID
xcrun simctl boot <UDID>

# Open Simulator app to see it
open -a Simulator

Adding Emulator to PATH (saves typing)

Add to your shell profile (~/.zshrc, ~/.bashrc, etc.):

# Android
export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Android/Sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/emulator
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

Setting Up Android Emulator for React Native in VS Code

React Native developers using VS Code can use the React Native Tools extension alongside the emulator setup:

Extension ID: msjsdiag.vscode-react-native

With React Native Tools installed:

1. The extension detects running Android/iOS simulators automatically
2. Press F5 to start debugging on a connected emulator
3. Device selection appears in the bottom status bar

Common Emulator Issues and Fixes

Issue: Emulator not found by extension

• Verify Android SDK is installed (Android Studio → SDK Manager)
• Check the emulator path in VS Code settings matches your actual SDK location
• On Windows, make sure the path uses double backslashes or forward slashes

Issue: iOS Simulator not showing (Mac)

• Confirm Xcode is installed and at least one simulator is configured
• Run xcrun simctl list in terminal to verify simulators exist
• Accept Xcode license: sudo xcodebuild -license accept

Issue: Emulator starts but is very slow

• Enable Hardware Acceleration: Windows (Hyper-V or HAXM), Mac (HAXM), Linux (KVM)
• Give the AVD more RAM in Android Studio's AVD Manager
• Use x86_64 system images (much faster than ARM on x86 machines)

Issue: Extension not detecting AVDs

• Ensure you're using the right extension version for your VS Code version
• Run emulator -list-avds in terminal first to verify AVDs exist

VSCode Mobile Emulator: Feature Comparison

What About Previewing in Mobile Frames Without an Emulator?

If you're building web apps and want to see how they look on mobile — without the overhead of setting up Android Studio and AVDs — the Mobile Preview extension (lirobi.phone-preview) is the faster path:

• Shows your web app in realistic iPhone, Android, iPad device frames
• Live reload as you edit
• No Android SDK or Xcode required

For web-based mobile development (PWAs, responsive sites), this is significantly faster to set up than a full native emulator.

Building mobile apps with VS Code? Use the right extensions and your emulator workflow becomes seamless — no switching to Android Studio just to launch a device.