[Product News](https://developer.android.com/blog/categories/product-news.md.txt) # Test Multi-Device Interactions with the Android Emulator 1 min read ![](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/Multi_Device_Interactions_with_Android_Emulator_Strapi_5d6ea711e7_zosMV.webp) 13 Apr 2026 [![View Steven Jenkins's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/headshot_e042d23f90_dYVWq.webp)](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/steven-jenkins.md.txt) [Steven Jenkins](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/steven-jenkins.md.txt) Product Manager, Android Studio Testing multi-device interactions is now easier than ever with the Android Emulator. Whether you are building a multiplayer game, extending your mobile application across form factors, or launching virtual devices that require a device connection, the Android Emulator now natively supports these developer experiences. Previously, interconnecting multiple Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) caused significant friction. It required manually managing complex port forwarding rules just to get two emulators to connect. Now you can take advantage of a new networking stack for the Android Emulator which brings zero-configuration peer-to-peer connectivity across all your AVDs. ### Interconnecting emulator instances The new networking stack for the Android Emulator transforms how emulators communicate. Previously, each virtual device operated on its own local area network (LAN), effectively isolating it from other AVDs. The new Wi-Fi network stack changes this by creating a shared virtual network backplane that bridges all running instances on the same host machine. #### Key benefits: - **Zero-configuration:** No more manual port forwarding or scripting `adb` commands. AVDs on the same host appear on the same virtual network. - **Peer-to-peer connectivity:** Critical protocols like Wi-Fi Direct and Network Service Discovery (NSD) work out of the box between emulators. - **Improved stability:** Resolves long-standing stability issues, such as data loss and connection drops found in the legacy stack. - **Cross-platform consistency:** Works the same across Windows, macOS, and Linux. ### Use Cases The enhanced emulator networking supports a wide range of multi-device development scenarios: - **Multi-device apps:** Test file sharing, local multiplayer gaming, or control flows between a phone and another Android device. - **Continuous integration:** Create robust, automated multi-device test pipelines without flaky network scripts. - **Android XR \& AI glasses:** Easily test companion app pairing and data streaming between a phone and glasses within Android Studio. - **Automotive \& Wear OS:** Validate connectivity flows between a mobile device and a vehicle head unit or smartwatch. *The new emulator networking stack allows multiple AVDs to share a virtual network, enabling direct peer-to-peer communication with zero configuration.* ### Get Started The new networking capability is enabled by default in the latest Android Emulator release (36.5), which is available via the [Android Studio SDK Manager](https://developer.android.com/studio/intro/update.md.txt#sdk-manager). Just update your emulator and launch multiple devices! If you need to disable this feature or want to learn more, please refer to our [documentation](https://developer.android.com/studio/run/emulator-networking-interconnect.md.txt). As always, we appreciate any feedback. If you find a bug or issue, please [file an issue](https://developer.android.com/studio/report-bugs.md.txt). Also you can be part of our vibrant Android developer community on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/androiddev/posts/?feedView=all), [Medium](https://medium.com/androiddevelopers), [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AndroidDevelopers/videos), or [X](https://x.com/androidstudio). Written by: - ## [Steven Jenkins](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/steven-jenkins.md.txt) ###### Product Manager [read_more View profile](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/steven-jenkins) ![View Steven Jenkins's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/headshot_e042d23f90_dYVWq.webp) ![View Steven Jenkins's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/headshot_e042d23f90_dYVWq.webp) Continue reading - 3 Authors 09 Sep 2026 09 Sep 2026 ![](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/Introducing_Fast_and_Reliable_Wireless_Debugging_Strapi_cf55ad145b_2vFLdh.webp) [Product News](https://developer.android.com/blog/categories/product-news.md.txt) ## [Introducing Fast and Reliable Wireless Debugging with Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Wi-Fi 2.0](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/introducing-fast-and-reliable-wireless-debugging-with-android-debug-bridge-adb-wi-fi-2-0.md.txt) [arrow_forward](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/introducing-fast-and-reliable-wireless-debugging-with-android-debug-bridge-adb-wi-fi-2-0.md.txt) Wireless debugging on Android is now faster, more reliable, and easier to set up than ever. With ADB Wi-Fi 2.0, we've introduced a new server stack and smarter network handling to directly address developer feedback around usability gaps. [Steven Jenkins](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/steven-jenkins.md.txt), [Sherif Eid](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/sherif-eid.md.txt), [Fabien Sanglard](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/fabien-sanglard.md.txt) • 1 min read - [#Wireless Debugging](https://developer.android.com/blog/topics/wireless-debugging.md.txt) - [#ADB Wi-Fi 2.0](https://developer.android.com/blog/topics/adb-wi-fi-2-0.md.txt) - [#Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/blog/topics/android-studio.md.txt) - +1 ↩ - [![View Michelle Martin's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/unnamed_29_8358471ffe_MSkhy.webp)](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/michelle-martin.md.txt) 10 Nov 2026 10 Nov 2026 ![](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/ABL_Sign_in_with_Google_Plugin_for_Unity_Gaming_DESIGN_Header_and_metadata_V01_26433b75fe_Z260GOa.webp) [Product News](https://developer.android.com/blog/categories/product-news.md.txt) ## [Powering Seamless Player Sign-In: Introducing the Open-Source Sign in with Google Plugin for Unity](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/open-source-google-sign-in-unity.md.txt) [arrow_forward](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/open-source-google-sign-in-unity.md.txt) With Unity powering over half of all mobile titles worldwide, first impressions matter. For game developers, a smooth, reliable player onboarding experience is essential to driving day-one retention and long-term engagement. [Michelle Martin](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/michelle-martin.md.txt) • 1 min read - [![View Amy Zeppenfeld's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/Amyzeppenfeld_50a8b9e7f8_Z17af4b.webp)](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/amy-zeppenfeld.md.txt)[![View Vinny DaSilva's profile](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/unnamed_5_cdab7ecfba_Z1iwWr5.webp)](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/vinny-da-silva.md.txt) 06 Nov 2026 06 Nov 2026 ![](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/ABL_149_Strapi_A2_B_8fa837edce_1zewyL.webp) [Product News](https://developer.android.com/blog/categories/product-news.md.txt) ## [Build for an expanding lineup of Android XR devices with production-ready tools from Android Developer Summit](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/build-android-xr-devices-tools.md.txt) [arrow_forward](https://developer.android.com/blog/posts/build-android-xr-devices-tools.md.txt) From full immersion at home to glanceable experiences on the go, building on Android XR lets you meet users at any moment across the entire spectrum of spatial applications. At Android Developer Summit, we marked an exciting milestone with the launch of XREAL AURA. [Amy Zeppenfeld](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/amy-zeppenfeld.md.txt), [Vinny DaSilva](https://developer.android.com/blog/authors/vinny-da-silva.md.txt) • 3 min read - [#Android XR](https://developer.android.com/blog/topics/android-xr.md.txt) Stay in the loop Get the latest Android development insights delivered to your inbox weekly. [mail Subscribe](https://developer.android.com/subscribe) ![A 3D illustration of the Android mascot, wearing a jetpack that's emitting a large cloud of bubbles](https://developer.android.com/static/blog/assets/rocket-android.CVJQZOf1_1zVtXW.webp)