How to Increase the Performance of Android Studio on Windows
Android Studio is the most popular software for Android app development. It allows developers to write code, test, and debug their apps, as well as build and deploy them.
Android Studio, being feature-rich, requires a lot of system resources to run. As a result, for those who do not have a powerful computer, Android Studio may be difficult to use and take a long time to build (create the final APK file).
If you’re one of them, keep reading to learn some helpful tips for optimizing your Android Studio experience on a low-end computer.
1. Increase Memory Allocation for Android Studio
Memory allocation means assigning a specific amount of memory, or RAM, to Android Studio in order to improve its efficiency. By default, Android Studio is allowed to use up to 1.28GB of RAM, but if your computer has more RAM available, you can increase this amount.
Follow these steps to increase the memory allocation for Android Studio:
The amount of RAM to allocate is a personal decision that depends on your computer’s specifications. If you’re unsure how much RAM your computer has, checkhow to determine hardware specificationsfor help.
2. Update Android Studio
If you’re using an older version of Android Studio, you should consider updating to take advantage of the most recent features and bug fixes.
Follow the below-given steps to update Android Studio to the latest version:
You can also update Gradle and the SDK tools along with Android Studio for the best performance.
Gradle is a powerful build system for Android Studio that automates tasks such as building, testing, and deploying your Android app. Your build processes will be faster, smoother, and more reliable if you use the latest version of Gradle.
3. Install Android Studio on an SSD
SSDs are ideal for use with Android Studio because they provide faster read and write speeds, allowing for faster access to stored data. We have already explained thebenefits of using an SSDin detail.
If you install Android Studio on an SSD rather than an HDD, you’ll benefit from shorter loading and build times, faster Gradle sync, and improved overall performance.
To install Android Studio on an SSD, you just need to change the installation location whilesetting up Android Studio on Windowsfor the first time. When prompted to select a location, choose your SSD using theBrowseoption in theConfiguration Settings. If you have already installed Android Studio, you’re able to move the installation folder (usually located atC:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio) to your SSD.
Installing Android Studio on an SSD will provide a noticeable boost in performance, making it easier and faster to develop your apps.
4. Disable Unnecessary Plugins in Android Studio
Unnecessary plugins in Android Studio are those applications and features that you’re not actively using but that are still taking up resources on your system. By disabling such unnecessary plugins, you may improve Android Studio’s performance significantly.
Here’s how to disable unnecessary plugins in Android Studio:
After you complete these steps, the plugins you disabled will no longer work and will not appear in the menus or be accessible within Android Studio.
5. Configure Lint in Android Studio
Lint is a static code analysis tool in Android Studio that helps detect potential errors and performance issues in your code.
To ensure a smooth coding experience in Android Studio, you can configure Lint to identify any performance issues caused by inefficient code or poor coding practices.
Follow the below steps to configure Lint in Android Studio:
In addition to configuring Lint for all your projects, you can also enable or disable specific Lint checks as well as configure the severity level for each check. To view suggestions for your current project, go to theProjectwindow and clickCode > Inspect Code.
You can also configure the scope of the lint checks, such as whether to check only the current file or the entire project. This can help decrease build time and generate your APK file much faster in Android Studio.
6. Update the GPU driver
In layman’s terms, a GPU driver is a software package that helps an operating system utilize a graphics card to render graphics.
If you run Android Studio using an updated GPU, you will be able to enjoy a better and smoother development experience. This is because Android Studio will shift the heavy work of UI rendering to the GPU, while the CPU handles processes like compiling, project building, etc.
Now that you know the importance of the GPU, check outhow to update the GPU drivers on Windowsfor help.
If you want to go further, check outways to boost Windows' performancefor more tricks.
7. Add Android Studio to the Graphics Performance Preference
Graphics Performance Preferences is a Windows feature that allows you to choose which software you want to give permission to use a high-performance GPU or GPU to save power and improve performance.
Follow the below steps to add Android Studio to Graphics Performance Preference:
Additionally, you may also enableHardware-accelerated GPU schedulingin order to improve the performance of Android Studio.
Want to go one step higher in optimizing Android Studio? Check out theofficial Android Developer optimization guidefor more tips on improving Android Studio’s performance.
Experience Lag-Free Coding in Android Studio
Even though the tips above will help you get the most out of Android Studio, you may need to think about upgrading your computer’s hardware if it doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements.
Since Android Studio is now free of lags and stutters, it’s time to check out some useful resources to help support your Android development journey.
Get up to speed on Android development without having to pay for the privilege.
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