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Test Multi-Device Interactions with the Android Emulator
Android Emulator now simplifies testing multi-device interactions with a new networking stack. This update eliminates the need for complex port forwarding when connecting multiple Android Virtual Devices (AVDs). The new stack provides zero-configuration peer-to-peer connectivity across all AVDs on the same host machine. A shared virtual network backplane bridges running instances, enabling direct communication. This improves stability and provides consistent behavior across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The key benefits include ease of use, improved stability, and cross-platform compatibility. This is useful for multi-device app testing, continuous integration, and Android XR/AI glasses testing. The update also extends to automotive and Wear OS device testing. Multiple AVDs can now share a virtual network, enabling direct peer-to-peer communication. To get started, simply update your Android Emulator to the latest version. The new feature is enabled by default in the latest Android Emulator release (36.5). If you need help with this feature, please refer to the provided documentation.