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This guide walks you through running the TecNM Control Escolar app on an Android emulator or physical device.

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Prerequisites

Before running the app, ensure you have:
  • Android Studio Iguana or higher installed
  • Android SDK (API 24 or higher)
  • Android Emulator (included with Android Studio)
  • Project successfully opened and Gradle sync completed

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Option 1: Running on Android Emulator

1

Open Device Manager

In Android Studio, navigate to:
Tools → Device Manager
This opens the Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager where you can create and manage emulators.
2

Create a Virtual Device

If you don’t have an emulator yet:
  1. Click Create Device
  2. Select a device definition (Pixel devices recommended)
  3. Choose a system image:
    • Recommended: API 34 (Android 14) or higher
    • Minimum: API 24 (Android 7.0)
  4. Click Finish
Use Pixel 5 or Pixel 6 for best compatibility with modern Android apps.
3

Start the Emulator

  1. In Device Manager, find your virtual device
  2. Click the Play (▶) button next to the device name
  3. Wait for the emulator to boot up completely
The first boot may take several minutes. Subsequent starts will be faster.
4

Run the App

  1. Ensure the emulator is selected in the device dropdown (top toolbar)
  2. Click the Run button (green play icon) or press Shift + F10
  3. Android Studio will build and install the app
  4. The app will launch automatically on the emulator
// You should see the HomeScreen with the greeting
"Hola, Arlyn"
"Aquí está tu horario de hoy"

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Option 2: Running on Physical Device

Testing on a real device provides the best performance and user experience feedback.
1

Enable Developer Options

On your Android device:
  1. Go to Settings → About Phone
  2. Tap Build Number 7 times
  3. You’ll see a message: “You are now a developer!”
2

Enable USB Debugging

  1. Go to Settings → System → Developer Options
  2. Enable USB Debugging
  3. (Optional) Enable Stay Awake to keep screen on while developing
Remember to disable USB Debugging when not developing for security.
3

Connect Device via USB

  1. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable
  2. On your device, authorize the connection:
    • A prompt will appear: “Allow USB debugging?”
    • Tap Allow or OK
  3. In Android Studio, your device should appear in the device dropdown
4

Run the App

  1. Select your physical device from the dropdown
  2. Click Run or press Shift + F10
  3. The app will install and launch on your device

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Common Emulator Issues

Solution 1: Enable Hardware Acceleration
  • Windows: Install Intel HAXM or enable Hyper-V
  • Mac: Ensure Hypervisor.framework is enabled
  • Linux: Install KVM
Solution 2: Allocate More RAM
  1. In Device Manager, click Edit (pencil icon) on your AVD
  2. Click Show Advanced Settings
  3. Increase RAM to at least 2048 MB
  4. Click Finish and restart the emulator
Check the following:
  1. Verify virtualization is enabled in BIOS/UEFI
  2. Close other virtual machines (VirtualBox, VMware)
  3. Update Android Emulator: 
    Tools → SDK Manager → SDK Tools → Android Emulator
  4. Delete and recreate the AVD if corrupted
Try these steps:
  1. Clean and rebuild the project: 
    Build → Clean Project
Build → Rebuild Project
  2. Invalidate caches: 
    File → Invalidate Caches → Invalidate and Restart
  3. Check Logcat for errors: 
    View → Tool Windows → Logcat
On Windows:
  • Install device-specific USB drivers from manufacturer
On Mac/Linux:
  • Try a different USB cable
  • Ensure USB debugging is enabled
All platforms:
  • Revoke USB debugging authorizations: 
    Settings → Developer Options → Revoke USB debugging authorizations
  • Reconnect and authorize again

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Emulator Performance Tips

For faster development:
  • Use Cold Boot only when necessary
  • Enable Quick Boot (default) for faster subsequent starts
  • Keep emulator running during development
  • Use Instant Run / Apply Changes to avoid full reinstalls

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Next Steps

Understanding Fake Data

Learn how test data is structured in the app

Troubleshooting

Solve common development issues