Android Emulator Render Issue - After macOS Big Sur Update

Question

After the macOS Big Sur, 11.0.1 update, the Android emulator began to display image rendering issues.

Issue

The emulator display window is repeating the device image. An issue has been documented in Android's IssueTracker.

Conditions

Re-sizing: When the emulator window is resized, increased or decreased
Orientation change: Portrait to landscape, and vice-versa

Attempted Solutions

Clear the emulator with Wipe Data from the Android Device Manager.
Create a new emulator instance.

Configuration

Android Studio

Android Studio 4.1.1
Build #AI-201.8743.12.41.6953283, built on November 4, 2020
Runtime version: 1.8.0_242-release-1644-b3-6915495 x86_64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
macOS 10.16
GC: ParNew, ConcurrentMarkSweep
Memory: 1979M
Cores: 16
Registry: ide.new.welcome.screen.force=true, external.system.auto.import.disabled=true Non-Bundled Plugins: com.android.tool.sizereduction.plugin, com.thoughtworks.gauge, org.jetbrains.kotlin, cn.wjdghd.unique.plugin.id, mobi.hsz.idea.gitignore, com.developerphil.adbidea

Emulator

Name: Pixel_3a_API_29
CPU/ABI: Google Play Intel Atom (x86)
Path: /Users/adamhurwitz/.android/avd/Pixel_3a_API_29.avd
Target: google_apis_playstore [Google Play] (API level 29)
Skin: 1080x2220
SD Card: 512M
fastboot.chosenSnapshotFile:
runtime.network.speed: full
hw.accelerometer: yes
hw.device.name: pixel_3a
hw.lcd.width: 1080
hw.initialOrientation: Portrait
image.androidVersion.api: 29
tag.id: google_apis_playstore
hw.mainKeys: no
hw.camera.front: emulated
avd.ini.displayname: Pixel 3a API 29
hw.gpu.mode: auto
hw.ramSize: 1536
PlayStore.enabled: true
fastboot.forceColdBoot: no
hw.cpu.ncore: 4
hw.keyboard: yes
hw.sensors.proximity: yes
hw.dPad: no
hw.lcd.height: 2220
vm.heapSize: 256
skin.dynamic: yes
hw.device.manufacturer: Google
hw.gps: yes
skin.path.backup: _no_skin
hw.audioInput: yes
image.sysdir.1: system-images/android-29/google_apis_playstore/x86/
showDeviceFrame: no
hw.camera.back: virtualscene
AvdId: Pixel_3a_API_29
hw.lcd.density: 440
hw.arc: false
hw.device.hash2: MD5:0e6953ebf01bdc6b33a2f54746629c50
fastboot.forceChosenSnapshotBoot: no
fastboot.forceFastBoot: yes
hw.trackBall: no
hw.battery: yes
hw.sdCard: yes
tag.display: Google Play
runtime.network.latency: none
disk.dataPartition.size: 6442450944
hw.sensors.orientation: yes
avd.ini.encoding: UTF-8
hw.gpu.enabled: yes

It's a bug in emulator (or Big Sur, I'm not sure :) ). https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/173282117 — Sergey Glotov, Nov 17 '20 at 09:32
Perhaps it is a bug with Android Studio 4.1.1 as well. This issue appeared along with installing the latest versions of Android Studio and macOS. It is hard to tell which is the cause. — AdamHurwitz, Nov 28 '20 at 00:29
Everyone should star the *[issue](https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/173282117)* @SergeyGlotov linked to in order to help highlight the issue in Android's IssueTracker. — AdamHurwitz, Nov 28 '20 at 18:46
I have two external monitors hooked up via USB hub and I just get a gray rectangle on both of those screens. MacBook screen is fine. I tried all the tricks here and none of them worked. I did STAR issue in IssueTracker. All was fine before Big Sur update. Latest tools all being used and I did create a new emulator. — Kevin, Feb 04 '21 at 19:03

sérgio brito · Answer 1 · 2020-12-16T11:04:04.553

27

I am having the same problem, after upgrade for Big Sur.

I find out a workaround... after resize, click twice on magnifying glass.

On some emulators this don't work. In this cases try Settings/Show window frame around device - turn off/turn on. This works for me.

edited Dec 16 '20 at 11:04

answered Nov 17 '20 at 13:16

sérgio brito

388
3
6

I also have this problem when I rotate the device after upgrading to Big Sur, clicking the magnifying glass works for me. – Jaye Tan Nov 20 '20 at 12:12
As this answer says, a temporary solution for me is was to press the zoom option: https://i.stack.imgur.com/0clV0.png – Holzmann Eduardo Dec 03 '20 at 15:48
seems this workaround is always working on my MacBook, thank you for sharing! – THZ Dec 24 '20 at 15:04
cmd+Z will save you having to click the "magnifying class" – Glenn Lawrence Feb 26 '21 at 08:39

score 22 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 18 '20 at 05:37

22

I think I have found a temporary solution. If you are using another monitor with your computer just move the emulator between displays after resizing it. It is adjusting itself in this way

answered Nov 18 '20 at 05:37

haliltprkk

1,428
3
14
26

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 22 '21 at 17:15

8

It seems that upgrading android studio (4.1.2), the emulator, and SDK tools fixes the issue since 2021.

After updating Android Studio, go to the preferences for Android Studio > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Android SDK > SDK Tools (tab) and select Android Emulator (I used 30.3.5), Android SDK Tools (26.1.1), and maybe the Android SDK Build-tools.

Disclaimer: These steps solved it for me. It might well be that only updating the "Android Emulator" SDK tool would have been enough.

answered Jan 22 '21 at 17:15

Maddis

577
1
6
19

3

Worked for me! This should be the accepted answer since it is not just a workaround. – RobDil Apr 09 '21 at 23:59
Worked for me as well. So this is the permanent solution. – Zeeshan Dec 01 '21 at 20:02

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 01 '21 at 15:53

5

A simple workaroud is to just hide and show it again.

answered Feb 01 '21 at 15:53

Pedro Massango

4,114
2
28
48

this worked for me. Thank you for the solution – Prithvi Feb 06 '21 at 07:08
1

to the top! most effective answer – WenChao Apr 19 '21 at 03:35

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Nov 29 '20 at 15:20

1

only way I have found so far is to resize emulator to wanted size -> go to emulator settings -> Displays -> add secondary display -> apply changes -> remove secondary display -> apply changes

kinda sucks, but it is what it is for now

screenshot of emulator settings

edited Nov 29 '20 at 15:20

Boken

4,825
10
32
42

answered Nov 26 '20 at 11:13

sytler

11
1

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 10 '20 at 22:17

0

Temporary fix:

After rotate:

Click in the "Enter zoom mode" (CMD+Z).

This will force layout and render of the screen.

answered Dec 10 '20 at 22:17

GMP

435
4
4

And don't forget to do "CMD+Z" again to leave zoom mode. – Glenn Lawrence Feb 26 '21 at 08:26

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Aug 23 '21 at 01:28

This is what worked for me. I was having a folder Hardware_Accelerated_Execution_Manager_2 with this "_2" at the end, which SDK tools installer reported as an anomaly.

/Library/Android/sdk/extras/intel/Hardware_Accelerated_Execution_Manager_2

I deleted this folder with "_2" at the end and restarted the android studio. Emulators are showing up now.

Android Emulator Render Issue - After macOS Big Sur Update

Issue

Attempted Solutions

Configuration

7 Answers7