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Overview

Give your old Android phone a second life! Turn it into a smart AI Assistant with PicoClaw. This guide shows you how to run PicoClaw on Android using Termux, a powerful terminal emulator.

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Why Run PicoClaw on Android?

  • Repurpose old devices - Turn decade-old phones into AI assistants
  • Ultra-lightweight - Runs with <10MB RAM
  • Always-on - Keep your assistant running 24/7
  • Portable - Take your AI assistant anywhere
PicoClaw on Android

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Prerequisites

  • Android device (ARM64 architecture)
  • Termux app installed
  • Stable internet connection

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Installing Termux

Download Termux from one of these sources:
Do not install Termux from unofficial sources, as they may contain malware or be outdated.

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Installation Steps

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1. Open Termux

Launch the Termux app on your Android device.

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2. Update Termux Packages

pkg update && pkg upgrade
Press Y when prompted to confirm updates.

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3. Install Required Packages

pkg install proot wget

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4. Download PicoClaw

Download the latest ARM64 binary: 
# Note: Replace v0.1.1 with the latest version from the Releases page
wget https://github.com/sipeed/picoclaw/releases/download/v0.1.1/picoclaw-linux-arm64
Check the Releases page for the latest version number and replace v0.1.1 accordingly.

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5. Make the Binary Executable

chmod +x picoclaw-linux-arm64

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6. Run PicoClaw Setup

Use termux-chroot to run PicoClaw in a proper Linux environment: 
termux-chroot ./picoclaw-linux-arm64 onboard
This initializes the configuration and workspace.

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7. Configure API Keys

Edit the configuration file: 
nano ~/.picoclaw/config.json
Add your API keys: 
{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "workspace": "~/.picoclaw/workspace",
      "model_name": "gpt4",
      "max_tokens": 8192,
      "temperature": 0.7
    }
  },
  "model_list": [
    {
      "model_name": "gpt4",
      "model": "openai/gpt-5.2",
      "api_key": "your-api-key"
    }
  ]
}
Save with Ctrl+O, then exit with Ctrl+X.

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8. Test the Installation

Run a test query: 
termux-chroot ./picoclaw-linux-arm64 agent -m "Hello from Android!"

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Running the Gateway

To enable chat integrations (Telegram, Discord, etc.), run the gateway: 
termux-chroot ./picoclaw-linux-arm64 gateway

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Configuration Tips

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Get API Keys

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Configure Telegram Bot

Add Telegram integration to your config: 
{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
      "allow_from": ["YOUR_USER_ID"]
    }
  }
}
Get your user ID from @userinfobot on Telegram.

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Keeping PicoClaw Running

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Use Termux:Boot

To run PicoClaw automatically on device boot:
  1. Install Termux:Boot from F-Droid
  2. Create a boot script:
mkdir -p ~/.termux/boot
nano ~/.termux/boot/start-picoclaw.sh
  1. Add this content:
#!/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/sh
termux-chroot /data/data/com.termux/files/home/picoclaw-linux-arm64 gateway
  1. Make it executable:
chmod +x ~/.termux/boot/start-picoclaw.sh

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Use Termux:Wake Lock

Prevent Android from killing Termux:
  1. Install Termux:Wake Lock from F-Droid
  2. Open Termux:Wake Lock and enable it
  3. This keeps Termux running in the background

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Troubleshooting

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Permission Denied Errors

If you get permission errors, use termux-chroot: 
termux-chroot ./picoclaw-linux-arm64 agent

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Network Errors

Ensure you have internet connectivity: 
ping -c 3 google.com

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App Keeps Closing

  • Disable battery optimization for Termux in Android settings
  • Use Termux:Wake Lock to prevent the app from sleeping
  • Keep the device charging for 24/7 operation

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Storage Space

Check available storage: 
df -h
PicoClaw requires minimal space (<50MB), but ensure you have room for conversation history and logs.

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Performance Tips

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Optimize for Low Memory

Reduce memory usage by lowering max_tokens: 
{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "max_tokens": 4096
    }
  }
}

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Monitor Resource Usage

Check PicoClaw’s resource usage: 
top
Press q to exit.

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Creating a Shortcut

For easier access, create an alias: 
echo 'alias picoclaw="termux-chroot ~/picoclaw-linux-arm64"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
Now you can run: 
picoclaw agent -m "Test"
picoclaw gateway

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Next Steps

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Community Examples

PicoClaw running on Android Share your Android deployment on our Discord community!

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