Why?

Termux-x11 is a more integrated method to have graphical session than using the unconvenient VNC method.

Requirements

• Termux
• Termux-X11

Procedure

Install the required packages

pkg update

pkg install x11-repo

pkg install termux-x11-nightly

If you have [pacman in Termux], it is not necessary to install x11-repo.

In addition to this, you can also install a desktop environment or window manager. In this example, I will use IceWM and XFCE, but the Termux repositories also offer other options such as Openbox or LXQt.

Configure the environment

At this point, Termux should have termux-x11 available as a command. It is recommended to declare $DISPLAY=:0 as an environment variable inside the ~/.profile file (if it does not exist, you can create it with touch ~/.profile) so that any program you open runs in the Termux-X11 session.

• ~/.profile

export DISPLAY=:0

Run the graphical environment

Now you only need to run termux-x11 and the desired desktop environment or window manager (preferably in a new Termux session).

Fortunately, this can be summarized into a single command:

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session {command}"

For example:

• XFCE

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session startxfce4"

• IceWM

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session icewm-session"

If you chose another environment, you will need to check what its startup command is, for example: fluxbox, openbox, startlxqt, or mate-session.

Preferably, you can save it as a command (for example, in ~/../usr/bin) and give it execution permissions. For example:

• ~/../usr/bin/customx11

termux-x11 :0 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session icewm-session"

chmod +x ~/../usr/bin/customx11

With this, simply typing customx11 will launch the environment:

customx11

End the session

Normally, it is enough to log out (or close the window manager) from the graphical interface. Otherwise, pressing Ctrl + C should terminate the session.

Conclusion

Using Termux-X11 is useful if we want or need a traditional Linux-like environment on our Android devices. Termux-X11 also supports keyboard and mouse input, which improves the user experience.