HTTPS needs the CA certificates
Android keeps its certificates in an unusual place. The aria2 Android README suggests piping them in: cat /etc/security/cacerts/* | aria2c --ca-certificate=/proc/self/fd/0 URL.
Install · Android
Install aria2 on Android
aria2 runs natively on Android, without root. The easiest way is Termux, a terminal app with its own package manager.
Install with one command
Install Termux, open it, and run:
pkg install aria2Termux has 1.37.0. Install Termux from F-Droid or its GitHub releases page.
chmod 744 aria2c && ./aria2c -vThe aria2 release includes an Android build for 64-bit ARM. It needs extra options for DNS and HTTPS; see below.
Check the install
aria2c --versionaria2 version 1.37.0Which method should you use?
Termux handles certificates, DNS and updates for you, so it is the right choice for almost everyone.
| Method | Version | Updates | Extra setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termux | 1.37.0 | pkg upgrade | None |
| Official binary | 1.37.0 | Download again by hand | DNS and CA options |
Step by step with Termux
From a fresh Termux to a download saved in your phone's Downloads folder.
-
Install Termux
Get it from F-Droid or from the Termux GitHub releases. Open it once and wait for the first setup to finish.
-
Install aria2
pkg updates the package list and installs aria2.
pkg install aria2 -
Allow access to your storage
Android asks for permission. Afterwards ~/storage/downloads points to your Downloads folder.
termux-setup-storage -
Download into Downloads
Files saved there show up in your file manager and other apps.
aria2c -d ~/storage/downloads https://example.com/file.zip
Where aria2.conf goes in Termux
Termux has its own home folder, so the usual path works: ~/.aria2/aria2.conf. Set dir to your Downloads folder there:
mkdir -p ~/.aria2echo "dir=/storage/emulated/0/Download" >> ~/.aria2/aria2.confKeep aria2 running in the background
Android stops apps it thinks are idle. Take a wake lock so long downloads keep going with the screen off, then start aria2 with RPC so an app can control it:
termux-wake-lockaria2c --enable-rpc --rpc-secret=YOUR_SECRET -DAria2App for Android, AriaNg in the phone's browser or our online WebUI can then connect to localhost:6800 with the same secret. termux-wake-unlock releases the lock.
Update and uninstall
- Termux
pkg upgrade·pkg uninstall aria2- Official binary
- Replace or delete the aria2c file
Using the official binary
Slow name lookups
Android has no /etc/resolv.conf, so the faster resolver is off. Turn it on with --async-dns and name the DNS servers with --async-dns-server.
No -l-
Android has no /dev/stdout, so logging to the screen with -l- does not work.
Questions
Do I need root to run aria2 on Android?
No. Both Termux and the official binary run as a normal app.
Is there an aria2 app on the Play Store?
Not of aria2 itself. Aria2App is a remote control for an aria2 that runs elsewhere (or in Termux on the same phone).
Where should I get Termux?
From F-Droid or the Termux GitHub releases, the sources the Termux project lists first. Stick to one source: builds from different sources are signed differently and cannot be mixed.