This page was roughly updated from the SDL2 version, but needs to be inspected for details that are out of date, and a few SDL2isms need to be cleaned out still, too. Read this page with some skepticism for now.

Existing documentation

Pre-requisites

sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk ant android-sdk-platform-tools-common

PATH="/usr/src/android-ndk-rXXx:$PATH"                  # for 'ndk-build'
PATH="/usr/src/android-sdk-linux/tools:$PATH"           # for 'android'
PATH="/usr/src/android-sdk-linux/platform-tools:$PATH"  # for 'adb'
export ANDROID_HOME="/usr/src/android-sdk-linux"        # for gradle
export ANDROID_NDK_HOME="/usr/src/android-ndk-rXXx"     # for gradle

Simple builds

SDL wrapper for simple programs

cd /usr/src/SDL3/build-scripts/
./androidbuild.sh org.libsdl.testgles ../test/testgles.c

cd /usr/src/SDL3/build/org.libsdl.testgles/
./gradlew installDebug

Troubleshooting

android {
    buildToolsVersion "28.0.1"
    compileSdkVersion 28

externalNativeBuild {
    ndkBuild {
        arguments "APP_PLATFORM=android-14"
        abiFilters 'armeabi-v7a', 'arm64-v8a', 'x86', 'x86_64'

SDL wrapper + SDL_image NDK module

Let's modify SDL3_image/showimage.c to show a simple embedded image (e.g. XPM).

#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
#include <SDL3/SDL_main.h>
#include <SDL3/SDL_image.h>

/* XPM */
static char * icon_xpm[] = {
  "32 23 3 1",
  "     c #FFFFFF",
  ".    c #000000",
  "+    c #FFFF00",
  "                                ",
  "            ........            ",
  "          ..++++++++..          ",
  "         .++++++++++++.         ",
  "        .++++++++++++++.        ",
  "       .++++++++++++++++.       ",
  "      .++++++++++++++++++.      ",
  "      .+++....++++....+++.      ",
  "     .++++.. .++++.. .++++.     ",
  "     .++++....++++....++++.     ",
  "     .++++++++++++++++++++.     ",
  "     .++++++++++++++++++++.     ",
  "     .+++++++++..+++++++++.     ",
  "     .+++++++++..+++++++++.     ",
  "     .++++++++++++++++++++.     ",
  "      .++++++++++++++++++.      ",
  "      .++...++++++++...++.      ",
  "       .++............++.       ",
  "        .++..........++.        ",
  "         .+++......+++.         ",
  "          ..++++++++..          ",
  "            ........            ",
  "                                "};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  SDL_Window *window;
  SDL_Renderer *renderer;
  SDL_Surface *surface;
  SDL_Texture *texture;
  int done;
  SDL_Event event;

  if (SDL_CreateWindowAndRenderer("Show a simple image", 0, 0, 0, &window, &renderer) < 0) {
    SDL_LogError(SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION,
        "SDL_CreateWindowAndRenderer() failed: %s", SDL_GetError());
    return(2);
  }

  surface = IMG_ReadXPMFromArray(icon_xpm);
  texture = SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface(renderer, surface);
  if (!texture) {
    SDL_LogError(SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION,
        "Couldn't load texture: %s", SDL_GetError());
    return(2);
  }
  SDL_SetWindowSize(window, 800, 480);

  done = 0;
  while (!done) {
    while (SDL_PollEvent(&event)) {
      if (event.type == SDL_EVENT_QUIT)
        done = 1;
    }
    SDL_RenderTexture(renderer, texture, NULL, NULL);
    SDL_RenderPresent(renderer);
    SDL_Delay(100);
  }
  SDL_DestroyTexture(texture);

  SDL_Quit();
  return(0);
}

cd /usr/src/SDL3/build-scripts/
./androidbuild.sh org.libsdl.showimage /usr/src/SDL3_image/showimage.c
cd /usr/src/SDL3/build/org.libsdl.showimage/
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_image jni/
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_image/external/libwebp-0.3.0 jni/webp
sed -i -e 's/^LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES.*/& SDL3_image/' jni/src/Android.mk
ndk-build -j$(nproc)
ant debug install

Build an autotools-friendly environment

You use autotools in your project and can't be bothering understanding ndk-build's cryptic errors? This guide is for you!

Compile a shared binaries bundle for SDL and SDL_*

cd /usr/src/
wget https://libsdl.org/release/SDL2-2.0.5.tar.gz
wget https://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_image/release/SDL2_image-2.0.1.tar.gz
wget https://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_mixer/release/SDL2_mixer-2.0.1.tar.gz
wget https://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_net/release/SDL2_net-2.0.1.tar.gz
wget https://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_ttf/release/SDL2_ttf-2.0.14.tar.gz

tar xf SDL2-2.0.5.tar.gz
tar xf SDL2_image-2.0.1.tar.gz
tar xf SDL2_mixer-2.0.1.tar.gz
tar xf SDL2_net-2.0.1.tar.gz
tar xf SDL2_ttf-2.0.14.tar.gz

ln -s SDL2-2.0.5 SDL2
ln -s SDL2_image-2.0.1 SDL2_image
ln -s SDL2_mixer-2.0.1 SDL2_mixer
ln -s SDL2_net-2.0.1 SDL2_net
ln -s SDL2_ttf-2.0.14 SDL2_ttf

cd /usr/src/SDL3/
#git checkout -- .  # remove traces of previous builds
cd build-scripts/
# edit androidbuild.sh and modify $ANDROID update project --target android-XX
./androidbuild.sh org.libsdl /dev/null
# doesn't matter if the actual build fails, it's just for setup
cd ../build/org.libsdl/

ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_image jni/
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_image/external/libwebp-0.3.0 jni/webp
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_mixer jni/
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_mixer/external/libmikmod-3.1.12 jni/libmikmod
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_mixer/external/smpeg2-2.0.0 jni/smpeg2
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_net jni/
ln -s /usr/src/SDL3_ttf jni/

ndk-build -j$(nproc)

Note: no need to add System.loadLibrary calls in SDLActivity.java, your application will be linked to them and Android's ld-linux loads them automatically.

Install SDL in a GCC toolchain

/usr/src/android-ndk-r8c/build/tools/make-standalone-toolchain.sh \
  --platform=android-14 --install-dir=/usr/src/ndk-standalone-14-arm --arch=arm

NDK_STANDALONE=/usr/src/ndk-standalone-14-arm
PATH=$NDK_STANDALONE/bin:$PATH

cd /usr/src/SDL3/build/org.libsdl/
for i in libs/armeabi/*; do ln -nfs $(pwd)/$i $NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr/lib/; done
mkdir $NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr/include/SDL3/
cp jni/SDL/include/* $NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr/include/SDL3/
cp jni/*/SDL*.h $NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr/include/SDL3/

VERSION=0.9.12
cd /usr/src/
wget http://rabbit.dereferenced.org/~nenolod/distfiles/pkgconf-$VERSION.tar.gz
tar xf pkgconf-$VERSION.tar.gz
cd pkgconf-$VERSION/
mkdir native-android/ && cd native-android/
../configure --prefix=$NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr
make -j$(nproc)
make install
ln -s ../sysroot/usr/bin/pkgconf $NDK_STANDALONE/bin/arm-linux-androideabi-pkg-config
mkdir $NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr/lib/pkgconfig/

Sdata Tool 64gb

What are you currently using (e.g., Windows 11, macOS, Linux)?

Sdata Tool 64gb is a third-party software utility distributed on various file-sharing platforms. It claims to double the storage capacity of compressed data storage media, specifically targeting smaller USB flash drives (like 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB) and modifying their firmware to display as a 64GB drive.

F3 is an open-source alternative to H2testw designed for Unix-based operating systems. It fills the device with specific files and tests their readability to confirm the true bounds of the flash storage. Safe Alternatives for Expanding Storage

The software purports to use data compression to "make room" for more files on a physical drive. In practice, it typically performs the following actions:

Every USB drive or SD card has a microchip called a flash memory controller. This controller tells your operating system how much storage space is available. The Sdata Tool rewrites this registry information (the Master Boot Record or Partition Table). It tricks Windows into reporting that the drive has 64GB of space, even if the physical microchip inside can only hold 4GB. 2. The Illusion of Success Sdata Tool 64gb

Files copied to the fake capacity zone appear in the file manager with correct names and file sizes. However, opening them reveals they contain nothing but empty data blocks or corrupted headers.

Many versions of these tools found on the internet are bundled with malware or viruses designed to compromise your PC. Risks and Warnings

If your 64GB drive is an SSD, ensure that the TRIM command is active. TRIM tells your operating system which blocks of data are no longer needed (due to deletion), allowing the drive to wipe them proactively. This prevents the drive from slowing down over time. 2. Avoid Defragmenting SSDs

The software typically requires you to "Run as Administrator" and format your drive. Once executed, it writes a new value to the drive's controller. Fake Capacity Display: Your computer will show "64GB" in Properties. Circular Writing: What are you currently using (e

: The tool works by modifying the drive's firmware to report a fake capacity. If you attempt to store more than the drive's actual physical limit (e.g., saving 10GB on a 4GB drive "expanded" to 64GB), the drive will begin overwriting existing data , leading to permanent file corruption.

for software to increase the actual hardware storage capacity of a memory chip. Tools like "Sdata" work by modifying the drive's firmware to report a false size to your computer. Using such tools can lead to: Permanent Data Loss : Once you save more data than the drive’s

The primary claim of the SData Tool is that it can modify a USB drive's properties to report a higher capacity than its physical hardware allows.

Before using Sdata Tool, it is vital to understand that it is widely considered a by the tech community. F3 is an open-source alternative to H2testw designed

Using tools like Sdata to spoof your drive's capacity carries severe consequences for your digital security and data integrity. Data Corruption and Permanent Loss

The tool allows you to save complete device profiles—including bad sector maps, S.M.A.R.T. data history, and NCQ settings. For a technician managing dozens of drives per week, having 64GB of profile storage means no data bottleneck.

Tech consumers frequently seek affordable ways to expand device storage. This search often leads to software utilities claiming to increase capacity. One widely discussed utility is the .

Disclaimer: Based on search results, this refers to the SamData USB 2.0 flash drive, often sold in bundles. The Sdata tool discussed in some technical forums is a different, discontinued software product.

Downloading and running "Sdata Tool" is highly dangerous for your host computer:

Here is an objective, technical look at what the Sdata Tool 64gb actually is, how it works under the hood, and why using it could permanently destroy your data. What Is Sdata Tool 64gb?

Building other dependencies

You can add any other libraries (e.g.: SDL2_gfx, freetype, gettext, gmp...) using commands like:

mkdir cross-android/ && cd cross-android/
../configure --host=arm-linux-androideabi --prefix=$NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr \
  --with-some-option --enable-another-option \
  --disable-shared
make -j$(nproc)
make install

Static builds (--disable-shared) are recommended for simplicity (no additional .so to declare).

Example with SDL2_gfx:
VERSION=1.0.3
wget http://www.ferzkopp.net/Software/SDL2_gfx/SDL2_gfx-$VERSION.tar.gz
tar xf SDL2_gfx-$VERSION.tar.gz
mv SDL2_gfx-$VERSION/ SDL2_gfx/
cd SDL2_gfx/
mkdir cross-android/ && cd cross-android/
../configure --host=arm-linux-androideabi --prefix=$NDK_STANDALONE/sysroot/usr \
  --disable-shared --disable-mmx
make -j$(nproc)
make install

You can compile YOUR application using this technique, with some more steps to tell Android how to run it using JNI.

Build your autotools app

mkdir -p libs/armeabi/
for i in /usr/src/SDL3/build/org.libsdl/libs/armeabi/*; do ln -nfs $i libs/armeabi/; done

AM_CONDITIONAL(ANDROID, test "$host" = "arm-unknown-linux-androideabi")

if ANDROID
<!--  Build .so JNI libs rather than executables -->
  AM_CFLAGS = -fPIC
  AM_LDFLAGS += -shared
  COMMON_OBJS += SDL_android_main.c
endif

PATH=$NDK_STANDALONE/bin:$PATH
mkdir cross-android/ && cd cross-android/
../configure --host=arm-linux-androideabi \
  --prefix=/android-aint-posix \
  --with-your-option --enable-your-other-option ...
make

mkdir cross-android-v7a/ && cd cross-android-v7a/
# .o: -march=armv5te -mtune=xscale -msoft-float -mthumb  =>  -march=armv7-a -mfpu=vfpv3-d16 -mfloat-abi=softfp -mthumb
# .so: -march=armv7-a -Wl,--fix-cortex-a8
CFLAGS="-g -O2 -march=armv7-a -mfpu=vfpv3-d16 -mfloat-abi=softfp -mthumb" LFDLAGS="-march=armv7-a -Wl,--fix-cortex-a8" \
  ../configure --host=arm-linux-androideabi \
  ...

android update project --name your_app --path . --target android-XX
ant debug
ant installd

adb shell am start -a android.intenon.MAIN -n org.libsdl.app/org.libsdl.app.SDLActivity  # replace with your app package

Build your CMake app

# CMake toolchain file
SET(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)  # Tell CMake we're cross-compiling
include(CMakeForceCompiler)
# Prefix detection only works with compiler id "GNU"
CMAKE_FORCE_C_COMPILER(arm-linux-androideabi-gcc GNU)
SET(ANDROID TRUE)

PATH=$NDK_STANDALONE/bin:$PATH
cmake \
  -D CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=../android_toolchain.cmake \
  ...

Troubleshootings

If ant installd categorically refuses to install with Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE], even if you have free local storage, that may mean anything. Check logcat first:

If the error logs are not helpful (likely ;')) try locating all past traces of the application:

find / -name "org...."

adb install -s bin/app-debug.apk

SDL: Couldn't locate Java callbacks, check that they're named and typed correctly

this probably means your SDLActivity.java is out-of-sync with your libSDL3.so.

Sdata Tool 64gb

Draft

Existing documentation

Pre-requisites

Simple builds

SDL wrapper for simple programs

Troubleshooting

SDL wrapper + SDL_image NDK module

Build an autotools-friendly environment

Compile a shared binaries bundle for SDL and SDL_*

Install SDL in a GCC toolchain

Sdata Tool 64gb

Building other dependencies

Build your autotools app

Build your CMake app

Troubleshootings