# Can't set my own emulator builds for Processing: Default Emulator Performance Issue

**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/cant-set-my-own-emulator-builds-for-processing-default-emulator-performance-issue/26504
**Category:** Processing for Android
**Created:** [December 25, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/cant-set-my-own-emulator-builds-for-processing-default-emulator-performance-issue/26504 "2020-12-25T01:47:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Ethycs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Ethycs](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Ethycs)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/cant-set-my-own-emulator-builds-for-processing-default-emulator-performance-issue/26504/1 "2020-12-25T01:47:15Z")

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Hey all,

I’m trying to get the emulator working on my system. I have an AMD cpu. Running the emulator (which only builds to arm by default) is too slow for this system. I can’t figure out how to connect to AVDs I make with android studio and I don’t know how to change the build target from within Processing.

I see references to a Preferences.txt file, but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.  
Can someone please help me

> [@Android mode install issue](https://discourse.processing.org/t/android-mode-install-issue/23276/3):
>
> Try the following; Download [this SDK folder](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JIMtod4Qxo8_ciJmZyfPKydyu0Xd6kDa/view) and unzip it in the documents/processing folder or elsewhere. Then open the preferences.txt file. The location you can find at the bottom of the File/settings menu. In the android parameters you will find something like: android.emulator.image.abi=x86 android.emulator.port.phone=5566 android.sdk.ar=1.12.0 android.sdk.gvr=1.180.0 android.sdk.path=D:\an\android\sdk android.sdk.play\_services=16.0.1 android.sdk.support=28.0.0 android.sdk.target=28 androi…

I’m not interested in downloading more files for android unless it is a method of last resort.  
Thanks.

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### Author: ![noel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/noel/32/213_2.png) [@noel](https://discourse.processing.org/u/noel)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 6:00am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/cant-set-my-own-emulator-builds-for-processing-default-emulator-performance-issue/26504/2 "2020-12-25T06:00:01Z")

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> [@Ethycs](#):
>
> I’m not interested in downloading more files for android

> [@Android mode install issue](https://discourse.processing.org/t/android-mode-install-issue/23276/5):
>
> thank you so much man for this one, i recently did a fresh install of my windows and the processing IDE bugs out when activating android mode
> 
> this helped alot…

Happy Christmas and good luck! 😁

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### Author: ![Ethycs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Ethycs](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Ethycs)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/cant-set-my-own-emulator-builds-for-processing-default-emulator-performance-issue/26504/3 "2020-12-26T02:18:31Z")

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I’ve edited the Preferences file but it still builds to arm ☹

Solution:  
If you’ve got an older or weird version of the google play API, processing will downgrade your image to arm and change the defaults without telling you. BOOOO!

Futz with the version settings to update them to something more modern and available