How do I mine Monero on my phone with Termux?

You can try mining Monero on an Android phone with Termux, an app that gives you a Linux-style command line. Termux does not mine by itself: you need mining software such as XMRig, and your phone will usually earn very little while using power and wearing its battery. This method is for Android, not iPhones, and does not involve browser mining.

Check your phone and install Termux

Use only a phone you own. A spare Android phone with a 64-bit ARM processor and a 64-bit Android system is the best starting point. You do not normally need root access, which gives apps deeper control over your phone.

Install Termux from its official F-Droid listing or official GitHub releases. Avoid random “Termux miner” downloads and instructions that ask you to disable security protections.

In Termux, enter:

uname -m

An output of aarch64 indicates a suitable 64-bit ARM environment. Older or 32-bit phones are poor candidates, and the build below may not work on them.

Build XMRig inside Termux

XMRig is mining software that performs the calculations used to secure Monero. Building it means turning its source code into a program your phone can run.

Update Termux and install the build tools:

pkg update && pkg upgrade
pkg install git cmake clang make pkg-config openssl

Download the official XMRig source and build it:

git clone https://github.com/xmrig/xmrig.git
cd xmrig
mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -DWITH_HWLOC=OFF -DWITH_ASM=OFF
make -j2

These options disable hardware-detection and assembly features that can cause compatibility problems on Android. Compilation can take several minutes and warm up your phone.

Check the result:

./xmrig --version

Android versions and XMRig releases vary, so compilation is not guaranteed. If it fails, check the first error against the projects’ current documentation rather than downloading an unknown prebuilt miner.

Add your wallet and pool details

You need a Monero wallet’s public receiving address, where payouts go. Never put your wallet’s recovery words or private keys into Termux commands or a mining website.

You also need a mining pool: a service that combines miners’ work and distributes rewards. Check its fees, minimum payout, and current XMRig connection instructions. A phone may take an extremely long time to reach the payout threshold.

From the build folder, start with:

./xmrig -a rx/0 \
  -o POOL_HOST:PORT \
  -u YOUR_XMR_ADDRESS \
  -p phone \
  -t 1 \
  --randomx-mode=light

Replace the uppercase placeholders. Add --tls if your pool specifies an encrypted TLS connection for that port.

This uses one processor thread and RandomX light mode. RandomX is Monero’s mining algorithm. Light mode uses a 256 MB cache instead of fast mode’s roughly 2,080 MB dataset, but mines much more slowly. Total memory use is higher than the cache alone.

Keep heat and expectations under control

Watch for accepted shares: messages showing that the pool accepted your work. They do not mean you found a whole block or received a payout.

Press Ctrl+C to stop.
Stop if the phone becomes uncomfortably hot.
Avoid prolonged mining while charging.
Never mine with a swollen or damaged battery.
Expect Android to pause or close Termux in the background.

The bottom line

Treat phone mining as a learning experiment, not reliable income. Check a live mining calculator using your measured speed, and weigh any tiny return against electricity, heat, and battery wear.

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