Why does Genymotion Desktop show the KVM kernel module error on Ubuntu 25.04?
Genymotion Desktop only works with the latest Ubuntu LTS (currently 24.04 LTS), Debian 12, or Fedora 40. Because 25.04 isn’t on the supported list, the embedded QEMU hypervisor can’t find the KVM kernel module, which is why you see
qemu-system-x86_64: -accel kvm: Could not access KVM kernel module: No such file or directory
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What to do
| Option | Steps | Why it helps |
|--------|-------|--------------|
| 1. Install a supported OS | • Create a bootable USB with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. <br>• Install it on a separate partition or a new VM. <br>• Re‑install Genymotion Desktop. | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has the correct kernel and pre‑installed KVM support. |
| 2. Use Genymotion Cloud (SaaS) | • Sign up for Genymotion SaaS <https://genymotion.com/saas>. <br>• Run virtual devices in the cloud; no local KVM needed. | Works on any host, no need to worry about OS support or KVM. |
| 3. (Not recommended) Force a work‑around | • Try installing kvm and qemu-kvm packages manually. <br>• Load modules: sudo modprobe kvm && sudo modprobe kvm_intel. <br>• Note: This may still fail or produce unstable performance. | Only a temporary fix; not supported by Genymotion. |
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Quick guide to install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
1. Download ISO https://releases.ubuntu.com/24.04/ubuntu-24.04-live-server-amd64.iso (or the desktop version).
2. Create bootable USB
sudo dd if=ubuntu-24.04-live-server-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync
3. Boot and install Follow the on‑screen prompts. If you want to keep 25.04, install 24.04 in a new partition or VM.
4. Re‑install Genymotion
cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x genymotion-*.run
sudo ./genymotion-*.run -d /opt/genymotion
5. Launch Genymotion All virtual devices should start normally.
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Next question
To make sure we’re covering all your needs: Are you planning to run Genymotion locally on a developer workstation, or would you prefer to use our cloud‑based SaaS solution for easier setup?