Monero's RandomX proof-of-work algorithm was deliberately designed to run on general-purpose CPUs — specifically to resist ASIC hardware that would otherwise centralize mining in the hands of large industrial operations. That design means any device with a processor can technically run the RandomX algorithm, including a smartphone. So yes, it is technically possible to mine Monero on a phone. The more useful question is whether you should — and the honest answer, in nearly every situation, is no.
Why Google and Apple Ban Mining Apps
Since 2018, both Google Play and the Apple App Store have prohibited apps that mine cryptocurrency directly on a device. Apple's developer guidelines explicitly cite the concern: apps that rapidly drain battery, generate excessive heat, or place unnecessary strain on device resources are not permitted. Google's policy reflects the same reasoning, though not always stated with equal specificity.
This ban means you will not find a legitimate, working Monero mining app in either official store. Apps that appear in the stores and claim to mine crypto are either monitoring remote mining activity (which is permitted), fake applications that display fabricated earnings while serving ads, or straightforwardly non-functional. If you check the reviews of most of these so-called mining apps, users report that nothing actually mines, the software is unstable, or the payout system is nonexistent.
The Sideloading Risk
Some users attempt to bypass the app store ban by sideloading — downloading APK files directly onto an Android device without going through Google Play. This is technically feasible on Android but carries significant security risks. Sideloaded applications are not subject to the code review and malware scanning that app store submissions undergo. Third-party developers distributing mining apps outside official channels have no enforceable obligation to disclose what else their software does. Security researchers have found mobile mining apps that sideloaded alongside keyloggers, crypto-stealing malware, or remote access tools.
This is not a theoretical concern. If you install software from an unofficial source on a device that contains a Monero wallet seed phrase or other financial credentials, you are exposing those credentials to applications you cannot audit.
The Profitability Reality
Even if the security concerns are set aside, the economics of smartphone mining do not work in your favor. Smartphone CPUs deliver substantially lower hash rates than desktop or laptop processors. When you contribute hash rate to a mining pool, your rewards are proportional to your contribution relative to all other miners — and you would be competing against people running modern desktop CPUs with XMRig, some running multiple machines. The hash rate difference between a smartphone and a mid-range desktop processor can be two orders of magnitude or more.
The practical consequence: smartphone mining produces earnings so small they are effectively negligible, while simultaneously maxing out the processor, draining the battery through charging cycles, generating sustained heat that degrades battery capacity over time, and potentially shortening the device's lifespan. The economics are negative in nearly any scenario.
The Right Way to Mine Monero in 2026
If you want to mine XMR, a desktop or laptop computer is the appropriate tool. Monero's official mining software, XMRig, runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. The Monero GUI wallet also includes a built-in mining interface.
For pool selection, the Monero community strongly recommends P2Pool — a decentralized pool with no fees and no centralization risk — or smaller traditional pools to avoid concentrating hash rate. Solo mining gives you the full block reward if you find a block, but blocks arrive rarely for most individual miners; pool mining delivers smaller but more frequent payouts.
Before you start, you need a wallet address to receive payouts. XMRWallet takes under two minutes to set up, requires no registration, and gives you a permanent wallet address to use as your mining payout destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum hardware needed to mine Monero profitably?
There is no absolute minimum, but meaningful results require at least a modern multi-core desktop CPU. AMD Ryzen processors perform particularly well on RandomX due to their large L3 caches, which the algorithm is specifically tuned to exploit. A high-end Ryzen 9 or Threadripper can achieve competitive hash rates. Older or lower-end CPUs will earn proportionally less but can still contribute to the network through P2Pool with no minimum hash rate requirement.
Can I mine Monero while using my computer for other tasks?
Yes. XMRig allows you to specify how many CPU threads to use for mining, letting you limit it to background-level resource use. Mining at 50-70% thread utilization lets other applications run normally while still contributing hash rate. The built-in Monero GUI wallet miner offers similar controls. Background mining is less profitable than running the miner at full capacity but avoids impacting day-to-day computer use.
