General Questions
What is Monero?
Monero (XMR) is a cryptocurrency focused on privacy and decentralization. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are private by default - amounts and addresses are hidden using cryptographic techniques.
What is mining?
Mining is the process of using computational power to validate transactions and secure the network. Miners are rewarded with newly created cryptocurrency for their work.
Can I make money mining on my phone?
No. Mobile mining is not profitable. The electricity cost to charge your phone exceeds the value of any XMR you might mine. Additionally, mobile CPUs have low hashrates compared to desktop computers. This app is for educational purposes and experimentation.
Why does Monero use CPU mining?
Monero uses the RandomX algorithm, designed to be efficient on general-purpose CPUs and resistant to GPU and ASIC mining. This promotes decentralization by allowing anyone with a regular computer to participate.
Installation
Why isn't XMR-Miner on the Play Store?
Google Play prohibits cryptocurrency mining applications. This is a blanket policy regardless of whether the mining is transparent and consensual.
Is it safe to install APKs from outside the Play Store?
Installing APKs from unknown sources carries risk. You should:
- Only download from this official website
- Verify the checksum and GPG signature
- Review the source code if you have concerns
See How to Verify for instructions.
My antivirus flags the APK. Is it malware?
Some antivirus software flags all cryptocurrency miners as "potentially unwanted programs" (PUP) or even malware. This is because malicious actors have used miners without consent (cryptojacking). XMR-Miner is open source and you can verify its behavior in the code.
Mining
What hashrate should I expect?
Mobile CPUs typically achieve 350-1700 H/s depending on device and settings. High-end phones with good cooling can reach the upper range. For comparison, a modern desktop CPU achieves 5,000-15,000 H/s.
How long until I receive payment?
It depends on your pool and hashrate. With mobile hashrates, it may take weeks or months to reach minimum payout thresholds on most pools.
Why is my hashrate lower than expected?
Possible reasons:
- Thermal throttling (phone is too hot)
- Battery saver mode active
- Other apps using CPU
- Low memory available
Should I mine 24/7?
Not recommended. Continuous mining causes:
- Excess heat and potential hardware damage
- Accelerated battery degradation
- Higher electricity bills
If you mine continuously, use low thread count and temperature limits.
Pools
What pool should I use?
Choose a pool with:
- Low fees (1% or less)
- Low minimum payout
- Server geographically close to you
- Good uptime history
Can I mine to an exchange wallet?
Not recommended. Many pools send multiple small payments, and exchanges may not credit small deposits or may charge high fees. Use a personal wallet (like Cake Wallet or the official Monero GUI wallet) and transfer to exchanges only when needed.
Technical
Does mining use mobile data?
Mining uses minimal bandwidth (a few KB per minute). However, it's recommended to use WiFi to avoid any mobile data charges.
Can I mine while using my phone normally?
Yes, but performance will be reduced. Mining in the background with low thread count allows normal phone usage. High thread counts may cause lag.
Will mining damage my phone?
Prolonged mining causes:
- Heat stress on components
- Battery cycle wear
Using temperature limits and mining in moderation reduces risk, but some wear is unavoidable.
Privacy
Can the pool see my wallet balance?
No. Monero wallet addresses do not reveal balance or transaction history. The pool only knows your public address for sending payments.
Does the app track me?
No. XMR-Miner does not include analytics, telemetry, or tracking of any kind. Network connections are only made to your configured mining pool.
Can my ISP see I'm mining?
Your ISP can see you're connecting to mining pool IP addresses. They cannot see the content of encrypted (SSL) connections. Use a VPN if this is a concern.
Troubleshooting
App crashes immediately on launch
- Ensure your device has an ARM64 processor
- Check that Android version is 8.0 or higher
- Try clearing app data and cache
- Reinstall the APK
Connection failed / cannot reach pool
- Check internet connection
- Verify pool address and port are correct
- Try a different pool server
- Check if your network blocks the pool port
Phone gets very hot
- Reduce thread count
- Enable temperature limit (70°C recommended)
- Remove phone case
- Mine in cooler environment
- Take breaks from mining