diff --git a/crates/mobile/src/lib.rs b/crates/mobile/src/lib.rs
index 2e4a0859f92268f5ad2961767f0041a2c78f1728..4a35d430df620a5f1de86be3ab5ad761d4e9370c 100644
--- a/crates/mobile/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/mobile/src/lib.rs
@@ -671,6 +671,27 @@ fn view_pixels(size: [f32; 2], scale: f32, limit: u32) -> Result<[u32; 2]> {
     Ok(pixels.map(|side| side as u32))
 }
 
+/// The GPU instance the first view starts. On Android it offers one backend, Vulkan where the
+/// device has it, else GL: Android's Vulkan loader connects a window to make its surface, and
+/// EGL then can't make one on the same window.
+fn instance() -> wgpu::Instance {
+    let with = |backends| {
+        wgpu::Instance::new(wgpu::InstanceDescriptor {
+            backends,
+            ..wgpu::InstanceDescriptor::new_without_display_handle()
+        })
+    };
+    if !cfg!(target_os = "android") {
+        return with(wgpu::Backends::all());
+    }
+    let vulkan = with(wgpu::Backends::VULKAN);
+    if pollster::block_on(vulkan.enumerate_adapters(wgpu::Backends::VULKAN)).is_empty() {
+        with(wgpu::Backends::GL)
+    } else {
+        vulkan
+    }
+}
+
 struct Presentation {
     surface: wgpu::Surface<'static>,
     /// Field order keeps the acquired window alive until the surface has dropped.
@@ -700,7 +721,7 @@ impl Presentation {
         let mut gpu = gpu();
         let instance = match &*gpu {
             Some(gpu) => gpu.instance.clone(),
-            None => wgpu::Instance::new(wgpu::InstanceDescriptor::new_without_display_handle()),
+            None => instance(),
         };
         // SAFETY: Android retains its window; the Apple caller keeps its layer alive.
         let surface = unsafe { instance.create_surface_unsafe(target) }?;